Christmas time, hooray!

We love Christmas!

Our girls also love jumping off of the furniture.  The rule in our house is that you can jump off the furniture, but you can't jump on the furniture.  Here is Jane showing off her jumping skills.  Kate wants to jump, but still not there yet.  (I drawn the line on somethings!)

For the gift to the grandparents we made dish towels with the girls' footprints and handprints.  So fun!

Jane's beautiful work

Alice and I were hanging out and playing games and the next thing I know is she says, "Look Mommy, I made a baby 'e'"  I looked over and saw what she had done.  I didn't even know she knew what an 'e' looked like.  Good job, Alice.

Alice modeling her e

Kate always looking so adorable

Alice and her friend Drew.  Too cute.

Jane's ballet class

Kate wearing Pepper's dress and the flower clip I made.

I love this picture.  It is so cute to see these little 3 and 4 year olds learning ballet.

Alice's ballet class.  It was one of the few moments that Alice participated.  Such a big girl.

Alice and her friend Charlie

Each year Harris Corp. has a family Christmas party.  It is a fun event each year and something we look forward to.  Alice rode the horses last year, but not this year.

Jane on the pony

Alice zoning out during the face painting

Jane deep in creative thought

Our train ride

Love this picture too.  Alice peeking out the window, "Hi Daddy!!"

Train versus Tractor

We won!!!

The weather in December wasn't too chilly, so Kevin took the girls out to play in the rain puddles.  They love it.

Kate taking a stroll.  That girl loves being outside.

For our Ward Christmas activity this year, we had a ward Dance.  It was tons of fun.  My mom and dad even skipped their ward party to join us at our dance.

Kevin and the girls.

Alice decided to take the camera for a spin

Our good friends the Gibsons

Daddy

Jane and her new doll

Then Jane took the camera

Jane's good friend Sami

And of course we celebrated Kate's 1st Birthday

Kate wondering why everyone was singing and why her cupcake was glowing

Enjoying that cupcake

Alice too

Really enjoying the cupcake

That's just good!

One of 2 birthday presents.  She loved them (even if they weren't new)

After talking with Santa at the mall we decided to attempt a family Christmas picture.  This was one of the attempts.

At least Kevin and I are looking at the camera

Kate climbing the stairs up to the top bunk.  She goes for those stairs any chance she gets.

Jane had a fun Christmas program at school that we got to go to.  She did such a good job.  Maybe one day I'll post a video.

Jane waiting for it to start

Her class (plus another teacher's class)

Everyone is a little tired

Kate kept busy exploring the halls

Jane and her teacher Mrs. Roneker and also her friends Sadeem, Jasmin, and Yalanti

Once again we ran the Jingle Bell 2 miler.  This time my mom and I participated too.

Gramma with Alice and Kate

I even ran the second half of the race (1 mile).  Jane kept telling me, faster, faster.

Once the kids were out of school we got to join Reddin and Lochlan and celebrate their 3rd birthdays.  They were in nursery with Alice and we're all good friends, so all the siblings of all the kids in nursery were invited.  It was tons of fun.  We got to go to Pump it Up.

The Smiths, Noels, Menzies, Paxtons, Flamms, and Markos were there.  Plus a couple other friends.

We also got to go visit my cousin Lisa and see her new little girl, Leilani.  She is so tiny.

Jane being a great big cousin

Christmas Eve we headed over to my mom's house, as always.  The girls wanted to see how cold the water was in the pool.  We agreed to let them.  Next thing I look over and see Alice holding up her dress so it doesn't get wet, but she was up to her belly button in the water.  What happened to keeping the panties dry too?

Alice keeping her dress dry

Swimming on Christmas Eve 2011

Kate really wanted in too.  We finally put her in too, but we didn't get any pictures of the freezing baby.

As tradition states, the girls get to open the present from Auntie Beth (books and jammies) and a present from Gramma (new church dress).  They were very excited.

Alice showing just how much she loved her new book.  The pajamas are so cute.  Thank you Beth!

Yay for good books!

Then we headed out the door to do some Christmas caroling.  A much warmer year this year than last.

Our 3 reindeer

Christmas morning

The tree before the girls came in

Katie so excited about her new baby

Jane made Alice's present this year.  She sewed the face on the Hello Kitty purse for Alice.  She did a great job.  It was fun to help her and stay up a little later with her one evening.

Alice giving Jane a big hug for her new purse

Kate testing her new phone and making an urgent call!

Jane and Alice playing with their new doll house.  (Santa got a great deal on that, so he was excited too)

My parents joined us for Sacrament meeting.  Kevin even wound up singing in one of the musical numbers.  It was a great meeting.

We hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas.  Thanks, Gramma for the beautiful dresses.

The rest of the day was spent packing, and Kevin took Jane and Alice and went caroling at the hospital.  I had a cold and could barely talk, let alone sing.  Early the next morning we set off on an adventure and surprise for the girls.  I'll blog about that soon!