The competition was excruciating. The judging was tense (see below). After hours of deliberation, my kids voted on a winner.

The WINNER of the

1st Annual Delony Christmas Card Contest Bonanza of Amazingness

is…

THE BUSSEY FAMILY!

Going with the homemade feel, the judges found it irresistible. Sure you can buy a snappy card, but make one of your own? Genius. The card was drawn by young miss Hope Bussey, so we’ve decided to award Hope one prize and the family another. Congratulations!

Second prize is award to: April DeFelice (I won’t mention that she’s my sister in law, because some may cry nepotism). And second prize carries with it the knowledge and pride that you could have been third (even though there is no third). Congrats!

Thank you to all those who played. They were all valiant efforts, better luck next year losers.

Here are four truths I leaned over Christmas from my kids:

1) Boots come in all sizes (even teeny tiny)

2) Samuel can do a mean impression of a gorilla (he received an animal book as a present).

3) Food eaten on a stick tastes better

4) You can spend all sorts of money on kids, but the best toys are free

So did you learn anything?

Twas the day before Christmas. I have nothing to blog.

Not rant nor a ramble. My brain’s all a fog.

With nothing to write, and nothing to say.

I’ll give you a picture to ponder this day.

[Instead check out this blog: Relevant Christian]

Miriam and I were talking during coffee this morning about Christmas traditions: ones we had grown up with, cultural ones,  and ones of other families we know. We’re at that point of trying to figure out what traditions of Christmas we want our family to engage in.

We’re really working to shake off the commercialization. Our kids aren’t into Santa. We’ve been working with them to understand that we should celebrate Christ year round and not simply once a year. We’ve been seeing this more of a time to draw near to each other as a family as we draw near to the Lord.   So we’ve been asking ourselves… what does that look like?

 So my question for you is this:

What are some of your families Christmas traditions that you hold dear?

I received a Christmas gift basket yesterday. Do you want to know who sent it?

(pause for effect)

The Mormon church.

I won’t say anything more. Just know that I’m laughing right now.

[Note: if you track this blog at all, you'll know why I'm amused. What's inside? That's even better]