Christmas

I have to admit I'm going through a little post Christmas depression! I love all of the Christmas traditions we enjoy as a family and it is always sad to see it end.
We were lucky to have Jason's parents with us for Christmas this year and the girls loved it of course!
Christmas Eve was busy. We made candy and sugar cookies. I loved watching the girls decorate them! I hope this is a tradition they will remember and do with their own little ones someday. We had lots of sprinkles and frosting everywhere but it is worth it! Grace frosted every one of her cookies with blue frosting of course! After a fancy Christmas Eve dinner the girls dressed up and acted out the Christmas story. Carissa stole the show as the wise man! We sang Christmas songs, read "The Night Before Christmas", and tucked the girls into bed. I'll never forget how happy Grace looked tucked into bed and how she said she saw a red light from Rudoph in the sky. Or Emma on her knees praying that she wasn't on Santa's naughty list! It was pretty funny and I really wish I had more than a mental picture.


Christmas Eve Jammies!

Jason's mom and Carissa. Gayle made her little handprint ornament for me.

Our little Nativity

Christmas morning! Santa brought a tea trolley!

A new Barbie car!

Julia with her zhu zhu pets

Emma serving up some hot cocoa for Christmas breakfast!

Christmas Eve with Grandma and Grandpa

After Christmas morning we drove to my parents house and arrived just in time for Christmas dinner. It was a treat to eat my mom's food and she always has her table so pretty. The girls had a fun time playing with all of their cousins! We had a big family party the next day so I was able to visit with so many loved ones I rarely get to see. And to top it all off two of my sisters announced that they will be having new babies this year! It was a fun surprise for all!


My dad came out wearing these to block out some of the noise from all of the little girls running around!

My Grandpa Joe with the girls

My mom and dad with my girls

Our Christmas Tree Adenture

This year we decided to cut down our tree. Our good friends Mike and Danielle take their boys every year so we decided to tag along. We had so much fun and made some great family memories! Mike grew up in these mountains and knew where to take us to find beautiful trees. Danielle and I stayed with the little ones while the dads took the bigger kids to find our trees. It was so exciting when they came walking back with big Christmas trees in tow! I think we may make this a new family tradition!

Family Picture Day

I've updated my blog with our new family pictures. This is always an eventful day to say the least. It is up there with Sunday mornings, only a little worse I think. After I dressed my girls and curled all four of their little heads we headed out the door to meet Holly O'keefe, our photographer. She was GREAT! This is the second year we have had her take our pictures and she is wonderful. Thank you Holly for all of the pictures and moments you captured of our family!

Here are a few more pictures I love!