Christmas Cantata

Maddie and Daddy both had a part in this year's Christmas Cantata at church. Maddie performed in the Children's Choir and Troy was in the Adult Choir and had a solo. It was very nice!

Our Family Christmas

Family Christmas 2008

Reading the Christmas Story on 'Christmas Eve'

(Sam was a little too excited to sit still and was doing somersaults off the couch)

New Christmas Pajamas!
(Although this looks like a head lock it is actually a hug!)

Daddy getting everything setup under the tree. Sam got a train set and Maddie got a 'treasure box' full of dress up clothes.

Up at 6 am!!

Maddie was very excited with all her dress up clothes!
Sam with his train set. The kids have played with it everyday so far!

(Check out Sam's new slippers from Maddie.)

Maddie got Daddy a new picture frame and Sam got him this John Deere shirt of course! Those kids have such great taste!

Maddie got a Cowgirl outfit so now both of the kids can hunt down some Indians. Now Maddie wants a gun!

Troy got me a beautiful mothers ring with he kids names engraved! It wasn't ready until later this day so we didn't get any pictures!

Getting ready.....

We are getting ready for Christmas!

Daddy, Papa, and Uncle Joshua put these cool lights on our house. The deer on the left are new and were a gift to the kids from our neighbor. Sam loves them and tries to 'take care' of them. Last night he ran over to them when we were plugging everything in and said "I got to feed 'em Mom." Maddie is very 'into' lights this year and everytime we come home at night she says "Oh our house is beautiful."
We had our annual cookie bake last Thursday and the kids made these cute reindeer cookies. Sam ate more M&M and chocolate chips than he put on the cookies, but he had a good time.

Cookie bake night is one of the nights we really look forward to during the Christmas season. Troy helps with the cookies and always makes his special oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!

Maddie did a great job this year on these reindeer cookies. You can tell by her face that she was very serious and careful when she used the 'glue' to put the face together. What great helpers I have!



p.s. Maddies hair is wet because when we sent the kids to the bathroom to wash their hands before cooking she got a little carried away and started to wash her hair in the sink. I guess she thought you had to be 'really' clean to cook!

I'm the winner!!

Many of Sam and Madaline's conversations lately have included the phrase 'I'm the winner' Poor Sam is usually not the winner of whatever they are arguing about, but finally he did win an argument!

On the way to Church.....
Maddie: Where are we going Mommy?
Mommy: To Church.
Maddie : Our Church or my Mimi's Church?
Mommy: Our Church
Maddie: It's my church...
Sam: (louder): It's my church....
Maddie (even louder): It's my church!
Sam: (Very loud especially when we are all in the car!) It's God's Church!!!!

And that settled it!

Brown Hair

Both uncle Josh's- White hair and brown hair respectively!

Madaline's new thing is brown hair. She wants a baby doll with brown hair for Christmas, and she is constantly asking me if older people used to have brown hair or if their hair has always been white. During Church last night she was pointing out every member of the choir who has brown hair. Last night my brother Josh called to check on us and this can get confusing because my sister Melinda is also married to a Josh. (which we call Uncle Josh Philip's dad to keep them straight.) Anyway this is the back ground for the following conversation.

Maddie: Who was on the phone?

Me: Uncle Josh.

Maddie: Can I see him?

Me: We are going to get to see him when we go to Mimi's for Christmas.

Maddie: Oh! It's my Uncle Josh that has Brown hair!

Me: Yeah, Not Philip's Dad. Are you excited to see him?

Maddie: Philip's Dad's hair is white.

Me: Right. Do you want to see Uncle Josh?

Maddie: Well, will I get to see his hair?

Trimming the Tree

We finally got the tree up, but it took a couple of attempts and lots of helpers!!
Maddie in front of the tree when it was finished. (Sam wouldn't cooperate for a picture!)

Our good friend Jonathon helping out.

Sam had a little accident with a glass ornament so his tree trimming had to be supervised.

Maddie and Sam getting their new Hallmark ornaments.

Mimi and Papa helped us get some of the tree decorated while they were here.

Not sure why.....

Many people have commented that there were no pictures of me in the ones I sent out for Thanksgiving and I'm not sure why....I thought I had sent this one. I was pretty excited about this crazy cute Thanksgiving apron so I thought I would post it on here.

(Please do not think my kitchen is always this messy....there were 21 people in my house! Also check out the curtains I made...I was pretty excited about them too!)

Thanksgiving

We were very grateful this year to have a house full of our family for Thanksgiving! We had a lot of fun just spending time together. God has really blessed our family.