Family Time

Nora pulled the little tree down. I had to take a picture because when I was about her age I pulled the big Christmas tree down on top of myself.

Daniel, Bryant, and Ethan


Daniel and Ethan: Christmas Dinner

Nora and the fang: It was really just a candy cane but we thought it looked funny. Nora still has NO teeth!

Jonah and Nora

Nora ready for church.

Nana and Nora

Susan, Shannon, and Nora

Me with Nora and Jonah

Shannon arm wrestling with the boys.

The boys had an impromptu talent show one night. Daniel was making something for us with the pipe cleaners.

Bryant and Daniel: They also told stories.

Ethan telling a story.

Bowling: Striking a pose.

Playing Outside

The weather was so nice in California on Christmas that we all got to spend a some time outside.

Bryant and his transformer.

JoAnne and Nora

Don't you love the hair? It only shows up in the sunlight. :)

Hat and mittens made by Nana Susan.

Jonah and JoAnne

Rob and Shannon had a push-up contest. They were both sore for days to come.

Nora and the rabbit.

Christmas Morning in CA

After our "early" Christmas in Connecticut we flew out to California on Christmas Eve and spent the holiday there with Shannon's brother Rob and his family, his Aunt JoAnne and his mom Susan.

Cousin Ethan and Daniel going through their stockings Christmas morning.

Nora and her loot.

Jonah enjoying his candy cane. This cutie has quite the sweet tooth!

Ethan and Bryant

Susan

Everyone opening gifts

JoAnne gave Nora this cute Paddington bear.

JoAnne gave Shannon this Encyclopedia of Immaturity. Pretty funny.

Snow

Our early Christmas morning was made even better with a beautiful snow storm.

Ready to play in the snow. Daniel made Shannon that scarf for Christmas. I cut the strip of fabric and he cut the ends of the fleece to make the tassels on the end of the scarf. Daniel was thrilled that his daddy was wearing it.

Nora's first real look at snow.

Making snow angles.

Nora wearing the little snow suit Tang Cai gave her from China.

The gingerbread house we decorated this year.

Early Christmas Eve

We were headed to California for Christmas however, apparently Santa had a couple of larger things to bring to our house this year. Santa called me the Saturday night before we were headed out of town and said that he was going to make a special exception and come to our house early so we wouldn't have to take everything on the airplane. (Santa is so thoughtful!)

Daniel was already asleep but I didn't want him to miss out on the chance to leave cookies and milk for Santa so I decided to wake him up and tell him. He was groggy but as soon as I started explaining that I just got off the phone with Santa and that he was coming TONIGHT - he perked right up. We went in the pantry and found some cookies and rummaged in the refrigerator for some milk and something for the reindeer. We didn't have any carrots so we decided the reindeer might like some lettuce for a change. It was great seeing Daniel's excited and surprised face in the middle of the night. Priceless.

Santa picked a good night to come. It was snowing outside and beautiful. Church in the morning was delayed because of the snow leaving us with a perfect early Christmas morning together. I'm glad Santa was so thoughtful. It would have been a chore to bring Daniel's new bike on the plane!

Nora broke her fair share of ornaments this year.

Tree after it was decorated.

A Sleepy Daniel: Leaving cookies and milk for Santa after I woke him up in the middle of the night to tell him Santa was coming to our house early!

Santa left a nice letter for Daniel and Nora.

Visit from Grandpa

My dad came for a quick visit before Christmas. It was great having him around.

Nora, Grandpa, and Daniel - leaving the aquarium and going to the bakery!

Grandpa playing with Daniel

Having a chat with Daniel. Daniel thinks Grandpa's moustache is so funny.

I just thought this was cute. Daniel fell asleep holding on to his Book of Mormon.

Gingerbread

For Joy School last week I decided to have a gingerbread theme. We read the Gingerbread Boy story and made gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and icing and I made large cut out gingerbread house that we decorated with paper candy. The kids had so much fun. I think it all turned out really cute.

The gingerbread house before we decorated it. I made them crawl through the door to have "class" in our gingerbread house.

Making their own gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and icing.

Daniel's finished product.

After they decorated the house.

Of course Nora wanted her picture taken as well.

Christmas Tree

We usually get our tree the day after Thanksgiving but we were out of town this year so we had to postpone it a week. We went to Stew Leonard's to pick it out on a rainy cold day. Daniel picked out the tree and I think he did a great job. Once he found the one he liked he wouldn't even look at other trees or consider anything else.

This very nice man peeking out from behind the tree helped us and let Daniel take his time and showed him several.


It's "the one..."

Daniel, Nora, and Mommy

Decorating the tree.

My mom gave me this pioneer wagon ornament this year and I love it.

Daniel and Daddy reading books by the tree.

Book time

Keeping with tradition Daniel slept under the Christmas tree. I loved doing that as a kid so much that I almost wanted to just curl up there with him. One year I might have to...