We celebrated Christmas with Drew's family this past weekend. Auntie Annette made Isa and Charlotte their tutus. So cute. Papa and Nana with their four grandkids. Sam and Isa would not smile. Since they wouldn't smile, we just went for the muscle shot. Benjamin got this fishing game from Uncle Travis and Auntie Annette. They all love it but Samuel is crazy about it and wants to play it first thing in the morning. The kids all love this Pizza Party game which Drew played as a kid.Benjamin received his jean quilt from Grandma Babe this year. He has arrived. Sunday morning before church. Papa and Nana's 35th wedding anniversary.
We had a wonderful little Christmas Eve celebration in our apartment. This is our second annual pizza party picnic. We eat with only the Christmas lights on and we had a marvelous time giggling and singing Christmas carols. Christmas morning we have pancakes and celebrate the Word becoming flesh. Jesus, we're so glad you came and rescued us! We made the kids star pancakes. Drew got stuck with all the star scraps. They were very delicious star scraps though so don't feel bad for him. We just do stockings for the kids and include a letter from us of all the ways we've seen them grow in the past year. This was the first year Benjamin really appreciated the letter and the memories written within. Isa and Sam are still completely oblivious. :) The kids all got some Wikki sticks-wax covered yarn. You can cut them, shape them, and then just press them onto your paper, the fridge, the table, etc. Use them again and again. So fun!Isa got a little pack and play for her Care Bears. Look how well she tucked baby bear in.Sam loved unwrapping his stocking stuffers. He didn't care much what was inside but just wanted to keep unwrapping.
We finally got around to making Christmas cookies. We aren't headed to OH to be with family for my grandpa's funeral until tomorrow morning so it was a good distraction today. The kids loved it, Drew and I loved it, and they taste amazing. Win. Win. Win.
It's hard work using those cookie cutters.
Typical Isa fashion--she was covered in flour before we even started.
While Isa and Samuel were napping, Benjamin and I focused on frosting cookies. It was nearly silent in the kitchen for over an hour as the two perfectionists worked. The quiet time with my thoughts, prayers, firstborn, and frosting was good for my soul. Drew frosted double the amount of cookies we did but ours looked so pretty.
Yesterday while Sam was napping, Andrew, Benjamin and Isa built a snowman and went sledding in front of Sammy. Drew was in charge of the chest which turned out to be wider than the bottom Gwen rolled. A barrel chested snowman it is. Buddies. Benjamin's snow suit is a hand-me-down straight out of the 80s and 2 sizes to small. I think it's time to invest in a new one. :)
Everyone at Morris Hall this year was probably wondering who is responsible for watering the Christmas Tree. We obviously never figured it out. I seriously would laugh out loud every time we walked by it. The Assistant Hall Director tried to save it but it was too far gone. I had to get a picture of the poor and naked tree with the pile of needles on the ground so I could remember it always. We'll try to do better for the Hall next year. Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!
My sweet Grandpa passed away this morning. He will be so missed. I can't imagine my grandma without my grandpa. Bill and Ruth were attached at the hip. He was a wonderful husband, dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa. For a long time when Benjamin said, "Grandpa Bill' it sounded like 'Grandpa Bull' and it always made him laugh.
My grandpa with his parents, Henry and Mable. Grandpa and Grandma-wedding picture I think. They liked to have their picture taken. Grandpa with my mom. Back for a visit when we moved to Denver. With BenjaminI always loved my grandpa's tan skin. You will notice the word JOY on his arm. He liked a girl named Joy in high school and used the acid in chemistry class to write her name on his arm. That always cracked me up.I love this picture. It makes me laugh. Benjamin was terrified of the lawn mower for a few years. My siblings and I absolutely loved to ride around on the lawn mower with my grandpa when we were little. Benjamin grew out of that and loves driving Drew's dad's mower around their lawn. Thank goodness. Samuel and GrandpaSomeday Heaven!
Taylor's library staff hosted a reenactment of the Christmas story on Friday afternoon at the library. The kids got to come, help make their costumes, and then perform the Christmas story for the families. My youngest two were napping so Benjamin and I went. It was so fun, funny, and sweet. The 4 year olds were the heavenly host of angels that appeared to the shepherds to announce Jesus' birth. Andrew and Benjamin were the only 4 year olds so it was a small host. The heavenly host with the angel of the Lord. Practicing flying. Listening to instructions. The kids love the padded book in the children's area of the library. They climb up one side and slide down or flip over the other. There have been many times I have wished that thing wasn't there--like when my children should be sitting quietly and listening to Taylor students read them books but are instead fighting over who gets to sit on top of the book.
Papa and Nana with their four grandkids. Sam and Isa would not smile. 
Since they wouldn't smile, we just went for the muscle shot.
Benjamin got this fishing game from Uncle Travis and Auntie Annette. They all love it but Samuel is crazy about it and wants to play it first thing in the morning.
The kids all love this Pizza Party game which Drew played as a kid.
Benjamin received his jean quilt from Grandma Babe this year. He has arrived.
Sunday morning before church. Papa and Nana's 35th wedding anniversary. 
While Isa and Samuel were napping, Benjamin and I focused on frosting cookies. It was nearly silent in the kitchen for over an hour as the two perfectionists worked. The quiet time with my thoughts, prayers, firstborn, and frosting was good for my soul. Drew frosted double the amount of cookies we did but ours looked so pretty.
