Merry CHRISTMAS!!!!

The kids loved blowing out the Advent wreath candles every night.

Matt and Julie learned a new part of the nativity story every night.

Cookies, carrots and note for Santa and his reindeers.

Christmas morning

Claire with her new baby doll and doll stroller.

The weather was right for sledding.

Birthday cake for Jesus.

What We Have Been Up To

We have been decorating cookies. These cousins have sooo much fun together!

We made a gingerbread house.

We went to a beautiful outdoor light display. The weather was perfect, and it was lots of fun.

They gave us holographic glasses to make the lights look even fancier.

Our favorite part was taking a horse drawn carriage ride around the park.

The babies are having fun together.

Claire keeps trying to hug Emma. Emma is not so sure that is a good idea.

A Trip to the Candy Factory

Matt and Julie got a chance to go behind the scenes and make candy at Hammond's Candy, which has been making candy by hand since 1920. Hammond's candy is sold all over the country in gourmet food and department stores.

Pouring the melted sugar.

Ready to shape the warm candy.

The candy is kept warm enough to shape by open flames!

Matt shaping candy canes.

The kids in front of Hammond's famous caramel covered marshmallows.

Matt and Julie with the candy they made themselves.

Claire Created Rudolph!

Papa tought Claire to put stickers on noses.

It has finally payed off.

It's Really, Really Cold Outside

It's so cold that school was cancelled today, so we stayed inside, in our pajamas. We decorated gingerbread cookies tis morning.

Claire liked to eat the sprinkles.

Some of our cookies.

Christmas Tree Cutting 2009

Today we went out into the forest to cut down a Christmas tree. It was very cold.

Our Christmas tree!!

There were trail riders in the forest. Here is Claire's face when she saw the horses.

One of the horses.

First Week in Advent

Matt made an Advent Wreath.

Graham Cracker Nativity

Claire looking at her Advent calender.

Oh No! Santa!!!

We were good all year, really!