From our Family to Yours

May your Christmas be filled with love and peace. Have a blessed and very Happy New Year.

All Aboard

All Aboard The Polar Express

so happy

a little disappointed that we were pulled by a diesel engine and not a steam engine,

but still so happy to be aboard

The Conductor

tickets please

Ethan, Jake, Erica, and Ally

Hot! Hot!

Ooh, we got it!

Hot! Hot!

Hey, we got it!

Hot! Hot!

Say, we got it!

Hot chocolate!

Cool it down.

We arrived at the North Pole

Santa, I would like . . .

Santa, I will just have Ethan tell you what I would like for Christmas. I am not going to come near you.

Yes, I told Santa to bring me a guitar. Erica, what did you ask for?

I believe. I believe.

Merry Christmas everybody!

Let the Celebrations Begin

Cheri School Party

Cookie decorating at Cheri School.

Ethan's cookies were fantastic. He did not skimp on the icing or the sprinkles.

You mean the icing is supposed to go on the cookie?

These cookies taste so good.

Hey, what did you get?

Ellie loves her books from Miss Cheri

Daddy also helped Erica unwrap her presents from Miss Cheri.

I Love Trucks

Catt's Kids . . . all 9 of them.

Erica, Bre, Cami, Kara, Ethan, Addie and Cheri is holding Drew, Emma, and Ellie

Now, on to the Moeller Christmas party . . .

Ethan made a snowman with minimal snow. I was very impressed.

Papaw had to do the heavy lifting.

"Papaw fix it."

Perfect snowball weather. I have a few bruises from Jacob, Luke, and Logan.

That crazy snowman stole Bugs' glove. Papaw was going to help her get it back.

Guess who came to Gammaw and Papaw's house?

Erica was a little nervous, but she did decide to sit on Santa's lap on her own.

I am not sure if you can tell in the picture, but Ellie did not want to visit with Santa.

Santa and my Ethers.

Max loved his beard.

Gordy, excuse me, I meant to say, Beau with Santa.

A Welcome House Guest

Snowflag is watching! Our Elf on the Shelf made his way to our home this afternoon. He reports nightly to Santa regarding Ethan, Erica, and Ellie's behavior. Snowflag will "Tell [Santa] if you have been good or bad. The news of the day makes him happy or sad." Upon his return to our home, Snowflag will find a new resting spot to observe Ethan, Erica, and Ellie.

Our neighbor let us in on the secret of the messenger elves. Ethan has spoken with Snowflag many times already. Santa gave Snowflag strict orders not to speak to him or the girls. However, he is permitted to talk to Mommy and Daddy. Ethan asked how Santa was going to get into our house since our fireplace has a glass cover. Umm, it is a good thing our elf will not speak in front of the children, but Snowflag did tell me that he will speak with Santa about it this evening and report back to me tomorrow.
Snowflag already made his first trip to the North Pole. I was still awake when he returned. He settled on our clock. After speaking to the jolly, old man, he drank some cocoa and hurried back. No word yet on how Santa will enter our home on Christmas Eve. Santa is still thinking.

Cheesy Christmas Shirts

My sister-in-law gave me grief last Christmas season. She wanted to know how I could teach elementary school and not have a Christmas sweater or two or three. A few bottles of puffy paint and Ethan, Erica, and Ellie's hand and footprints later, I now have 3 Christmas shirts. Yes, count them 3 shirts! Not enough for a whole week, but it has taken me 8 years of teaching to get one Christmas shirt.

The green shirt is Ethan's handprint making a Santa face. Ethan, Erica, and Ellie lent their handprints for my ivory shirt with Christmas trees, and Erica's footprint and Ellie's handprints made the reindeer on my red shirt complete with a red shiny nose. Cheesy, yes. Memorable, yes. My new favorite shirts, yes. Now I just need a wooden apple necklace and earrings.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I love this time of year, trimming the tree, caroling, and wishes for a very special Christmas. Paul and I have enjoyed preparing for St. Nick's big visit in 18 days (Yikes, 18 days, really? I still have shopping to do!). Ethan has a paper chain that he is pulling links off of each night before bedtime. Erica is gluing cotton balls to a paper Santa's beard. Ellie is just pulling ornaments off of the Christmas tree by the dozen. We are enjoying the moments.

It snowed today, and I saw The Nutcracker. It is definitely time for Christmas!

The Season Begins with Tree Trimming . . .

Ethan needed to hang his ornaments really high.

Ellie's favorite ornament is a "Go Colts" ornament. Did you notice how hard Paul was working while we are trimming the tree?

Erica doing her share.





Now, for our visit with Santa.

"I think I will sit on my Daddy's lap instead."

Fat chance Erica was going to sit on his lap.

We have a winner!

Ethan told Santa that he wanted a 6 foot tall monster truck (4 feet is too little and 8 is just way too big), a helicopter, and a GI Joe. Go big or go home!

There we go, Erica and Ellie sat near Santa on two conditions:

1. Mommy holds them

2. They didn't have to look at him

Erica reminded us that we needed to say our prayer before eating.

Ellie loved the doughnut.

Who needs breakfast, when you can have a candy cane?