Santa came to our house!!!!!!

Luke was the first awake at 6:50am. Although my picture of him is quite blurry so I didn't add it. He waited a couple minutes then Jake came out...then the natives got restless and went down to wake up Anna at 7am.








The kids were so thrilled! As usual, we open stockings. Then eat a nice breakfast together, then we read our Bibles about the birth of Jesus Christ. Then the hysteria starts! The kids were VERY spoiled this year. They got great gifts and we (as a family) got a Wii....

Christmas Eve 2009

Our Christmas Eve in a nut shell...we started at Mike's aunt and uncles house for his grandparents Christmas. Then we came home...and actually kept the kids awake so we could make it to a Christmas Eve service near our house that started at 9:00! It was a great service but very LONG! 90 minutes! Then we still had to get ready for Santa's arrival. Needless to say, the kids didn't get in bed until nearly 11pm.











The kids enjoyed posing next to Santa's snacks and also loved reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas". And, after 3 Christmas' in these PJ's we will be retiring them. Anna's will fit again next year because she grows S L O W L Y...but the boys (as you can see) are growing right out of theirs). Jake is actually wearing the smallest pair because he is our smallest kid these days! :)

AnnaJoy's Christmas Party

Thank goodness for one of our favorite babysitters, Leighanne! AnnaJoy wanted me to be at her holiday party soooo bad! But, I didn't want to bring the boys! Phew! Last minute I found Leighanne! Anna was already asking if I was there before they were back in their classroom, so I was relieved that I was able to be there! (I can't imagine her disappointment if I hadn't been there!) It was pure chaos (aren't they all?) I got a pic of her and her little friend, Tessa. Tessa has lived down the road from us the whole time we have lived in our house and we never knew her! Thank goodness the girls has class together now! They are best buds!

Jake's Christmas Party

I was able to make it to the last 10 minutes of Jake's Christmas party today. He was pretty thrilled! I put him in a nice holiday sweater, do you think he could keep it on? He said he was hot....sigh....

AnnaJoy's School Christmas Program

AnnaJoy's school program was tonight. It was a lot of fun to watch. She was way in the middle so we could barely see her, but they all did wonderful! Jake and Luke were a bit squirmy when there was no singing, but when the students were singing both boys were silent! :)

Luke's Christmas Party

Today was Luke's holiday party. The kids had a blast. Like his cookie he decorated??? Yep, he didn't either! All those cinnamon discs ended up picked right off, then he still decided it wasn't very yummy!

Visiting Santa at the mall

For the first time, I didn't put the kids in holiday clothes before going to visit Santa. I realized that I had about an hour of free time and that if we were ever going to go see Ol' Saint Nick, we had better get moving! The kids were thrilled. They gave him their lists and smiles nice for photos. No entertaining screaming Luke pictures this year!

The Children's Program at our Church

The 2's and 3's did Jingle, Jingle Christmas Bells and Away in a Manger. (very cute!) Luke was waving to Daddy, who had to sit by his Sunday School kids. Jake and AnnaJoy sang a few different songs about Jesus' birth and Christmas day. It was great. From the pics, can you tell that Jake was being told (by his daddy who was right up front) to be quiet?) I am putting video on my facebook of the song that he was "getting bored" during!! It is pretty funny to watch! Anna had a speaking part and Jake had to hold up the letter R, just like in his preschool program. It was a great night, topped off by our little niece Calli Jo answering the all important question (asked to the 4th and 5th graders DURING the program), "Who was at the first Christmas" Well, naturally on cue like she had practiced with the big kids, CJ chimed in "ME!" the entire church laughed. It was perfect...and no one expected it! :) Merry Christmas! Praise God for the children who really remind us of the importance of this time! :)

Jake and Luke's Preschool Christmas Program

Jake and Luke's preschool had a Christmas program (a first for us). The boys did so well! I didn't have the camera in the correct mode, so most pics are not so great! I was nervous about how Luke would do!!! Of the 30-40 3 year olds, during practice only 2 were being "naughty" or cute however you decide! Of course one was mine! Luke and another little guy from his class took turns running up to the microphone and saying, "HELLO" and running back to the stands before the teachers could get after them...thank GOD neither one did it during the performance! :)

The First Snow.....

O.K. so I do not LIKE snow, but my kids sure do! I decided after dinner we should probably go out and play in it (just in case God answers my prayers and makes it all melt tomorrow). So at 7 pm we got dressed and went outside to build a snowman. Not my usual behavior, since I run a tight ship during the week and have all kids in bed by 8pm usually. Well, they were in bed by 8:15, no baths, but in bed. Being dirty for one day never hurt anyone, right????

AnnaJoy ~ Artist

AnnaJoy's elementary school had their art fair today. We were able to go see everyones hard work. She was very excited to show off her work. I took all three kids to see it, and AnnaJoy got to bring Daddy when he got home from wrestling. We sent the camera with Daddy, cuz, well I forgot it! :) Great job AnnaJoy! :)