Winter fun!

An actual picture of Matt and I together!

Megan wanted so badly to go out with the kids. I bundled her up in what I had (obviously the coat and also the boots are too big) this picture was taken right before she tripped over her boots and scraped her lips up on the driveway ;( we came right back in to watch from the window.

My little snow angel

bundled up and snuggly warm

candy stripes.

The Christmas letter

Matt and I alway joke about how cheesy the Christmas card letters can be. Then we saw this on the Jay Leno show and just cracked up! Enjoy
http://www.thejaylenoshow.com/video/clips/holiday-card-year-end-letter/1185266

"mother nature, you so crazy" Hahaha!

Christmas Carols

The kids love listening to the Christmas CD's we've collected along the way. I love hearing the kids singing, trying to remember the lyrics to the songs.

Brianna's favorite..."Good tigers we bring, to you and your kid. So bring us some piggy pudding and bring it right here!"

Jack's favorite... "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" (and a few other teeth, very current) and "Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer"

Megan's Favorite... "Deck the halls" she only knows the "Fa la la la la, la la, la la"

The "Elf in Home" project

A week or so ago, a visitor appeared on a shelf in our home. He had a little note with him that said this.....

Hello,
My name is Elfis. I have been sent to your home on special assignment from Santa himsELF.
My job is a simple, but important one.
I am to observe these children, take notes, and report directly to Santa every night.
Santa keeps a detailed list of who is being nice, and who is being naughty.
Theses last few days before Christmas are very important.
There are two rules to the "Elf in home" project, and they are
1) I, Elfis, am not to move at all while anyone is awake, and
2) No child is to touch me.
Please help me remain one of Santa’s helpers.
If either of these rules are broken, I will lose my magic and will remain a decoration forever.
But, if I can report something wonderful about each child, each night, I will make sure you each receive something special in your stocking on Christmas Eve.
I will also be awarded a ride back to the North Pole in Santa’s Sleigh!
I look forward to spending time with your family this Christmas Season!
-Elfis

We have had so much fun with this little friend. He shows up in a different (and sometimes crazy ) place every morning, and the kids have even sent letters with him back to the north pole. I sense a new tradition forming here....

An apple a day....

Brianna LOVES apples, therefore, Megan LOVES apples. Everytime I get one out, I have to get two out. "There so sweet and Juicy!" More apples please!

Less is more, honey!

Brianna got into her play make-up. After entertaining herself in the bathroom for a while, she unveiled her work of art! So pretty!

Traditions carry on!

Here's our catch!

check out megan playing peek-a-boo with the camera!

Here's a great shot! I think that this is the first picture ever of Brianna happily sitting on Santa's lap. Megan was thrilled with him! She just kept staring at his beard in amazement.

almost ready for the hayride. It was a gorgeous day...69 degrees, can you believe it, usually it's frigid here at the tree farm.

Our family looks forward to this tradition every year. Back in 2003, when Jack was just a couple of weeks old, we found this great little family tree farm about 20min from our house. We loved it so much, we've been back ever since. We get to pick out and cut down our own tree, go for a hayride behind a tractor, sit on santa's lap, drink some hot chocolate and pick out a new ornament. Every year so far, Brianna has been TERRIFIED of any santa who crosses her path. Last year she hid behind a ornament stand and peeked around saying "Jack, tell Santa I want a princess doll". This year, as we talked about going and cutting down our tree and visiting with santa Brianna declared that she wouldn't be afraid of Santa this year. Sure enough, santa complimented her reindeer antlers and she decided he wasn't too bad.

I was actually pleasantly surprised, Santa had a nice talk with my kids about the real meaning of Christmas, and why he takes toys to all the children!

funny story...

Brianna has a friend in her sunbeam class named Kaylee. Kaylee's birthday is Dec 25 and Brianna knows that as Christmas gets closer, so does Kaylee's birthday. When Santa asked the children whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas Jack started to say "Baby Jesus" when Brianna stepped up, so proud that she knows the answer, and declared "Kaylee's"!!

There are NO teeth in Tickling

Enough Said!

oh, and yes megan is in "time-out" too. She just likes do what the big kids are doing.

Just a little more birthday!

Well, around here, birthdays just keep on going and going. here are a few more birthday pictures, from when the McLaws' came up. Jack got a big box of Lego's and a few smaller sets. At first we were going to keep the little sets seperate, but we decided that we could imagine up more cool things if we combined all the fancy little pieces with the standard blocks. Last night we made a racecar/tow truck/ airplace that can also be a helicopter. Then after the kids went to bed, mom kept playing and made another... moon rover with satellite? Lego's are SO COOL!