Merry CHRISTmas!

A rainy Christmas morning came early this year. Madeline woke up at 7 and checked out the goodies Santa had brought. She ran upstairs and startled me awake. Who likes being woke up like that? I held her off another thirty minutes while I tried to get a few more winks and allowed my heart rate to return to a normal rhythm. That was all she could take so we made our way down the stairs to see what other treasures awaited us under the tree.

Santa was good and brought her a Le*gos set and the complete St*rW*rs saga computer game. He gave Kenan H*tWh**ls cars and a race track.

Mommy got the car monogram sticker she asked for.

Daddy got the Car*lina vs. N*treD*me print he wanted. (FYI, he and two of his friends went to that game and are in the picture, very tiny, but they're there. Oh, and our Hee*ls won which was a nice and unexpected surprise.)

The kiddos got the next book in the series written by Big*Mama. It's part of a Sunday morning children's program at church. They have online stuff too. Check it out.

BUT, the BIGGEST surprise of them all was a W*ii!!! Thanks dad, it wouldn't have been possible without you! I think she's just a little happy, don't you?

The rest of the day was spent playing with all of our new toys. It took 2 hours and 20 minutes plus a few hundred pieces...

...but she put the whole thing together by herself. This is Ana*kin's Y*Wing Fighter. Girlfriend loves Le*gos.

Kenan ran over everything with his new remote control car.

And everyone got in on the W*ii action.

Including the K-Man. Believe it or not, he's actually good at bowling or as he calls it, blowing.

For dinner that night I made Car*raba's Lentil*&*Sausage Soup. If you've ever had it, this recipe tastes exactly the same. I may have to share it with you sometime...maybe...

We ended our day by singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and blowing out candles on a rice*krispie treat cake. I didn't want the day to pass without remembering the One whom we celebrate, who makes this day possible in the first place. Thank you Jesus for coming to a rotten world so that I might live with you forever.

I also want to remember the friends, known and uknown, who helped make our Christmas all that it was. We had food on the table and gifts under the tree thanks to some kind and generous individuals. For that, we will be forever grateful. It was a very Merry CHRISTmas!

Christmas Eve And The Weeks Before

The weeks leading up to Christmas were busy to say the least. The first weekend of December Madeline had her first solo in the children's choir Christmas Musical - Hotel*Bethlehem. She sang "A Way/Away In a Manger" and sounded like an angel. Yes, I could have popped my buttons!

The next week we had our adult choir Christmas Musical - "A Hickory*Grove Family Christmas". I had to capture my little cherubs before the dress rehearsal. Check out the K-Man's tie! So cute!!!

We were asked to give our family's testimony and Rex did a fantastic job telling our story. We pray that our trials and their outcomes will encourage others.

After two jam packed weekends at church it was time to get ready for Madeline's Christmas Party at school. I planned a whole bunch of fun stuff for her class to do but the weather did not cooperate and school closed early before we could celebrate. Guess we'll just have to have a 'winter' party when they go back.

My mom and dad arrived on Christmas Eve and the kids were about to tear the house apart they were so excited. Can you remember being that excited at Christmastime? Our tradition is to have our big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. This year we made it easy and fixed a lasagna, salad, and breadsticks. I think everyone enjoyed their meal.

Then it was time to open a few presents. Another tradition is to give the kids an ornament that is representative of their year. So Madeline got a Jonas*Brothers ornament that plays one of their songs...

...and Kenan got Thomas *The* Train...

...a new pair of Jo*Bros pj's...

...and a photo book telling how God brought Kenan to our family.

Now it was time to get ready for Santa. We left food for the reindeer so they could find our house...

...and some cookies and milk for the big man himself.

Madeline insisted she sleep on the couch in front of the fireplace so she could see Santa...wonder if it worked? Daddy's settling down for his long winter's nap too.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Christmas Home Tour By Candlelight

Welcome to our home! I'm so glad you came over for a visit. Please, come in. As in any proper southern home I'd like to offer you a glass of iced tea. Take a look around. Relax and enjoy!

I do realize the date says 2007, however the outside still looks pretty much the same and I haven't taken a picture as of yet this year, so, I'm using what I've got. The first thing you'll see when you walk in the front door is a nativity scene. I love them and have them placed all over. Jesus is the center of our home and this puts the focus where it needs to be right from the start.





