Christmas

Happy December! I so wish I had more pictures of this month. It was a fun month. We filled it up with activities since this was our first Christmas here in Oregon staying here and not being with our families. It was a little strange not to be home and have all the family around and all the activities to go to, but we did enjoy each other here and all the calls and mail from our dear families! :)

A Brookie gingerbread house.

A Coleman gingerbread house. I was impressed at how particular he was about where the candy went. They both did an excellent job (then they snuck the candy off of them for the next few weeks). :) Very funny.

Cole and Brookie in front of our Christmas tree. We decided not to cut one this year and bought one from a lot. I so love the smell of Christmas trees! :) It was a bit wonky looking, but it was real and we had a marvelous time decorating (and undecorating) it all season long. :)

Brookie was chief in charge or undacorating. :) She had a good time. Christmas is so magical!

Brookie and Daddy. :) We had to take pictures of Brookie with her first glasses (never mind that we only had these particular glasses for about 2 weeks before we lost them). Now Daddy, Coleman and Brookie all get to wear glasses. :) We think she looks pretty darn cute! Now if we can only keep them on her face...

Brookie personality pictures...

We love our funny, opinionated, rambunctious, loving, inquisitive little girl!

Bubbles are always a favorite around here - and bubbles with Daddy, well, a perfect day!

Love that it's almost Christmas and the grass is green and we're outside in our shorts and shirt sleeves... :)

Christmas morning...

Christmas was on Sunday this year. Church was at 8:30... yikes! It turned out to be really wonderful though! We got up and got ready early and headed out. The kids didn't ask about Santa or anything before church. Church was really nice. The music was enough to make my day. I LOVE Christmas music. I can't think of anything better to remind me of the real meaning of Christmas. The kids were really good at church and we were done by 9:45.  The program was a little longer than they had planned, but it was beautiful and only one meeting. We headed home after that to open gifts and enjoy the rest of our day together.  That evening we spent with our good friends, the Jacobsons. They had family in town too, so it was just like home: crowded and noisy and wonderful - all the things I look forward to at Christmas. I wish I had pictures of that evening. It was a blast! Thanks dear friends! (We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at their house - bless their hearts!!)

Here are the only pictures I have from Christmas - the presents part... very exciting.

Brookie loves Rapunzel from the Disney movie, Tangled. This is a pretty special doll. She was pretty darn excited! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

Coleman's favorite (and possibly still favorite) was this cool set of ariplanes. He was totally thrilled with them and has played and played with them!! Another great one Grandma and Grandpa! 

Brookie was really happy just to open presents. She opened hers and Tyler's :). She loved the cute outfit from Grandma Marilee and Grandpa Terry.

Yup. Pink is a definite winner around here!

Cole in his ARMY helmet. Another winner! :) These guys are so easy to please and life is so exciting! I'm in love with our kids!

Brookie was happy we had cookies for lunch. After church everyone was hungry, but nobody wanted to take time away from the festivities for a real meal. There is, however, always time for cookies. (Thanks Melanie for the delicious treat!!)

More of our little ARMY guy. He looks so solemn, but it was his ARMY man face.

Playing with the airplanes some more. Look at that happy face!

Brookie helped Tyler open his presents too. Nice sockets!

This is Brookie giving her dad the same face I used to give my dad when I wanted him to think I was cool and that I knew what the heck was going on - even when I was completely  clueless. She's so her daddy's girl. Loves to be with him and check out everything he's doing.

More of the airplanes. :) Can you tell he was in love??  There's Brookie int he background too wearing her new outfit with pink pants! :) 

Maybe Brookie's favorite present. Her bike. She hopped right on and rode it all through the house as if she'd done it a hundred times. Good call Tyler. That was his brainchild. :)

Brookie loved it so much we had to go on a bike ride to test it out outside. She had a fabulous time!!

Here's a link to a video of her. So cute!!

Can you tell by the face?

Guess what Cole did while we were on our ride? He walked along flying his planes of course!

We all had a wonderful day. We're so blessed to have each other and to have such wonderful families. Christmas was such a special time to remember the blessings we have through our Savior and his Gospel.