Christmas

 The first BIG snowstorm.  Nightime sledding with daddy while me and leah get the hot chocolate and popcorn ready for a movie night.  This was the first year that we watched some really fun Christmas movies with our kids - Miracle on 34th street, The Muppets Christmas Carol, and The Santa Clause one night when we had a sleepover with Jo's kids.  And my very, very favorite we watched when Byron and Karen were with us for a few days before Christmas,  It's a wonderful life.

 Myah and Clara's anual pj shot

 We did white elephants with the adults this year and oh it was fun.  I kinda don't think this is meant to cover your nose, but I can't remember.  I was burned out by Christmas Eve.  is that horrible?  It's true though.  Byron had his knee replaced about a week and a half before Christmas and stayed with us while he was recuperating, and getting Christmas ready for four little kids is no small feet by itself.  By that night - I was toast.  I think my siblings were too.  Instead of the nativity and bells, and all the other meaningful fun stuff for the kids, we sent them all downstairs to watch a show while we sat upstairs and laughed at silly presents and relaxed for a while and then went home.  And for this year, that was perfect.

 Papa and Leah

 Santa came - lucky ducks

 give it up for the rainbow loom - WOOT WOOT!

 Graham is in love with his train set.  He played with it for 3 hours straight Christmas day.  3 hrs!!!

 The 2nd best present of the year.  Thank you dear trampoline for burning so much winter energy.

 and the best present of the year - the teepee.  And I couldn't believe how easy it was, despite how much time I spent pouring the internet for teepee tutorials.  no tutorial needed.  We cut a bunch of willows up at b's parents over thanksgiving, drilled some holes through them and lashed them together.  Then I bought a huge drop cloth that I just draped around the top and tied with some leather that I cut holes for in the top.  I cut around the bottom with pinking shears and whishy woosh, a teepee.  It was at least february before Clara and Gray slept in their beds again.

and two of this one, because I can't get enough of those chubby little fingers and those brown cow eyes. Merry Christmas - ----fewf, we made it through:)