This is the first nativity scene I purchased the year Rex and I were married. I bought it from a Christ*mas Around The Wor*ld home party, ever been to one?




If you'll go down the hall to your left you'll come to our family room. On the left side of the room is the staircase and in front of it is our Carolina*Christmas*Tree complete with blue and white lights. Over the years we have collected Tar*Heel ornaments and use this three foot tree to display them all on. The collection is still growing and I think it's about time to get a bigger tree!


Now turn around to the right side of the room and you'll find our fireplace opposite the stairs. You can actually see it from the foyer where we started, just to give you a little perspective. It thrills me to see four stockings hanging there! This will be our second Christmas with our son! It still amazes me to know that he's home and will never again have to spend Christmas without a family.



Behind the foyer to the right is our fomal dinning room. You're just in time, the table is all set!

I'm not your traditional red and green Christmas girl. I love jewel tones! The pattern I use is called Holly*Joy and it sits atop a gold charger. The plate is actually a cream color but in this picture it appears more yellow than it really is. It's a discontinued pattern so if you know where I can get serving pieces please let me know!

Take a look behind you, it's our tree! You're now facing the front of the house. See the windows by the front door to the right? That's where you came in.

As you walk from the dining room into the living room there's a little table on the right with another nativity scene. This one was made by our newlywed Sunday School class teacher.

He gave one to each couple and we all thought it was some kind of puzzle. It looked very abstract at first until we saw it put together. Each time I put it out I think of how much it made us laugh. That was fifteen years ago.

Opposite that table is our piano which holds yet another nativity scene. I told you I loved them.

This one is especially dear because it came straight from the Holy*Land. We bought this in Bethlehem when we visited Israel. It's made of olive wood and I leave it here all year 'round. Who says you can only use nativity scenes at Christmas?! What a life changing trip that was! We stood in the very place the shepherds stood as they saw baby Jesus for the first time. I've touched the manger that held the Saviour with my own hands. We even sang O Little Town of Bethlehem as we huddled together in that cave that was once a stable. That was my favorite moment of the entire trip. Well, that and the promise we were given... but that's a story for another time.

Last but not least is our tree proudly glowing with purple and white lights and holding so many years worth of memories.

One of which is this ornament to commemorate the first Christmas we got to spend with our sweet boy. From Guatemala with love!

And yes, we even have the kid's nativity scene under the tree to remind us all that Jesus is the best gift we can ever receive.

Thanks so much for stopping by! It was a pleasure having you in our home. We hope that you'll come back another time. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Card Carousel

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you enjoy our card!

It's hard to see the writing so I'm adding it here so you can read what we've done this year.

We have experienced a very challenging year that has allowed our faith and trust to be tested and affirmed. Rex was one of the many who were laid off from Bank of America in February and after numerous interviews is still looking for his next position. We are confident that he will not have to wait much longer. In the meantime, we are being provided for day by day and were able to spend the entire summer together visiting family and going to the pool.
Madeline, our 8 year old third grader, debuted her singing talent with a solo in our children’s choir Christmas musical. She is doing well in school and is looking forward to softball season in the spring.
Kenan, our adorable and active 2 year old, celebrated his first Forever Family anniversary with us and has finally started talking. He continues to bring so much joy to our lives and to all he meets.
Traci remains active as a room mom and volunteer at church. She had many singing engagements with her women’s ensemble, One Voice, and already has the calendar filling up for next year.
Please keep us in your prayers as we enter a new year and
visit our family blog for all the latest updates:
www.thepresent-backesfamily.blogspot.com

Love – Rex, Traci, Madeline and Kenan

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Card Carousel

I know some of you have been busy taking photos of your families and putting together your Christmas cards for this year. Won't you join me and my friend Faith for her Christmas Card Carousel. Come on , it'll be fun! Visit her blog on December 16th and share those cards.

The Shoe Is On The Other Foot

This is how I went to church Sunday. Oh, yes I did! Made me laugh so hard I cried! One is brown and one is black. I had absolutely no clue until I had been there over an hour. Who knew I'd be a trendsetter?!