CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

The many Christmas's of The Shaw Family

I know, I know...it's March. Who really cares though, right??? 5 years from now, when I look back on this post, I will remember that life was so full in the end of 2010 and begining of 2011...that I didn't have time to stop and post on my blog until March. I will remember that Christmas that year was a calm before a storm...a beautiful blizzard of a storm. And I will remember that I loved this Christmas. :)

Christmas at Home

This year, we had our Christmas Morning at home...and on Christmas Eve! We wanted the kids to be able to open their gifts at home, and to have some time to enjoy them, so we decided to open one day early. There were really no complaints with this! lol We loved having Christmas in the little farm house. Hard to believe that next Christmas, we will have a little one toddling around and grabbing all the ornaments off the tree. For this year, Charlie had that job.

Christmas with the Teens

I tell you, the teens in our ministry, are really just like family in many ways as well. We love them, and miss them when we are away from them. For Christmas this year, the group went downtown for light gazing, carriage rides, and the Spaghetti Factory!


Can you see the awesome shoes that Nicki and I spotted???
It is good to have a fellow shoe lover for a friend.

Hannah...not Banana


Christmas at the Shaw's

This year, all of Brian's extended family from Arkansas and Mississippi came up for an Indiana Christmas. It was a full house, but there was a lot of fun to be had! We played games non-stop, went on a "cousins" date, and really enjoyed the fellowship.


(Abbie and Isaac with one of their favorite doggies...Meater. He has been with Aunt Amanda and Uncle Justin for as long as they can remember.

Now that, is cut throat card playing.

BLING! Cory showing off his awesome Santa Bingo prize.

Out on the town...kinda. "Cousins" date. Hopefully a new tradition.

Christmas at the Pulliam's

Christmas at my Mom and Dad's house is like going to Mr and Mrs Claus's. Everything is just perfect and you have that warm fuzzy feeling like when you just come in from the snow and are drinking hot cocoa. Know what I am talking about???

Aren't my parents beautiful? (Or handsome...depending on who you look at!)

Our Christmas Eve

The very first year that Brian and I were married, we went shopping together on "our" Christmas Eve. "Our" Christmas Eve is the day before all the festivities begin. Normally, that is the 23rd of December. We love this day. Most years, we eat at Olive Garden for dinner and finish up shopping. Some years we have not been able to afford to do much, so we all just have a nice dinner at home and then go look at lights or something. But, we always try to set this day aside for us. This year, we took the kids to the Children's Museum, then to Dr Boccone's office to check out Gracie, and then to our annual Olive Garden dinner. (Which was provided via gift card from an awesome teen!!!)