2012 Christmas Card Rejects

Merry Christmas and lots of Love from the Martin family...

Merry Christmas from Our Home to Yours

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Christmas Traditions #12

Christmas Eve 1996:  I worked at a pharmaceutical company 45 minutes away from our seminary apartment and had to work from 10am to 7pm, so when I got home Brad had a sweet, romantic dinner waiting for our first Christmas together.  It was a tray of crackers, cheese & Hillshire farms summer sausage.  Awww.... We watched "Christmas Vacation" and laughed out loud before anyone had ever heard of an LOL.

Tonight we have a tray of these same snacks, but also have added for our growing family, especially the boy....pizza rolls, jalapeno poppers, mozzarella sticks, chips & dip, apple cider...and of course cookies, so we can save some for Santa.

We open presents from each other.  The kids bought for each other yesterday and couldn't wait to exchange them, so they did theirs yesterday.  I loved that they were actually excited to GIVE!  They usually open stockings and Santa comes Christmas morning, but we couldn't wait to do stockings so we did that tonight too.  (We're not big on the strict rules of traditions, just enjoying the holiday and each other.)  I hope you make some new traditions this year.

So although it's been said many times, many ways....Merry Christmas to you.  2010

Christmas Traditions #11

Craftiness comes around at this time of year, making it another Christmas Tradition postable....plus I get to show off my adorable little Christmas princess....and really...isn't that what this blog is about anyway?

Serious ballerina princess pose....next year..."The Nutcracker"!

Christmas Card Rejects...2010

This is where it began....

Doing well so far...

 

...but notice here Sammy looking at Grace....

He nipped her on the nose!

(what really makes me laugh is the unaware sister & brother still smiling for the picture!)

 Then Moriah decides to take care of the situation....and hold Sammy down...

but eventually he does escape....and the silliness ensues...

Sammy will have none of it.  He's much too mature for that.
 And soon, the big kids are tired of taking pictures and they leave too.

And Sammy gets his revenge on the excessive squeezing....

But soon....All is well again.

Merry Christmas 2010

Christmas Traditions #10

Christmas Cards are going out this weekend all over the world.  I get to say world this year because some good friends of ours moved to India in August.  Our cards also end up in Kansas, Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Virginia, Oregon, California, Colorado, Missouri & South Carolina (if I can get Lori's address--Lori, if you are reading....send me an email!).  I lost a lot of my addresses when I switched computers this summer, so I'm not sending out as many as usual.  I also wrote a letter this year because I didn't send out any Christmas cards last year, and it was time to catch up some of the "older" friends and family on how our family is doing and what keeps us so busy.  I don't send it to everyone, just those I know that don't hear from us that often.  Here are snippets from it:

Martin Family Christmas Letter 2010

MNM:  Moriah Natalie is now 2½ and has quite a personality!  She performs often for anyone who’ll listen, singing everything from ABCs to “Good Morning, Baltimore” from Hairspray.  She asks daily for chocolate milk & to have her birthday with Grandma & Pappy at Chuck E. Cheese…in March.  She’s a happy girl and our favorite thing she says is…”I like you.”.  
GCM:  Grace Caroline is now 10 and loves CYT, emailing her friends, American Girl dolls and books, horses, taking piano lessons and making crafts. She loved the Ramona & Beezus movie that came out this year, since she’s read all of the Beverly Cleary books.  She was recently found decorating her dollhouse for Christmas.  She’s a great big sister & makes us all laugh!
LAM:  Luke Ashton will be a teenager in January & now stands as tall as his mom.  Fashion, texting & smelling good have now taken precedence in his life, as well as the gradually increasing realization of his parent’s uncoolness.  He has learned to play keyboard this year, and has been taking guitar lessons at Bethel College.  PTL, he still gives spontaneous hugs! 
CYT: Christian Youth Theater Wichita has been a fun family experience all year long.  Mom music directed Grace and 41 other kids ages 8-18 in “Charlie Brown” in January and now Dad is directing music for “Seussical”.  Luke & Grace both enjoyed performing in “Narnia” & “Tom Sawyer” and look forward to “Annie” in the spring.  CYT teaches kids to sing, act, & dance all for the glory of God.  
RPC:  Brad’s sermons just keep getting better and more anointed, as he studies God’s Word and overflows with a passion for all that he learns. The RiverPoint family moved out of the building we were leasing and will celebrate our first Sunday
in our very own building right on Main street in downtown Newton on December 19^th at 9 & 10:45.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!  

This Christmas as you consider all the gifts that have come to you through Jesus, God’s perfect gift, remember that it is but a taste of all the good things yet to come. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! II Cor.9:15

Merry Christmas and Happy 2011!

Christmas Traditions #9

We love warm, sweet treats at our house on a cold night like tonight. Luke posted on his blog a recipe that he enjoys every Christmas and his special way of making it! Look out, Bobby Flay!

My real singing elves

This goes with yesterday's tradition....

Actually they're yelling, not so much singing. And apparently music makes Moriah bouncy.

Christmas Traditions #8

Christmas music can be heard around our house from about Thanksgiving week until December 26. We love a few CDs that play in our kitchen and a few others in my iTunes. Christmas just isn't Christmas until I hear these songs.

Here is a list of the Martin family's favorite Christmas music:

Albums

Elf soundtrack

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Amy Grant "Home for Christmas"

George Winston's "December" (Hint for my husband: Maybe there could be something in my stocking this year. Besides lint.)

Handel's Messiah

Bach's Christmas Oratorio

Point of Grace "A Christmas Story"

Songs

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas sung by Judy Garland or The Carpenters

The Christmas Song sung by Nat King Cole (no one else should try.)

Winter Wonderland sung by my parents (at many cheesy Christmas programs while I was growing up....and. I. loved. it.)

Silver Bells by Bing Crosby & Rosemary Clooney

Carol of the Bells by George Winston (piano---any of his albums are beautiful) or the Shaw Chorale

I'll be Home for Christmas by Elvis Presley

O Holy Night sung by Renee Fleming (NOT Josh Groban. I repeat. NOT Josh Groban B98 fm. Grrr.)

The Christmas Shoes by Newsong (I have to put this one here because Luke loves this song. He actually cries when he hears it. Don't tell him I told you....but he really loves his mama.)

Auld Lang Syne sung by Harry Connick *sigh* (He can sing anything really....and I sigh.)

Bethlehem Morning by Sandi Patti

Happy Birthday Jesus

Christmas Traditions #5

Breakfast Casserole

5 slices bread, cubed 2 cups cheese

1 lb. sausage 1 can chopped green chiles

6 eggs 2 cups milk

Cube bread & place in buttered 9x13 dish. Fry sausage until crumbly and put over bread. Put cheese evenly over sausage. Mix milk, eggs and chiles together and pour over cheese. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

We have this yummy breakfast casserole every Christmas morning at our house.