Christmas by the year since 2005

We moved to Tanzania on July 5th, 2004. Having finished language school, and on our way back to Dallas for the birth of Tessa, we spent our first Christmas in Entebbe, Uganda but I have no pictures of it available. I do remember making chocolate chip cookies on the floor of our friends' house as they were having their kitchen built. Here is one picture from each of the following years.

2005 - We were borrowing a house after moving to Musoma from Dodoma. There were no decorations, but we enjoyed spending the day with our Australian friends at their barbecue.

2006 - Obviously a big year! We were released from the hospital in Nairobi having given birth to Jack 2 days prior to Christmas. The challenge that day was then climbing three flights of stairs for Christmas dinner with friends.

2007 - Finally, our first Christmas at home since leaving Denver in 2003.

2008 - Christmas with my parents at their lake house in Texas, followed by a massive family gathering in Dallas. It was fantastic to be with family again after 4 hot African Christmases.

2009 - We enjoyed another quiet Christmas at home. The day was a bit cooler and drizzly, so it felt more like an American Christmas. We have no chimney, so Santa came into the house by the front door, since we "left a key out for him."

2010 - The kids are putting the first ornaments on the tree. As we set up our very fake tree, Tessa asked, "Did this come from outside?"

May you have a very Merry Christmas surrounded by love and laughter, gifts and treats, family and friends, music and morsels, and the love of Christ.