Our ward did a really neat Christmas party this year. It was called "Come to the Inn" or something like that and it was all bethlehem themed where they tried to re-enact the Christmas night. The halls of the church were decorated as Bethlehem shops...one being the fabric store where everyone in the ward was given Bethlehem garb to wear. The gym was closed off and decorated like the inn. They served an authentic type dinner and asked Erich, Jake and I to be Mary and Joseph. Halfway through dinner we came and asked for a room...they of course told us it was full but there was a stable available. After dinner they announced that the baby Jesus had arrived, so the ward went outside where they had decorated a live nativity scene complete with goats and a mule and a manger. We sang Christmas songs out there around the nativity and then went inside for dessert.
It took a lot of work from the activity folks I am sure, but it was such a neat and spiritual experience. A perfect opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Jake was a good sport and did an excellent job as baby Jesus...being very peaceful through the whole program.
Anyhow I just love Christmas and am so grateful to have such good family and friends to help celebrate this wondrous time of year.
Although this is a little late in posting, here are some pics we took coming home from seeing Erich's family. Traveling with a newborn demands you slow down and stop along the way...so we tried to make the most of our stops. Here's a detour to some waterfalls and to the river. 
