Celebrating Christmas Abundantly!

We are truly blessed to have so many friends and family to celebrate our saviour with! This year we had seven gatherings to attend! I know, it still makes my head spin and it's been over for weeks.

We first got together with our good friends the Drapers for a fun dinner at Tito Macaroni's and a Christmas light cruise in C'dalene.

Then a few days later celebrated again with my Mom's family (awesome prime rib dinner!).

Come Christmas eve we took some time to play in the snow- finally. Ben had been plowing so much we hadn't had much time as famiy to enjoy the crazy amount that had fallen. (It was like manna from heaven for us!)

We then had another amazing prime rib dinner with Ben's family and had breakfast together Christmas morning. Of course we had to have Christmas morning first with our own brood.

Then it was more family time with my parents and sister the rest of the day!

The day after Christmas we hosted my Dads family get together and then finished off the craziness with another party at Ben's parents on New Years day with his dad's family. I'm seriously glad the holidays are done! Now it's back to the gym and back to reality!

Hello Charlie!

We have a new member of the fam! Monday before Christmas we adopted a cuddly, cute kitten. The kids promptly agreed to name him ' Charlie Brown Peterson'. Too funny! I was seriously expecting suggestions like sugar, princess or spongebob so I immediately jumped at the name Charlie. He has been FANTASIC with the kiddos. Really. Very rarely does he react when they terrorize him. He even likes the kids- you'll see in the photos...

Family Photo Shoot

We need a new family photo! Its been on my mind for months yet somehow I managed to put it off. Someone always needs a haircut or something! I also wanted to get some photo Christmas cards out. So a few days ago my sis Amber was over for a visit and we coerced her into taking a jillion pictures of us. Thanks Am. The kids we not exactly sure what we were wanting them to do or how to smile when we were sitting beside them but I guess thats because they are 5 and 2. I did get a christmas card out even if it wasn't a 'perfect' shot.

Mudgy & Milly

A few weeks ago the kids and I went to Coeurdalene to follow the trail that co-insides with the Mudgy and Milly book. We started the morning with strawberry pancakes at Sherri's and sang Christmas carols on the way. So fun to be with my niece, nephew, kids and Bonnie all together. It was wet, rainy and cold but we managed to make the best of it and the kids really enjoyed simply being together. Not to mention I got some cute pics!

Thankful!

We had some friends over yesterday for dinner and a movie- my first ever viewing of It's a Wonderful Life! I waited way too long to watch that one. Its the theme for our womens Christmas luncheon Saturday so I thought I'd better have seen it. Anyway I was just thinking how blessed we are to have great friends and family and a nice home to entertain them in during these winter months. God is good!

The kids are still really into dress up, especially when they know someone is coming over so I snapped these yesterday, and then Audrey snapped one of Ben and I. Enjoy!

Little Darlings.

Ben and I decided we were having Thanksgiving here this year as opposed to running back and forth between our family's like we usually do. So Wednesday we hung around the house getting things ready and all was well until this! -->

Our little darlings decided the living room looked better painted in dry eraser. Uggggh. There went my peaceful evening. Don't worry I made the two little dears help scrub it off, not to mention added a little warmth to their behinds. I sure hope that is the last I see of markers for a while!

On the bright side we had a great time on Thanksgiving. We had a lovely feast, played some games and watched Iron Man in our theater. Fun, family and food. Loved it.

Audrey lost a tooth!

She has been waiting for this day for months! (or has it only been a few days of her constantly saying "will it fall out today Mom?" Last night just before Papa Brent's b-day dinner Ben pulled it out for her. We all cheered and clapped. Ok I know this isn't a new phrase but brace your self- She's getting so BIG!!

* I took this pics last night, tired eyes and all, because I had to have a shot of the first day of her jack-o-lantern smile!