Christmas, finally!

Just make sure you scroll down past Christmas and check out Kevin's 1/2 marathon pictures. He did a great job!

So here are the Christmas pictures. They'll be a lot, so just bear with me and enjoy. We had a wonderful Christmas. I told Jane today that I needed to take down the Christmas decorations and she asked, "Why?" I told her we needed to put them away so we could be excited to put them up again next year. She sweetly asked, "Can I keep all my new toys out?" I said, "Of course. Just the decorations, tree, stockings, etc are going away." "Oh, ok, Mom!" We love Christmas!

We had our own personal drummer "girl" this year

Preparing for the nativity reenactment at Gramma's house on Christmas Eve. We were supposed to all be at Kim's house, but a few sick kids prevented us from going there, so we went to Gramma's. Jane was having wardrobe issues. Gramma was very accomodating. It worked out though because when I originally told Jane that we would be acting out the Nativity scene she said she wanted to be Mary. I told her that Mikayla would be Mary, but that she could be a sheep. She wasn't that excited. Since Mikayla wasn't there, Jane got to be Mary.

She made a beautiful Mary!

Riding the donkey (Me) with Joseph (Daddy) helping and Gramma narrating from the scriptures. Alice was checking out the Christmas tree.

At the manger

The donkey turned into a wiseman and Alice took over the manger (she was a sheep, but it lasted only for a moment)

Heading out the door for yet another caroling adventure

Back home to open Auntie Beth and Uncle Cody's presents to the girls: A book and pj's to wear on Christmas Eve.

Getting tired. They loved the books and the pj's. Thank you Beth and Cody!

Alice opening the cute monkey pj's

Alice opening the Night Before Christmas book from Gramma. She recorded herself reading it. Pretty cool. Thanks, Gramma.

Jane sporting her cute pj's as they dove onto the cushions.

Midfall pictures

Good camera work Kevin!

We really are good parents!

Christmas morning!

The Stockings

Jane got all of the Lion King figurines and in this one I love her face as she says, "Pumba"

The Tree

Alice kicked Pooh off the bouncing zebra

Yes, Alice wound up naked (except for the diaper of course) all of Christmas morning

Opening her long asked for Snow White Polly Pocket. Before Christmas we would go to the store and she would say, "I want Jasmine and Snow White and that's all I need."

Alice is saying so many words now, but one of her first (sadly enough) was Cinderella. Kevin loves how her eyebrows raise up as if to say, "Did you see, I got Cinderella!"

Kevin's sister, Kara, made the girls these little flower clips, too cute. Thanks, Kara.

My sister, Kim gave Jane the Care Bear sheet set, which she loves. Finally she has more than just a sheet on her bed. Thanks, Kim.

Gramma's house, Christmas afternoon with Kim and her family too.

Gramma in her festive Christmas vest

All the kids looking on as Alice opened her first present. Such a cute little dress, thanks Mom.

We gave Jane a bike and Gramma completed the package with a helmet and a bell. She is having fun riding around the neighborhood ringing her bell.

Vegging after a day of new presents

Alice kept doing this "oooh" thing and she was too funny

I love this picture of Jane. She looks so big.

As you can see, we had 80 degree weather for Christmas, but what's great about this picture is Alice's face. She is ready to tear down the marvelous tower.

And that's our Christmas. Kevin and Jane went caroling at the hospital Christmas day also, which is always a neat experience. I love sharing my testimony of Christ's love for us through song. Alice and I stayed home because she had a cold and needed a nap. I hope you all are having a great New Year and had a wonderful Christmas.