Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas!

Sarah had her preschool Christmas program on December 19th.  She was very excited and has been singing the songs around home for the past weeks.  Here she is lining up for the show.

We had difficulty transferring the video from the video camera to the computer, so it is a bit blurry, but here is here program. So cute!

Sarah giving Mommy her handprint wreath.

Trevor was excited to get to play in Sarah's classroom and enjoy some cookies!

Checking out the computers.

Sarah having cookies with Nanny and Grandpa.

In other news, Trevor has been enjoying finding his belly button and showing it off.

He has also been a big fan of the remote control switch to turn the Christmas tree lights on and off.

Checking out some jingle bells.

We headed to Mass on Christmas Eve.

Sarah was excited to get all dressed up in her new Christmas dress.

Trevor was looking handsome in the suit Austin wore when he was little.

Austin was upset he couldn't find his tie, but was looking quite handsome in his shirt and vest.

Getting a photo of 3 squirmy kiddos is not easy.

My 3 little miracles!

At Mass, we brought some books to try to keep Trevor occupied.  At first, he sat looking at books like a little angel.

However, it didn't last long and we ended up taking turns chasing Trevor around or taking him out in the hallway so he wouldn't disrupt Mass.  After Mass, we went out to dinner, then headed home to get ready for Santa.  Here we are tracking Santa on NORAD.  Time to get to bed! He'll be here soon!

Putting out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.  Trevor was frustrated that we had cookies out on a plate within reach and he wasn't allowed to eat them!

On Christmas morning, Austin and Sarah came into our room to wake us up around 7am, but Trevor was still sleeping, so we stalled a little bit with a Christmas show on TV while snuggling in Mommy and Daddy's bed.  When Trevor woke up, we headed downstairs.  The big kids were very excited!

As we rounded the corner to see the stockings, Austin said, "Aaaaaaaaaaand....the nice list!" as if he was awaiting the verdict by seeing if his stocking had coal or treats!

Sarah put down her stocking to help Trevor look in his. What a sweet big sister!

Pretty excited about Rapunzel bath soap.

We assembled one of Trevor's toys beforehand and had it out for him to play with while we made breakfast.

We made pancakes for breakfast and, while we were eating our yummy pancakes, Austin declared, "I barely made the nice list...barely!"  What a goof!

After breakfast, Nanny and Grandpa arrived and we opened gifts under the tree.  Here is a video of us opening gifts from Gramma and PopPop and Auntie Diana and Uncle Stephen.

When did my Austin get to be such a big kid?  He is looking so grown up these days!

Sarah was so excited this Christmas season!

My little munchkin and I.

Austin showing off his sea creatures.

We headed over to Nanny and Grandpa's house for Christmas dinner.  Austin and Alexis both got a "Guiness Book of World Records" and had fun poring over them together.

The kids got light up noses to wear.

Trevor loved the toy airplane that Auntie Trish got him. 

Trevor was a little snitch when it came to dessert.  He went back and forth from Grandpa to Mommy and Nanny snitching bites of dessert.  Auntie Trish made pumpkin pie and I brought a candy cane pie and a Boston cream pie strata (a recipe I found on Pinterest and was really good!).

Grandma Dorothy was able to join us to celebrate today.

The kids ganged up on Uncle Michael.

My little Rudolph!

We are so blessed to have our fantastic family (both here and scattered throughout the country), our 3 beautiful healthy children, our warm home, our abundance of food, and our rewarding careers.  We keep in our hearts and our prayers today those that are struggling or hurting for any reason. I pray especially today for 2 little girls who are ill...one who is struggling with worsening disease, the other who has just begun her journey and is in the hospital on this Christmas Day. I'm praying for health, happiness, comfort, and peace for these little girls and their families.