Merry Christmas

On Christmas Eve, we all painted ornaments.  Clara thought that was the best idea ever.

Here are the ones Clara painted:

 Here are all the ornaments that got painted that day:

We had a wonderful Christmas at home this year.  It was just our family, and I loved getting to spend so much time with my little ones on Christmas.  Here are some pictures from Christmas morning:

Here is a picture of Joseph and I before church the Sunday following Christmas.  I think he looks dashing in his new outfit.

And finally, my kids being so cute as we were trying to leave for Rexburg.  (We headed up there the day after Christmas to spend some time with my mom, my sister Rachael, and her family.)

I love how how much my kids love each other.

Holiday Festivities

We were able to attend Clara's school Christmas Program this week.  I loved seeing all the Kindergarteners trying their hardest to remember all the words.  Clara sang White Christmas and a song I had never heard before about Santa's red suit.

We also had our ward Christmas party.  Santa came and I must say that I'm slightly disappointed.  I love the crying Santa pictures, and Joe really didn't do too bad this time.

We also had some friends over this week and decided to make a snowman pizza.  I think it turned out super cute.

I went outside to shovel some snow that we got and Clara wanted to shovel for me. She did the entire driveway all by herself!

Joseph found Clara's old backpack this week.  He asks to wear it all the time.

And here are some other pictures I took this week that I really like:

Fun Pictures

On Monday this week, we were able to get together with the extended Beck family and make gingerbread houses.  Clara spent such a long time on hers, and she was so proud of it.

When we went grocery shopping for the week, we overheard that Santa was there.  Since the line was super short, we got our first picture of the season with Santa.

Am I evil for LOVING pictures of my kids screaming with Santa?

My sister-in-law Kamee made these super cute hats for both of my kids.  I'm so glad that Clara loves hers and pretty much hasn't stopped wearing it since she got it.

Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Clara's first day day of Thanksgiving Break was also a free day at our zoo.  So we invited our neighbors and had a wonderful day.  Joe just stared at most of the animals, but the girls kept running from one thing to the next.  We saw the entire zoo in about an hour!

The girls also wanted a picture at every photo opportunity.  So we have lots of pictures of statues, but very few of actual animals. 

I was trying to get both Joe and Clara in a cute photo, but Joseph was too interested in looking at things to stop for a photo.  This is Clara trying to stay by little brother, but still have the rhino in the picture!

Why is it that the best part of the zoo is the sphere being held up by water?  All the kids were pretty wet by the time we left to go home.

Thanksgiving Day we had our neighbors over for dinner.  (The same neighbors that went to the zoo with us.)  We had so much fun getting to know them better.  I love that Clara has such a good friend right next door to us!  I don't love that I didn't take a single picture all day long.

The day after Thanksgiving, we were able to see the movie Frozen with Jeremy's sister and her family.  We haven't had any one on one time with her new husband and step children.  I loved getting to visit with them after the movie and get to know her family better.

Also the day after Thanksgiving, we put our Christmas tree.  Clara was so excited to decorate it that she was in our room at 6:45 am waking me up by asking me if it was time to decorate the tree.  Oh how I love that Clara thinks Christmas is so magical. 

We ended the weekend by visiting Temple Square to see the lights. 

There were a ton of people there, so we felt a little claustrophobic trying to maneuver at two man stroller through such a crowd.  But we did it.  And we even saw some friends of ours who were dating and married around the same time Jeremy and I were!  It was so wonderful to see you Steve and Angie Hansen along with Darren and LaChelle Hansen and all your beautiful Children.  Sorry I didn't get any pictures of you!

And I have to add this last picture.  Joseph loves Jeremy!  He'll cry anytime Dad leaves him.  This was taken Sunday morning after Jeremy got back from his early morning meeting.  As soon as Joseph heard the garage door open, he ran as fast as he could to his dad.  He then pleasantly sat on Jeremy's lap until it was time to go to church.

That was our Thanksgiving Weekend.  How was yours?