Santa Claus Came to our Town!

Acting out the Nativity...Sadie was the lamb, Ashlyn was Mary, I switched between the angel and Joseph, Dave narrated and filmed. Of course, Nate was baby Jesus. He loved his role...he looked around and smiled the whole time.
This age has been the most fun yet to watch the girls be excited about Santa coming. Can you tell they were a little excited?
Ashlyn reading a Christmas story to Nate. You can't see it in the picture - but they had him propped up facing the Christmas tree so he could feel "Christmasy".
Nate didn't get too much from Santa. Santa knows that milk and loves are his favorite thing...which he already gets plenty of. But he did get him a Hot Wheel.

Thank you Karla!!!!

What a fun surprise the girls got in the mail today. We had just finished opening Santa's presents (yes, he came last night. It feels strange that the rest of the world isn't celebrating Christmas today. The phone rings and we wonder who would be calling on Christmas morning. Aren't they in the middle of opening presents too?) when there was a knock at the door from FedEx. Our friend Karla surprised the girls and mailed them their own real guitars! They were so excited!!! The guitars came with digital tuners, a strap, a case and a CD of guitar songs.
Ash having fun playing!
Sadie intently watching Dave tune her guitar.
This was not posed...
I guess Nate and I better learn to play so we can join the guitar gang! Thank you Karla, from all of us!!!!!!!!!!!!

No coal for me!

Nate doesn't seem too worried about getting coal.

Prayers about Santa

Tonight in Sadie's prayer she said..."Please bless Santa to not bring us coal." I wonder if she's really worried about it or if she's just trying to be funny. Santa comes Friday night (we asked him to come early since we will be in CA for Christmas). The girls can't wait. Either can the adults! I love Christmas!

Life Father, Like Daughter

Ashlyn created her own cookie recipe (peppermint chocolates, as she named them) yesterday, and they looked a bit like Dave's first cookies he made as a kid. They tasted great...they just looked a little flat.
Sadie searched through a recipe book and found these creations she wanted to make, and she named them "sandwich cookies". She made them for a party she is planning. I asked her who was invited and she said this one would just be a family party. I asked her what we would do at the party and she said "Oh, just eat some treats." Sounds like a fun party to me!

Nate's Favorite Hobby...

You want me to smile? How's this?
And this?
And this?
Nate has figured out that smiling gets some good reactions from his family, so he does it all day. Even when we put him down for bed, he is smiling as we leave the room. One time I peeked in his room (our closet) after I had put him down and found him beaming at the walls.

Happy Birthday Aunt TT!!!

Happy Birthday from Goka...
Happy Birthday from Nate...
Happy Birthday from Ashlyn and Sadie (and Dave and Meliss too!)
We love you lots! Hope you have a great birthday.