Christmas cards

We were not going to do a Christmas card this year. I did not want to do one. We didn't have a picture and then it always takes forever to address all the cards, and do the whole sha-bang. I do always love them 'after the fact' but it's the 'during the fact' I don't like and just didn't have it in me this year. 

But then one day Trav was miraculously home when it was still light outside and he said "Let's go take a picture right now!" We went as we were. I made Josh stand in the back with his shorts and those that didn't have decent shirts on put on decent jackets. It seriously took less than 10 minutes. And they turned out pretty well!

 This is the one we ended up using. How Jonah was looking and smiling at a timer on a camera is a mystery to me. Cute!

 Payback time!

 My kids have been obsessed with playing cards this winter.

 And the Sunday before Christmas I forced everyone to take some cute dressed up pictures too.

 My cute friend Natalie does Santa pictures every year as a fund raiser for the Road Home in Salt Lake. She is an amazing photographer and they turned out awesome!

Getting ready for Christmas

It's a good thing we have lots of good helpers this year. Trav even got Josh to hang the lights!

This boy and his blankey. He told me the other day that the babies on his blankey are "baby Jesus."

 Rach did the trees.

 And one very exciting thing is Kate got her expander out!! She went in for a check up hoping they'd take it out but I didn't think he would. He told her another 2 months but as we were about to leave he said,"did I give you a time frame for how long she'd have it in?" I told him 6 months (which she had just hit.) He said, "Do you want it out today?" I don't think I've ever seen Kate smile that big before! They pulled it out right then, and we stopped at Bowman's on the way home so we could get her some bubble gum and a big caramel apple. Happy early Christmas, Kate!!

She did get a little help eating the apple though.

 How do you feel about getting your expander out Kate?

 Will has been into making umbrella forts lately.

 Kate had her Christmas piano recital and did an amazing job! She played "Do you want to build a snowman"

 We also had to make our gingerbread houses.

 Some helped a little more than others...

 Will made one just for Jonah.

 Rachel made a manger scene.

 Complete with a gummy bear baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, 3 wise men, and later came some sheep.

 Jonah split his chin open almost every day for like a week. At least we had Christmas band-aids!

 Here's Wills creation...

 I think Jonah likes it.

 Trav and Josh worked together to make a masterpiece.

 Kate had her favorite helper too.

 This boy loves his daddy.

 My one contribution was to decorate the chimney.

 The final product: The manger scene...

 The architects house....

 Kate and Erika's creation...

 Will's house....

I think we're ready! Bring on the holiday!