Merry Christmas From The Armstrongs!

We've had such a wonderful Christmas and I hope you have too!  It's been so fun to celebrate with Ava this year, as expected we were 2 crazed parents so excited to see her "open" her gifts on Christmas morning!!  I have so many pictures, I'm completely overwhelmed by the whole thing :) I'm waiting on a few more from my sister and then I'll have lots to share.

We are at my parents house with both of my sisters and their husbands.  It's been a winter wonderland here, so cold and snowy.  As I'm typing this, I'm watching the snow flakes fall gently from a beautiful blue sky.  What a treat to have a picturesque backdrop for Ava's first Christmas!  She's been a delightful little darling all week long.  We did have one incident, which we have named the "Christmas incident of '09!"  Let's just say it involved 2 parents who were in desperate need of sleep, 1 little girl who was wide awake and giggling, and a 2:00 am drive around town.  Enough said.  Thankfully, it was an isolated incident and she has more than made up for it since then.  Not that we're keeping track or anything :)  Her aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa are showering her with attention and she is eating it up...I'm not sure how she's going to like it when we go home next week and it's just her and I again!    What a little sweetie!!  So far she has 2 favorite toys from the gift giving extravaganza, but you'll have to wait for the pictures!  Sorry :)

Trav and I have had the best time hanging out with my family.  I love when we're all home...staying up late, laughing and playing games.  We simplified everything about Christmas this year and it's been such a blessing.  There really is an age where you realize, it just isn't about the gifts or the food, but so much about the people and the memories.  We laughed til our sides hurt over a Tim Hawkins DVD and we've played endless games on our wii.  We've been getting an education in my Mom's new appliances and eating more than any of us needs to!  All in all, a perfect Christmas!!

Of course the cornerstone of the entire celebration is the joyous birth of another baby, the only baby who was born to die, born to save us from our sins.  God in flesh, love come down, our Savior and the King of Kings.  Family, food, memories and presents are all blessings from His hand, but the true reason for Christmas is Christ!

So, from our little family of 3, Merry CHRISTmas to you!!  Our greatest prayer for you is wrapped up in the hope of Christ.  In the promise of life eternally through Jesus' life, death and resurrection.  The greatest gift of all time.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

With Love,

Travis, Stephanie and Ava Page