'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

We've had a wonderful Christmas Eve and can't wait to wake up tomorrow morning!!!

This afternoon we took Miranda out for Christmas lunch. Molly LOVES hanging out with big girls and we love Miranda because she is just about as sweet as they come!

This afternoon Marshall got really upset because he heard all of our threats about Santa not coming if Molly didn't straighten up...Tonight's Christmas Eve service at Grace was just perfect.
Paul and I both got a little teary-eyed as we all sang "Silent Night" in the candle light... one of the most peaceful and beautiful moments I've experienced in a long time!
There's no better way to celebrate the joy of Christmas!After church Molly and I got to work baking cookies for SantaBefore bed Molly and Daddy read "The Night Before Christmas"
My Grandma and Grandpa gave me this very book for Christmas in 1978 and it's one of my most favorite things.

Marshall was so excited that he and Sister each got to open one present!!!Molly got her traditional James Avery ornament from Daddy Marshall got his first silver coin that says "Baby's First Christmas"He doesn't quite understand the value of precious metals...Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
xoxo

Christmas, Christmas Time is Here...

There is nothing Paul loves more than Christmas lights! We're so lucky that he enjoys decorating our house so beautifully at Christmas-time! Even though we think our house is the most beautiful in the neighborhood, this is the second year that the judging committee has disagreed with us. I'm thinking the old ladies that make the decision must prefer the colored lights... if only they could see our backyard too!

I think it looked really pretty one night after it rained and you could see the reflections on the concrete.
And here's our beautiful tree this year. Almost as much as he loves Christmas lights, Paul LOVES real trees. I love them too, but get aggravated at their fallen pine needles and I get sad when we have to throw it away!

Fun with Friends

On Tuesday we invited Davis to spend the night at our house. I made the playroom into a big tent and the kids had a blast playing in it and setting up their beds. It was Davis' first sleep-over and he was pretty hesitant about spending the night away from his parents. I let the kids watch a movie until almost 10pm and they were both so exhausted by the time I tucked them in that I don't think Davis had the energy to tell me he wanted to go home!

They both rolled over and passed out the second I turned off the TVThis is how I found them sleeping when I checked on them later in the nightThe next morning Paul treated them to snowman pancakes before Hannah and Caden picked them up for gymnastics camp

The three little maniacs were so excited to ride in Hannah's third row together!

I bet Hannah was very thankful that it was a short 5 minute drive to the gym!I picked the three of them up after camp and we came back to our house for a little play time. Sometimes they are so cute together! I love moments like this one!!!

Beautiful Sunday

Last Sunday was one of the most gorgeous days we've seen in quite a while. We spent nearly 4 hours outside playing, coloring with sidewalk chalk, shooting rockets and playing chase. I was really surprised Marshall lasted that long, but he was so calm and happy being outside alternating between behind held, swinging and playing in the exersaucer.AaaaaCHOOOOOOO!I love this picture because it really emphasizes Marshall's comb-over!We LOVED playing with Molly's stomp rocket. That thing is awesome!Look how high it goes with just a 40 pounder jumping on it!!
See the little white blur up in the trees?Toys kept winding up in the muddy ditch...Molly and daddy kept finding creating ways to retrieve them...

Molly's taunts of "nanny nanny you can't catch me!" never ended well for her...

Thoughtful Little Maniacs

After church last Sunday Lindsay and I took Molly, Jackson and Drew to Target and had them each pick out a toy to give to Toys for Tots. Things got a little nuts in the toy section, but they all did a great job and only asked for toys for themselves a few times. I'm hoping this will become a new Christmas tradition and that joyful giving will come naturally to Molly one day!

Here are the kiddos with the toys they picked out.

Fun with a Camera

What do you do when you have a disposable camera that you're eager to develop, but you still have several pictures left on it...

You give it to three little kids and let them have some fun,
that's what!

My Little Shutterbugs: