The Living Nativity

Tonight the church put on a live nativity and the primary kids performed at the open house.

Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem

The angels visiting the shepherds that night.

The three wise men that saw the star in the east

The stable where baby Jesus was born

My kids were in Awe.
I don't know if I have ever witnessed them just sit and take something in like that.

They just loved all the animals

But the Camel was by far the best.

My Ainsley singing

My Jackson singing.

OK. So I know that every parent thinks that their kids are the best at whatever they are doing. But my kids are the loudest and they know all the words.
Being loud may not always be a wonderful thing . But when they are singing it is. My kids are not mumbling through their lines. You can hear every word. Even if you are standing at the back of the gym.

Jackson's first piano recital

Jackson has the most wonderful piano teacher who is also our neighbor.

The kids waiting to get started.

You will have to turn your volume up to hear it but this is Jackson's rendition of
Jolly Old Saint Nickolas.

I'm just so proud of him, he tried so hard.

A picture of Jackie with all her students. She's amazing.

She is only 18 and she knows what she wants to do with her life and is doing it.

Off to see Santa

Because of the snow storm last year I did not get the picture of the kids with Santa that I wanted.
So we went early this year. This is no "mall" Santa. We go to Jeff's ( My baby Daddy) office.
They set this thing up every year and it is spectacular.

My little princess telling Santa what she wanted for Christmas.

Oh my gosh Jackson was all business. Funny Kid.

Emery didn't want anything to do with her good buddy Santa this year.

Just a shot of the kids and I in front of one of the displays.

Redecorating the Barbie Tree

I made Jackson suffer for a whole week of the pink wonder that was the Barbie tree before I decided to remove the Barbies and let the kids put our decorations on it.
In all honesty this was a first for us all. The kids have never decorated the tree. Not that I wouldn't have let them. But for the last 4 years we have gotten one from the Gala and haven't had to do that. The last time our family decorated a tree, Ainsley was 3 months old.
And now look at her - my big 4 year old.

Emery has been convinced lately that she's a dog

J and I working on the tree.

Oh my funny little hambone

The kids in their matching PJs

After we were done, Jeff said how impressed he was that I didn't get all Christmas Nazi on the kids like I did the first and last time we ever tried to decorate a tree with each other.

I guess I take that as a compliment.

Cookie Night

This is the night every year that we get together with the cousins at my Mom's house and the kids make cookies with Grandma for her neighbors.

I think this tradition started with Kaila but all the kids love this night.

Emery was helping clean up.

The red sprinkles were cinnamon and hot, but that didn't stop her one bit.

My kids and I had to go early because I was scared of what the weather was doing. So we missed the taking of the cookies to the neighbors and singing for them. But there is always next year.

The trees we brought home this year

This tree was a fluke. When the trees were delivered to be decorated there was one extra tree. So it was decorated and put out into the silent auction. I loved it so much that I was able to talk Jeff into getting it for me.

And Jeff, being the good Daddy that he is, had to get the Barbie tree for his girls.

And boy did they LOVE it.

It came with all this stuff. That little table and chairs

This chandelier for Ainsley's room

And a big girl bed for Emery.

It will be a four years before she can use it but it's nice to have.

The Gala of Trees

The one thing that Jeff and I do that is just for us at Christmas every year is go to The Gala of Trees that is put on as a fund raiser for the Boys and Girls Aid Society. We have done this every year for the last 6 years. We look forward to it so much - Me for the dressing up and dancing, Jeff for all the good food.

This tree was called 50 years of Barbie

I forget the name of this one. But I just loved the colors and all the pretty things it came with.

It was as much fun as ever and I'm already looking forward to next year.