Christmas Morning

Here are some Christmas morning pictures. Ava loved her polly pockets.

Breny was very happy with his new telephone.

We spent Christmas Eve with Grandma Handley and Aunt Vicky and Scott. Here is Ava hugging the new soft fleece blanket she got.

Brendan loves the tonka trucks from Aunt Vicky and Uncle Scott.
We also had a wonderful Christmas Dinner at Grandma Giffords, and a nice lunch at Grandma and Grandpa Hesler's yesterday. All in all it has been a wonderful Christmas! Thanks to everybody who shared it with us.

Jingle Bells

Last night we had family over for dinner. Here are the girls singing Jingle Bells in the living room. They are reading the words off the TV. Little Emmy joined right in. It was very cute!

Paul made the news.

Here is the news clip from the hayride. You can see Paul's face for a second at the beginning and at the end when the wagon is driving away you see him sitting in the back. (The big brown coat). He was so glad he went on that hayride. (note the sarcasm) JK! I told him that he can bring both kids next year!

Caroling hayride!

On Saturday, Paul and Ava went on a Christmas caroling hayride with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Brendan and I decided to stay home since Saturday was pretty cold. I really wanted Ava to go so I called Paul at work and told him to hurry home so that he could take Ava on the Hay ride. (I left out the "caroling" part in fear that he wouldn't want to go. I bundled Ava up and when Paul got home from from work, off they went. Brendan and I watched out the window and waited for them to go by the house so we could snap their picture.

Here they come! When they got home Paul was frozen head to toe. Ava had a great time and she even led one of the songs- Jingle Bells. After Paul stopped shivering he thanked me for volunteering him for that wonderful event and he told me that channel 7 news was there. I acted oblivious when he told me that it included caroling. Oh what a great Dad!

BEN'S BIRTHDAY

Yesterday was Ben's 17th birthday. We stopped in last night for some cake and ice cream! Happy 17th Ben!

State Park

More Pictures

This afternoon, we went to the state park close to our home. This is one of our favorite play and picture spots. I was hoping to get a nice Christmas photo. I thought that I would give it another shot, but Brendan is a typical boy and he hates getting dressed up and being made to hold still for pictures, but we did have fun and I did take many fun shots!

Contrary to Brendan, Ava loves posing for pictures.

Christmas Portrait?

Yesterday afternoon we attempted to take a nice Christmas picture to put in our Christmas cards. We didn't have much luck, because Brendan was not cooperative. He didn't like the jacket on and he didn't want to hold still. This is what we came up with. Maybe we'll try again.....or maybe we'll just go with pictureless Christmas cards this year!

Pudding Painting

Yesterday we tried fingerpainting with Brendan for the first time. I used vanilla pudding with food coloring because I knew that his hands would go in his mouth, and I was right! (especially when he realized how good it tasted)

What a masterpiece!

BOWL OF BEANS

Brendan was acting pretty bored this morning so I gave him a bowl of beans for the first time. I didn't know what he would think of it, but it kept him busy for quite awhile. He liked that he was allowed to make a mess!

WINTER PHOTOS

A COLD AND FOGGY MORNING

AVA'S FIRST CHRISTMAS CONCERT!

SNOW!

We finally got our first snow! Brendan didn't know what to think of it, so we bundled up and went out to play this afternoon.
A cold swing!

Brendan loved being pulled in the little sled! (Don't mind the mismatched gloves!)

Well we love the snow now, but I'm sure in a few weeks, we'll be counting down the days until its gone! I hope everybody had a great weekend!