Christmas Day!!

Christmas morning is always exciting=) Thanks to Grandma Jo ans Aunt Tracy our tree was nice and full this year!!

First we start off with our stockings! Good thing Gunner got a squeaky toy to keep him busy!

Then off to the tree--Santa brought Tyler a Marble maze, Kylee her Baby and Jacob a Red Quad with a fake guy on it!

Gunner loved his gifts too!! Jacob trying to help Gunner open his present=)

I wish I had video of Tyler opening his Ipod Touch!! He had NO IDEA he was getting it and was literally crying and running around the house when he opened it!!

This year we had Grandma June in the hospital and that is where most of the family has been staying. We wanted to do something special for them so we made the a Christmas Lunch-Ham, green beans and scallop potatoes. For dessert Dump cake and snow mounds!

It brighten the day for them and the BEST news was they were taking the tube out for June...a beginning step of a long recovery we were so excited!

Then off to my parents for dinner and some more Christmas Carols and family fun!!

This Christmas was very busy and a little rough on me....but I look at all the blessings I have in my life and am so grateful for family. Having June in the hospital has brought the family so much closer and makes you realize anything can happen and make the best of every moment you have with your loved ones because things can change in a heart beat. The Lord has heard every prayer from us and has brought June so far and continues to answer our prayers during her recovery. We are so thankful to have Jesus Christ in our lives!

This year Christmas Eve was at Aaron and Jenni's house!

There is always pre-dinner fun when you get all these kids together!!

Yummy dinner, Tri-Tip, mash potatoes, rice and salad!!

Let the games begin.. Aaron and Jenni always come up with a game to play, this year was Family Feud! Aaron read the question and we slapped Jenni's hand if we knew the answer!!

The kids played Bingo while the adults finished their game=)

Singing carols and opening presents!!!

Oh the fun gifts Uncle Gery comes up with! Maybe not knowing out weight but getting a chocolate bar weighing 11 lbs and a coping saw to cut out our percentage of weight in our family=) which are initialed on that square paper Tyler is holding.

It was a fun night....now time to head home and get these kids in bed!

(so mama can kiss Santa under the mistletoe:)

3 Wise Men and a Baby!

Tyler and Kylee were in our church's Christmas Play this past Saturday.

This play had a great way of showing that the BEST gift of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ, and the best gift we can give to Him is our HEARTS, LOVE AND WORSHIP!!

Tyler was Elvistonia a Wise Man and Kylee was Mary!!

They did a great job!! Tyler had several lines and a solo and Kylee just had to look sweet holding Baby Jesus!

Gingerbread House!!

This was the first year we were able to attend our churches Gingerbread house building!! How what a treat that was....We had no idea what we were in for...the custom houses were amazing.

The candy we got to choose from:

We are just doing a the classic Gingerbread House!

What a team!! Jacob worked on his own "hotel with smoke"

We were pretty happy with our results, and the kids got to do whatever they liked!

Kylee got a little frosting in her face from a friend!
It was a fun night!! With some great building!!

A Barn, the Stable, a Waterfall, Emerald City, Noah's Ark......very creative people we have here!

Our Nativity!

We are carrying out my side of the families tradition of guessing the special person or animal in the newspaper. We feel, guess, see if we are right and then tell the story behind it. The kids love it and so do I!!

Austin in December!

Austin with some Afghanistan children!! I love when he post new picture to see what he has been doing and to just see that DIMPLE MAKES MY DAY!!!!

Today was the first day we talked to Austin through Skype. The kids were a little sleepy still but it was WONDERFUL TO SEE HIM!! you can tell he misses his brothers and sister soooo much!