Merry Christmas!

"Christmas is not just a day, an event to be observed and speedily forgotten. It is a spirit which should permeate every part of our lives."- William Parks

Heavenly Father has blessed my life and I am filled with love for....
a sweet teenager that still climbs in bed with us Christmas morning...

this precious Christmas angel ...

this "mom"

this husband that loves me...

a big fluffy dog!

this "dad"

expressions like this....

and this ...

Nanas and Pop pops that spend the night on Christmas Eve, so as not to miss our kids on Christmas morning...
a family like this, who even though they are far away, I feel so close to...

and my family. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas eve we get to open one present

PJs and slippers!
PJ pants!!


Who says teenagers can't wear pjs with snowflakes and polar bears on them?

They fit!

So cute!

Cookies, carrots and milk for Santa and the reindeer! Good night and Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Jeff just turned 39!

We had a little family party to celebrate his last year in his 30s!

We had bread pudding (Jeff's favorite!) and opened presents. Can you tell we like the Santa hat around our house?? Rach posing it up and yep that is a huge black bow on Jeff's head:)

Jeff got a shotgun for his birthday. He said he need to practice with it for when Rachel is a teenager!! Rachel takes over the camera....the rest of the pictures are from her perspective.

Silly Preston
Jellybean, the hamster

Preston and Daddy playing with the new toy

our vacuum.. very random

laughing boys

mommy
outside practicing their aim!

Preston

We are so lucky to have such an awesome husband and dad that takes such great care of our family!! Happy birthday daddy! We love you sooooo much!!

Ice Day!!

Yea Haw!! We had an "ice day" today which means no school!! I don't know who was more excited about it, me or my kids. In case you have never had an "ice day" here is what you do:) Watch cartoons in your jammies...
Get a Christmas tree pedicure...

Make and eat chocolate chip pancakes...

If you are a teenager, don't wake up until 10:30am AT THE EARLIEST!!!

Eat four chocolate chip pancakes while you read the comics....

Make a big pillow fort...

Work on your art project in your jammies and a Santa hat...

Have a friend over and make HUGE snowman sugar cookies...

Put ridiculous amounts of icing and sprinkles on them...

and finally, make homemade pizza's and eat them watching the Polar Express!

"Little full, lot of sap"

To quote a line from Christmas Vacation!!! We feel just like the Griswold's with our huge tree:) Let me tell you, it didn't look so big at the tree farm! (Yes that is our chandelier you see!)

Rachel smiles with Santa!

The Tree Farm!

We decided to cut our own tree down this year! We headed about 45 minutes northeast to Wintergreen Farms (thanks Colbergs for recommending this great place:)!

Rachel, Jeff and Preston, loaded up on the hay ride, hot chocolate in hand!

Preston and Heather snuggled up:)

The hay ride took us out to the tree farm where we started hunting for the perfect tree!

Hunting...

Hunting...

We found it!



Jeff and Preston start to saw.

Rach is checking it out!

She wants to try :)

Here it goes...

Good thing we have two strong guys to carry it to the road!


and a strong girl!

Preston and Jeff tie it to the car. If you know Jeff, that tree's not going anywhere!!!!


Rachel entertains herself with a stick while the boys tie the tree to the roof:)


We get to watch the sun set on the Drive home. What a great day!