This child's going to need couseling...

If he were not my child, this would NOT be cute.

More Christmas...

Bekah opened this gift and quickly exclaimed, "We got a new kitchen floor!" What a crack-up!
I think Sam is going to be a little like his cousin Luke -- he really likes balls. I don't think we'll introduce him to golf clubs, however. (Wink, wink, Sandy.) :)

The girls were very excited about their Disney Princess vanity.

I don't get what all the fuss is about.

Christmas

The American Girl doll beds from the Pool family (and a little from us) were a big hit -- even with Sam. I hope they're sturdy because I have a feeling this won't be the last time he does this.

The only thing Emilie had asked Santa for was a digitial camera. The first present she opened Christmas morning was a clock that looked very much like it could've been a digital camera. This was the look on her face as she was realizing this wasn't "just what I'd asked Santa for!". P.S. She didn't get the digital camera, but I haven't heard her mention it since!

Christmas Eve started out for us at Grandma and Grandpa Brunton's (Jay's parents) house then moved on to Mom and Dad's church for their Christmas Eve service (the girls sang in the program) and ended up at Mom and Dad's for dinner (I'm only calling it that because we ate so late). (Wow. That's a lot of ( )( )( ).) Mom and Dad had invited their pastor's family over so the kids even had some stand-in cousins! :) Christmas morning we opened gifts at our house and then took some time to play with some of the new toys before heading over to Brad's parents' where we pretty much spent the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying family and our gifts.

Sledding!

Wow! I've actually posted a video!!! This was from the other day when I posted about building the sledding track. Not very good at all for lighting conditions and I think my voice sounds funny because it was so cold, but you can kind of get the idea of what was going on.

He took it so I'm posting it!

I love this guy!

Nathan got an Uncle Kenny!

One of Nathan's gifts from Brad's parents was a mini beefed-up (is that an oxymoron?) Uncle Kenny! I don't think they knew (or at least remembered) that one of Nathan's uncles is a police officer, but I thought it was pretty funny! The toy even walks around and holds a gun and a nightstick. He's had a lot of fun with it!

I'll be sure to post more later this weekend on our Christmas doings, but I thought I'd get this one up right away.

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!

And yes, Nathan is wearing a Bears jersey. Much to my (and his) chagrin. However, Jay (Brad's step-dad, an avid Bears fan) is getting up there in years and I thought I should humor him in his old age. ;)

Bet you didn't know WI has mountains too!

But they melt. Eventually. (I just have to keep believing that every year!) :)

After getting our driveway plowed out yesterday afternoon, Brad decided to make a sledding track down our mountain of snow. We finished it last night and the kids had a blast!! Emilie woke up this morning very concerned that it might have melted. Fortunately, we're only supposed to add to that snow later today and tomorrow and the highs are nowhere near warm enough to melt snow anytime over the next week. We'll probably go out again later this afternoon and I'll try to get some live action shots and post them sometime over the weekend.

Santa

The YMCA had a "Storytime with Santa" a few weeks back and I took the older kids. Among other things, they were able to personally deliver their letters to Santa. Nathan wanted a cake, Bekah wanted candy and Emilie wanted a digital camera. I'm not sure which one will be more difficult for Santa to get on his sleigh -- the cake or the digital camera!

My Birthday

Brad took me out for my birthday dinner early Thursday evening to avoid the big snowstorm that was supposed to start at 5pm, but actually started at midnight (forecasting is such an exact science!). We went to Damon's and I think Derek will be happy to know that they've removed their "Petite Cut" from the menu and just stick with calling the smaller cuts of meat by their weight. :)

I also got to pick out my own present at the Scrapbook store (30% off one item on your birthday) and used some birthday money to get a Cuttlebug DieCut machine. I've used it a few times already and am anxious to pull out all my scrapbooking stuff, but need to wait till after Christmas at this point!

Blowing out the Candles

The Birthday Boy!

A big hit -- a truck with a working screwdriver that you can take completely apart and then put back together.

Nathan's birthday party was Saturday afternoon at Mom and Dad's house. He started out pretty shy, but once the mention of presents hit his ears, he was ready to party! He got lots of fun things and would've stayed up all night playing with them if we'd let him. He's really getting to be a little boy -- very lovable, but full of mischief.

The Real Stuff

Now this is snow! (I should know -- I shoveled quite a bit of it already this season!) The first big snow of the year was the wet stuff that just clings to the trees and looks so pretty. The kids have played in it a few times now and I've found that all the bundling up isn't as tedious as it was last year, probably because they're all one year older and a little more self-sufficient. We're supposed to get dumped on tonight into tomorrow. Last I heard, they were calling for 9-12 inches. Reminds me of the day Nathan was born -- three years ago today -- it snowed quite a bit that day also.

Trimming the Tree

Emilie doing the robotic.

We got our Christmas Tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was actually a pretty nice day compared to years past and we even enjoyed the horse-drawn wagon ride. The girls were eager to help decorate once we got the tree in the stand and proceeded to put the ornaments in a neat little row at their eye level. :) Ahhh...the art of decorating a Christmas tree!

The apple peeling poll

Alright. Who keeps changing their vote? Someone ashamed to be in the minority? 'Fess up. I know someone else peels apples away from themselves! (Yes, I revealed my method.)