Happy CHRISTmas!

Wow can you believe that the Christmas "season" has already come and gone? It seems like a flash, wurlwind weekend! Honestly I wouldn't have changed it for the world though! Mike, Malachi, Thiessen and I started off the weekend chaos, I mean festivities, with the big-DuFrene clan. We headed towards River Falls, WI to meet up with the whole side. It was a wonderful time, we had delicious food, quality conversations, and lots of fun. Malachi had a great time with his dad's cousins and received a wonderful tool bench gift. He also entertained most of us for the night with his antics.
On Sunday we hit up church at OHCC per our usual Sunday ritual, then headed to my parents' home for the Anderson Christmas. Yes-Lutefisk dinner was present! We got there, quickly fed Malachi to get him his nap on time, then settled in for a wonderful Swedish meal. Afterwards was filled with White Elephant gift exchange, watching the kiddos (as they awoke from naps) open gifts, and having fun. The night ended with a little 3-13 cards.
Monday morning we were back at my parents for the Gelschus Christmas. It was filled with chaos as the 4 kiddos under 2 years old opened gifts, played with toys, stole other kids toys, and rolled in the wrapping paper. Then there was wonderful breakfast! Tami (my sister) made delicious carmel rolls, there was bacon, fruit and muffins-Malachi loved it! He just ate and ate and ate until his heart was content. After Breakfast Mike had to go to work (yes he worked from noon to 5p.m. on Christmas Eve)! Malachi and I headed home for church prep and nap time. The Candle light service at OHCC was wonderful. There was great music, a wonderful message, and of course candles lit while singing "Silent Night" (my personal favorite tradition for Christmas). Afterwards we spent a calm evening at home, it was nice to eat dinner, put Malachi to bed on time, and just relax with the fireplace on and watching Christmas movies on tv.
Tuesday morning was wonderful! Malachi slept until almost 8a.m.! That is fantastic for him to let us sleep in that much. We had pancakes and bacon, cleaned up and then went to have a nice calm morning for the 4 (Thiessen too) to share gifts. Malachi was once again a card. He rolled in the wrapping paper, dug in, and helped where he could. After wards we welcomed Oma and Opa out to our house. Once again Malachi was completely spoiled. He then went down for his nap while we relaxed watching "A Christmas Story" and talking. After Malachi woke up we started the tasty work of Mike-he made Chicken Alfredo! It was wonderful to have that with Garlic bread and of course a slue of Christmas cookies!

For pictures of the chaos please check out this link
Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing day!
Remember that although this season is filled with gift giving and time with family the big reason we gather to celebrate is because of who we are to celebrate. Jesus came as a infant. We spend hours upon hours getting the right gift and wrapping it just perfectly, Jesus (the ultimate gift) was wrapped in swaddling cloths. Praise God that He would send Jesus for us!

Much love,
The DuFrenes
(Mike, Amy, Thiessen, Malachi and the much anticipated DuBabe #2)