"May Sisses!"

FYI: "May Sisses!" = "Merry Christmas!" in Keaton lingo












We had such a terrific trip to SC for Christmas!

Highlights included:

• Nutcracker: watching our niece, Laura perform in the Nutcracker. She was the cutest, most graceful "Bon Bon" ever to take the stage! Here's a pic of the family after her performance

• Special Dinner: my brother in law, Rob, has become a master at preparing his signature Nicaraguan cuisine patterned after everyone's favorite Miami restaraunt, Los Ranchos. He and Lisa treated us one night to marinated skirt steak, black beans and rice, 2 different flavors of chimichurri, fried yuca, and plantains - yummy!! I should have taken some pictures, but I was too busy stuffing myself to think about it!
  

• Tiny Tots: this is the first time Keaton and his cousin Matthew (2) have been old enough to really "play" together. It was so much fun to watch them interact. It is obvious that they will be close friends (partners in crime) for years to come!

• Grove Park Inn - we ventured up to Asheville on the day after Christmas to visit the Grove Park Inn. They had fresh snow on the ground, and amazing Christmas decor. We ate lunch at their buffet which was RIDICULOUSLY good!

Sleigh Ride with "Brumbra"












Laura and Rob














Grandma with her girls












Matthew feeding Keaton a strawberry at lunch

• Kids & Gifts: Christmas with a houseful of kiddos is just too fun! Keaton's favorite gifts included his many new cars and trucks, his Elmo guitar, his Little People barn and carnival. He also loved playing with the toys that Santa brought to Matthew. In fact, we had several lessons in teaching him to share Matthew's toys with Matthew! Here's some of my favorite pics of the kids last week.

Gingerbread houses












Keaton and "DeDe"














Holiday Barbies!














Matthew was our funny Clone Trooper in diapers! He is quite the comedian.














At the Christmas Eve service this year, the pastor talked about how as children, our joy in Christmas is primarily found in the anticipation of the gifts we will RECEIVE. As adults, our joy is found more in watching others (especially our children) enjoy the gifts we have GIVEN, much like God delights in watching us enjoy the gifts that he has so graciously provided for all of us. As you know, this has been a tough last few months for Scott and I, but I have never felt more blessed by God than I am now. How amazing it is to know that we have a God that we do not have to pay penance to, but One that delights in OUR joy.

1 John 3:1 "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"