The Kids

While trying to get all the children together for a group photo, little Z got
tired of waiting and with the aid of some Hershey Kisses,
decided to occupy his time with an unplanned look-alike contest.
We all agreed that Z looked very much like
Charlie Chaplin:

The Grand Opening

Filling Up

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there...

Santa certainly filled those hopes...

Top, left: Z's surprises from S.C
Top, middle: M.G's gifts
Top, right: E's loot (aaaargh, matey!)
Left: D-D's pretty pink presents
Right: our four and the cousins' morning treats

...those stockings...

...and that tummy!

'Twas The Night Before

Uncle Scott began reading to the kids to get them excited for Santa to come since they were having such a hard time anticipating his arrival(ha, ha, ha). It wasn't long after the story and night time prayers that every few minutes one of the kids would come out and tell us they saw Rudolph or heard Santa or asked if Santa had come yet. I believe that they even came out and told us to get in bed so that Santa would get here!

Finally!!:
It was only near 11 o'clock
that the children
began to dream of dancing
sugarplums!

Over the River and Through the Woods

(One of our many. many. stops. Boy was it cold!!!)













We definitely went over one REEEAAALLY big river and through quite a number of woods to get to the grandparents' house...

The girls were thrilled to see each other!

:o) yay for cousins! (o:
Wow--->thrilled for the boys looks a lot different
than it does for the girls, huh?

The big kids sitting with Poppa and being so thankful to see him looking great! I love how so soon after those boys sit together, they start comparing who lost which tooth and how many and when! Little Z his behind our legs most of this time, so there are no pictures of him with our camera.

Christmas at Home

A few days before Christmas, we began the great present opening in our home. We had gifts from Dana's family, as well as some gifts from each other, to open up before Christmas and spent several evenings opening a few at a time.

"Mr. Yum-Yum" Attack

Little Z has found E's dinosaur named Mr Yum-Yum. He used it to attack his mom (ouch!)!!!

He was so proud. Fortunately, this incident did not make the naughty list, so he was OK for Christmas morning! :o)

One Starry Night

The children in our congregation got together once again to present us with a Christmas program. It was very nice. This year the children dressed up in their costumes and acted out the scenes prior to the show. While pantomiming the scenes, a photographer took their pictures. This gave all the children opportunity to participate in a number of ways. So on the night of the show, the children sang their songs, read some scripture and during this their pictures telling the story were displayed for the audience to see. It was really cute.
MG and E waiting to begin the program. Above, center show two of the main narrators
and their costumes for the part. Though they kept the points off
their heads for the entirety of the show, they did oblige Dana for this picture. Aren't they cute?