Merry Christmas and Hosanna!

Merry Christmas! Christmas has now come and gone, though we will still be celebrating for several days. We went to the Christmas Eve service at church Thursday evening- a first for us in this country. Chris led music and the boys both made it through the service (it was 7:30-8:30 pm, a bit late for them). Bennett had actually taken a great, late afternoon nap. He wore green striped pajamas and toddled around the whole service, but was happy and did not cry. As we went home it was very cold and VERY windy. We were thankful for a warm home with heat.

This was our best attempt at a family Christmas morning picture...Austin frowning and Bennett with his finger up his nose (and our lens was smudged in all the Christmas pictures....oh well)

Christmas morning was low key and fun, just the four of us. Both boys loved opening stockings and presents. Bennett especially liked playing with boxes and wrapping paper. The best quote of the day came as Austin was opening his stocking. I had put a chocolate Santa I found in it. Now Austin knows a very little bit about Santa, but not much. We haven't really talked about him that much and he hasn't seen too many Santas at Walmart or the mall :). But he has heard the name. So when he opened the chocolate Santa, he said "Mommy, a chocolate Hosanna". Chris and I both laughed. I asked him again and he repeated it. Then I told him it was actually Santa but he "corrected" me and said "no, mommy it's hosanna". Well, I guess I would rather him know more about hosannas than Santas, but it was pretty funny.

This was probably Bennett's favorite present...a 3 rmb stretchy rubber ball that lights up. Or did light up, it is all out of juice now. He loved it. Why do I ever buy more expensive presents again?

Well, both boys did love this one too. This was technically Bennett's gift, though I knew they both would love this huge stuffed dog from Ikea. Bennett lays on it and Austin calls him the "giant Kopo" (his little stuffed dog like that from the Sims long ago is named Kopo, after their real dog).

We had a meal with our neighbors, the Higgins, at our house in the afternoon and everyone went to bed early. Today we had another funny story with Austin, but that will have to wait until the next post. Merry Christmas, everyone!