Happy Merry Christmas!

Some shots from our fun Christmas morning! As Annie would say, "Happy Merry Christmas!"

Ellen, opening a bulletin board craft. Already completed and hung on her wall!

Ellen's doll Lanie in her new dress. Ellen opened the same dress but in her own size later in the morning!

Will's new pirate ship Lego set. Recommended for ages 9-16. Completed by Will, alone with no assistance, after a few hours of work over two days. (Two days because his work was interrupted by a trip out of town. He got back to work on building it the second he walked back into the house.)
Such excitement!

Sam, opening Woody.

See that package to the far left in the picture above. It's a hockey stick. Sam's serious about his hockey. Since opening, the end has been sawed off so it's the perfect size for him and it has seen some action in the cul-de-sac. I've got to post a picture of it. Little Sam, not yet two, playing street hockey with his stick. Awesome.

The kids draw names and play Secret Santa, giving a gift to one of their siblings each Christmas. Ellen drew Sam's name and got to work sewing him a teddy bear. He LOVES it! He was so happy when he opened it. He pointed to the bright blue eyes and said, "Eye," and then pointed at his own eye and said, "Eye." Then he had the bear give kisses to everyone. So sweet!

You may think Annie was confused about what to do with her presents, but she figured it out!

Yes, she asked Santa for mouthwash.

Merry Christmas!
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve!!!

After our Christmas Eve pizza with friends and the family service at church, we're home to hang stockings, set out cookies and put on new pajamas!

Sam's very proud of his new big boy PJs just like Will's!Leaving the plate of cookies......and going to bed!

Ice Skating, Ice Cream and Gingerbread

We have a Christmas tradition of going out to eat at one of our family's favorite restaurants. The past couple years, we have gone at lunchtime on a day close to Christmas and have paired the outing with ice skating! Last year, Will was a paid, but non-participating, skater. This year, he took to the ice and seemed to naturally know what to do.

Ellen (in the background in the next picture) remembered all she learned from her skating class last winter and had a great time on the ice!

One day...everyone will be old enough to skate. Until then, Annie and Sam passed the time spectating...

...and visiting the huge Christmas tree (look how little she is!)...

...and just running around being silly (always a favorite pastime)!

After lunch, the kids always get ice cream. And we always take their pictures eating their ice cream. They're just so happy with ice cream. Here are the annual post-meal ice cream pictures:

Before heading home, we visited the Gingerbread Village. Not that our gingerbread houses aren't well-decorated, but wow, these are always fun to drool over.

We had such a great day!

Tree #2

This is Tree #2, to replace Tree #1, which refused to drink water.

This is all of our ornaments, awaiting the relocation to Tree #2.

Introducing Tree #2.

To be honest, I enjoyed decorating the tree the second time around more than the first time. Certainly makes for a memorable year!

Gingerbread Houses

We had a great time decorating gingerbread houses!

Yum!

Sam loves milkshakes.

A Tree?

Off to the farm stand to pick a Christmas tree!

Ellen and our noble fir

Will, doing the unveiling

Annie, ready to decorate

And Sam, watching, pondering, thinking, "Hmmm...a tree? Now this is...different"

Goalie

Oh Annie. Sweet Annie. She refuses to wear a coat. And she refuses to wear the white shirt that goes under this Christmas dress. But she wears the dress every other day. She would wear it everyday, but laundry doesn't always get done that fast. Here she is, wearing the dress, defending the goal: