the hodges family: Christmas 2011

Well this truly IS the most wonderful time of year. I can't express adequately enough in words how much I love the holiday season. Being reminded of sweet baby Jesus being born in a lowly stable, Christmas carols, the spirit of giving, the excitement the kids share....the list can go ON and ON and I just love love love it. I wish it could be Christmas all year round. :) Phoenix Christmas' are much different than the ones I grew up in back in Indiana, but there is still a slight chill in the air ;) which is complimented quite well with a nice peppermint mocha. Aawwh...I can't WAIT for it to get here this year already!!

This year we were around here for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Many church services keep us very busy leading up to Christmas Day and there's such a special and exciting hum around Palm Valley so many times a year, but especially Christmas time! When the kids and I left church on Christmas Eve we drove all around to look at Christmas lights before we went back to get daddy from work. Then we spent the remainder of the evening reading the Christmas story, snuggled up in PJ's and hit the hay.

We woke up Christmas morning and enjoyed precious precious time the 5 of us...exchanging gifts, singing some songs, soaking up every minute of the special day we could. Then we all caravanned with Brent's family up north to a cabin for the week. What FUN this was! Cousins played so well together, and all of us adults had fun game time, too once the kids crashed at night. :) Sledding, good eating, snow, a big hot tub...a week of being together. This was such a fun fun Christmas. Here are some pictures from our Christmas of 2011.

some from the cabin...the kids checking out the playground they can't play on. :)