Christmas - Part 1

Here's our Christmas in Review!

Last year's Santa picture left a little to be desired.

So, this year, we went by to see Santa 2-3 times before picture day. At home, we practiced saying Hi to Santa (either they, me, Daddy, Nonnie or Evan), sitting on his lap, telling him what they wanted for Christmas (stickers and Diego back-packs) and finally saying "cheese" for the picture!

Big day arrived. Everything went great, they climbed right up on Santa, no fear, no hesitancy. They chatted with him. They were smiling. But we quickly realized the error of our ways when Santa's helper went to assist in getting the boys attention for the cameraman.....by "tickling' their tummies with a puppet.

This year's photo will be captured: "Puppets? Nobody said nufin' about no stinkin' puppets!"

Seriously, we have a HUGE fear of any and all puppets - be it TV or real. Puppets usually send them screaming out of the room. So, right before the shot, laughing and talking. This shot: Logan on the left, "Oh crap is she coming back again with that puppet?" Austin, "Hey! No like puppets! No touch my belly! Mommy?!"

Sorry, boys!

Next up, as a family (see family pic in "Merry Christmas" post), we were chosen to light the 4th candle of Advent (Love!) the Sunday before Christmas. Here's Gary with the two littlest dapper boys:

(Can't you tell that every picture for the last 5 -6 months has had that "cheeeeeeeze" expression?)

And then we went out to eat afterwards. This is a typical restaurant experience for us.

Note Evan's, "I'm so glad we're eating out like real people" expression! Not!

We ordered these off a fellow blogger's website. Adorable little Guatemalan outfits...or as Mason calls them, "African Boy's Choir" outfits.

Christmas Eve, Austin and Logan were part of the Christmas Pageant. They were the MOST adorable littlest shepherds I have ever seen!!!

Or as Mason calls them, "Omar and Kadavi Eartern Oil Drillers."

More of Christmas 2008 to come!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours...

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Lights!

One day last week, when the kids were sick (but not feverish or puking), we loaded them up in the wagon:

This is Austin and Logan's snowman! They watch from the window every night as he "comes alive!" Then we headed around the corner to my neighbor's house.

This house is famous - it's in TLC, on a special about way out there decorated houses!

On this night, Santa and Mrs. Claus saw all these lights from the sky and just HAD to come down and see them. But Austin and Logan are pretty sure that this house IS Christmas and that Santa lives there!

Yum - candy canes!
Our door mat - how cute is that!

Nada Mucho.

Not much to report here.

Computer got well and we all got sick and. I. mean. ALL!

Lory was the initiator. She went down last Wednesday. Austin went down Thursday. Friday was a trick day - we thought we were fine. But Saturday, Logan went down. Saturday night claimed Evan. I held on until Sunday. Gary went down last night and Mason finally went this morning!

Lots of fun going on around here!

So, I wanted to add a few more wonderful pictures from this summer. This time giving huge kudos to my extremely gifted friend Karen and also add a link to her website: http://www.karenpeeblesphotography.com/

Karen - these pictures are priceless!! What a wonderful treasure for us to have. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Catch-Up!

The computer is back! Woo-Hoo!

Okay, here's some pictures of the last few weeks.

Baking for Turkey Day...

Bowling with the church youth group:

Hanging their ornaments on the Christmas tree.

One of the many trips to see Santa at the Polar Express.

(note the cowboy boots!)

SICK COMPUTER

This is Nonnie standing in temporarily for Donna. Everyone is OK - except the COMPUTER!! The darn thing just isn't working and is in the hospital for repairs - should be coming home sometime this week - so hang in there, faithful bloggers - Donna will be returning shortly.

The twins are enjoying everything about Christmas so far, even Santa - they were scared to death last year whenever they saw him, but have taken right to the jolly old man this year.

Donna has not been able to visit any of her blogger friends sites, so don't be mad because you haven't gotten any comments from her - they will be coming.

She asked me to post a few pictures of the boys that were taken this summer at the beach by a friend of hers who is a fantastic photographer, so here are a few of those shots. I haven't captioned them because I'm not quite as witty as my darling daughter. But, who needs captions when the subjects are this darn cute!!

Hopefully, the next entry will be from Donna, herself!