Our First Christmas...

Our first Christmas with just the four of us rather. I have to admit I was a little worried that the excitement of Santa coming and the opening of presents would go by so quickly, and that we would end up looking at each other thinking is that it? I worried for nothing.

The Nativity story was reenacted. Santa worked overtime on Kate's kitchen that came with over 200 screws. Justin and I went to bed later than usual. The kids woke up earlier than usual. Zach finally got his DSi. Kate got her dog, that walks. Justin got a book about poop...long story. I got my boots. We went to church to help us remember the true meaning of Christmas, and I hosted my first Christmas dinner.

What was going to feel like a low key Christmas, ended up being just the Christmas we needed. It helped that my brother Jeff and his family came into town at the last minute. Zach and Kate love having them around. Lots of cousin time was consumed!




Santa brought a Kitchen for Kate and a Lego Table for Zach!




Kate with her dog Charlotte. At least that was her name today when I asked. It changes frequently!




Finally! His very own DSi..no more having to watch over some one's shoulder.



Justin's poop book. It is actually a pretty funny read.


And in case anyone wondered what I look like when I wake up...wonder no more.


Justin has been wanting a sweater vest. Don't ask. I don't have answers, but he loves it and wears it every Sunday.


A big shout out goes to Grandma Raelynn for my table make-over. The top used to be brown. She sanded it a million times and painted it a million times while she was out visiting in September. Let's just say it took a lot of patience that I clearly do not have. Her hard work made for a festive table setting though. I think I could get into the whole entertaining thing. I see why people collect dishes.

2011 Christmas Card...

If you didn't get our Christmas Card this year, it wasn't because we don't love you, its because we don't have your address! A big thanks goes to my SIL at MST Photography, for cruising over to our place, to snap a picture with her nice camera of us in front of our first home. I realized I have not posted any pictures yet and we have been living here for over 6 months. We love our new neighborhood! There are tons of kids to play with, hardly any cars driving by, and we have a park right next door making up for our lack of backyard. We live in a double culdesac, weird right? It's a good thing though because culdesacs encourage all the kids to play with each other in the street in front of our houses, again making up for our lack of backyard. We love it here!

T'was the Season...

Yep, pretty sure life just keeps happening and my journaling gets more and more sporadic. Good thing it's never too late to reflect. We had a lot of "firsts" this past season. In keeping with tradition, we set out the weekend after Thanksgiving to Lock Lollyland, the best tree farm around, and cut down our first "live" Christmas tree to put in our first home. Exciting right? It was, but not as exciting as it was to sit on Santa's lap as an adult. The things we do for our kids. Santa was more than willing bless him. Poor Kate is shy and Santa was a little bit too scary for her this year. Zach had to read her wish list for her. He is such a good brother.

We gingerbreaded too. Now I'm making up words! Picture me trying to frost and assemble the walls and roof together, trying to get the house to set with just my two hands, and you get a pretty good idea of how I feel about this tradition. But again, the things we do for our kids. They loved the candy part, both the decorating and the eating.

We watched some of our favorite Christmas movies too! The faves were How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Home Alone. They never do get old.