Best Time Of The Year!

As soon as we got back from Arizona for Thanksgiving, we got our tree up and decorated.

We had an elf join us for the first time this year. We couldn't agree on the name so he had like five names: Ginger, Eggnog, Jabba the Elf, What Should We Name It, Elfmo, Jones. Ours wasn't a real elf, since the elves already come and leave a treat in the stockings each night. Mackayla and Bradley also got to take turns finding a place for him to move to each night.

Bradley asked me one day, out of the blue, if I would teach him to write cursive. He does pretty well with it.

Playing in the snow

Caitlin with her Rodolph pancakes.

Sunday afternoon picture in front of our living room tree.

Our ward party had a pajama parade for the kids, an ugly sweater contest for the adults, and a special visit from the North Pole.

Caitlin actually wasn't nervous to sit on his lap, but as soon as she sat down, someone started saying the closing prayer and then she got a bit nervous just sitting there without anybody saying anything for a long time.

Mackayla still didn't like the idea of sitting on Santa's lap, so she took her picture with him from here.

Making a Gingerbread House

More fun in the snow for FHE

And then hot chocolate and a Christmas doughnut for dessert.

The Christmas Sing. Mackayla in the top row with all of the 2nd graders.

Bradley in the middle with the kindergartners

Brother and sister

Santa waffles

Mackayla was in charge of the FHE lesson and gave everyone a part in the Nativity.

I was a cow and Jared was a sheep, in case that wasn't obvious.

Mackayla hard at work, making pepper nuts.

An early Christmas party just before we left town. We opened our gifts from Papa and Nini, and a few other things.

The present Mackayla made at school for Jared and me.

Jacob's present for us, that he made at preschool.

Bradley's present to us, that he made at school.

Our elf got all dressed up for a dance with Santa one night.

Playing with their new headlights.

Over the river and through the woods....to Yakima for Christmas!!