Merry Christmas!

cousins!

grandpa couldn't have chosen a better gift for this little guy...

(and I know I'm his mom, but doesn't Charlie look so handsome in his button down shirt and sweater vest??)

A Rapunzel dress up dress!!

Charlie loves all things transportation...planes, trains, automobiles...

We always have Christmas eve with my side of the family.  When we get home though, it's a tradition for the kids to open one gift, always new pjs.  They get to wear them that night which is fun!  Addie is very excited about the polka dots on her jammies.

Charlie not all that excited about his motorcycle jammies...

Clara, not quite aware of anything that's going on, but big sister tries to model her little sister's pjs.

Christmas morning before all the fun begins...

Before opening any gifts, we read the account of Jesus' birth together as a family.

Clara snoozes through it all...

still snoozing...as her new stuffed "cordy roy" sits by her

Patrick and I went "practical" for gifts for each other, jackets and jeans...love it!  Although, does this mean that we're becoming an old married couple??

grandpa came over to have brunch and to spend time with us on Christmas day...

Happy birthday Jesus!  You are the reason for this day!

Anticipating Christmas...

The weeks leading upto Christmas went by so quickly.  As always, we go and get our Christmas tree as soon as possible after Thanksgiving.  We love getting a real tree, and we want to enjoy it for as long as we can.  With Patrick home all month, we enjoyed spending time at home, hosting some out of town family who came to see us (and of course to meet Clara), and enjoyed some Christmas activities.

3 kids, 3 stockings...brings a smile to my face.  What is Charlie doing, you ask?  I have no idea...

We had the best tree this year....hardly any needles on the ground (even with 2 kids tugging at the branches everyday!)

staircase garland up...Christmas decorating done!

playing at home

Charlie starting to give attention to Clara...looks like he's helping her put the pacifier in her mouth...

Adeline inside the small basket that we've been giving Clara baths in...what a goof!

This is kind of funny to me because we have a picture identical to this when Adeline was this age...

Adeline and Grandpa Dennis getting ready to take the lightrail downtown to see the Holidazzle parade.

Watching the parade with daddy...

Our small church (sunday school class) Christmas party was such a wonderful time.  A very generous couple opened up their home and even all the couples brought their kids.  It was a fun time for all.  Here is daddy Patrick (a pilot) and daddy Matt (an engineer) reading the instructions and starting to assemble a gingerbread house with the girls.  This was comical to watch...wish I had the video camera along...

teamwork at its best...good job, boys!

Grandpa Jim & Grandma Melodee came to meet Clara Eloise, and we enjoyed a couple of days with them.

Clara looks likes she's listening intently to what grandpa is saying...

grandma & Clara

We took the lightrail withe grandma & grandpa downtown to see the Macy's Christmas display.  This is the second year grandma & grandpa have been able to do this with us.  

Charlie:  "Who is this guy that I'm sitting on his lap?"

growing so fast

Sleepover

We love it that our good friends, Matt & Kenna, have a daughter close to Addie's age.  We love it that the two girls are such good friends!  And we love it that she lives so close to us!  Riley spent the night at our house last night while her parents were out of town.  These girls had so much fun together!  I'm pretty sure there will be more sleepovers in the future...

 The excitement of watching a movie together

 gotta love these girls!

 Charlie trying to play with the girls