FYI

If you are a Google Reader follower, over the next few days you might see some crazy things popping up for our blog. I am going backwards and adding posts of events that I never blogged about throughout the year. I am back-dating them so you will probably only see them if you follow via Google Reader. There are a lot of things I missed along the way so hopefully I will be able to get them all added!!!

Micah said he will print out a blog book again so I want to make sure I capture everything now to go into our 2009 blog book (especially since I haven't scrapbooked this year yet either). I plan to start scrapbooking again in 2010 but 2008 and 2009 just might have to be blog book years!! :)

Christmas #3

Christmas number two was Christmas morning but I really only wanted to focus on the pictures of the kids reading the Christmas story rather than opening presents.

One quick story about our ride down to Southern CA before I get into Christmas with Micah's family. On the way down we decided to strap our suitcases to the top of the car so we could have a little more room and Raider could sit in the third row, rather than be squished in next to the kids. Well, Micah ran up to Walgreens quickly and grabbed some cheap bungee cords - first mistake. Then he strapped the suitcases to the top of the car using only the bungee cords - second mistake. As we were driving to Lancaster, one of the bungee cords snapped and a suitcase flew up off the car... and then back down, slamming into the side of the car, hanging on by only one bungee hook. After I screamed and yelled for Micah to pull over on the side of the freeway (as if he didn't already know that). We got the suitcases all back into the car and Raider had to sit next to the kids for the final hour of the ride. Thank goodness it did not actually fly off and hit another car behind us!! I think we may need a rooftop carrier for next year!!

Here are the kids with their gear from Christmas morning:

Cousins:

Having a fun time together:

The Reason for the Season

We always read the Christmas story before opening gifts, but this year, since the kids are a little older, we decided to add in a little dramatization. We ripped up an old sheet for their outfits and used hand towels for their headdresses. They were SOOO cute I couldn't resist posting:

Remember back in Jesus' day when they had Thomas the Train? :)

Joseph - in wardrobe and makeup:

Haylie loved being "Mother Mary" - she took very good care of the baby Jesus:

We also videotaped it - these are our credits :)

Christmas Eve

Every year Micah's Mom gets matching pajamas for everyone for Christmas. We open them on Christmas eve, take lots of pictures and then wear them Christmas morning. She even has little ones made for Haylie and James:

The boys:

The girls:

Southern CA snow

We were planning on driving to Southern CA on Christmas Eve as we usually do. However, Micah and I had the week off and Micah's Mom told us about a snow park about an hour from their house, so we decided to make the trip a little early so we could spend the day playing in the snow. The kids LOVE the snow and they had a great time playing in it. However, Micah was extremely unimpressed at the quality of the Southern CA snow!! He kept reminding me that we drove a little over an hour to get there and they only people who drive that far for this dirty, icy snow are people who don't live a little over an hour from Tahoe. :)

sliding down the hill:

James was camped out in the snow - not quite sure what he wanted to do:

Haylie REALLY loves the snow:

Raider found a good hill and a broken sled to use. Micah wouldn't let us pack our sleds because the car was too full. Lucky we found a broken one and use it. It worked just fine for us:

Haylie was very brave:

Watching Haylie sledding:

I had to get my turn too:

James had to take a little snow timeout for not sharing :(

Headed home:

Christmas #1

We always end up having multiple Christmas celebrations with different parts of our family. We started off with my sister and my Mom coming over for dinner. The kids always loving playing with each other:

Can you tell Ben was excited about his presents?
Momo got Haylie and James new bikes:

It's About Giving

This Christmas we spent a lot of time talking about the importance of giving, not just getting. Haylie decided she wanted to make presents for all of her friends. We found these great unfinished cars and jewelry boxes and the kids had a great time painting them for everyone: