Other that not being with our families and the children's sickness, this Christmas was perfect. It was easy, low-key, exciting, and full of the joy of giving and of our Savior. I loved it!
We attempted gingerbread houses, (now our annual tradition) and didn't really succeed the way we pictured it, but the kids had a lot of fun. I scorched the sugar used to glue the pieces together, so instead of looking quaint and magical, they looked like they had been gutted by a 5-alarm fire. Ah well, live and learn!
On Christmas Eve we read the Christmas Story from the Bible, opened our pajamas (thanks Mom!) and watched The Polar Express together before putting out some milk and cookies for Santa, and then heading up to bed. The kids were out faster than I've ever seen!
Santa did come and in the morning, bringing a whole bunch of snow with him. We had a lot of fun emptying our stockings and opening presents. The rest of the day was spent together, playing with our new goodies and eating way too much candy!
The favorite gifts of the day were:
Dan- The Big Buck Hunting game
Logan- a Star Wars Speeder and snow-trooper
Lincoln- A Spiderman Web Shooter
Owen- A Star Wars Light-Saber night light
Ellie- princess shoes
Me? Well...you all remember the beautiful packages Dan's co-workers wrapped...they were full of cute little accessories and my very own "little black dress". (Dan's great at picking out clothes for me!) I thought we were all done and everyone was happy as could be, when he pulled out one last present. I opened it to find a Nikon camera bag, (I was very excited because I've been using a Canon bag for a while that isn't very convenient) and when I opened the top zipper, a note fell out, telling me to look in the cupboard above the fridge, which I did and found another package hiding. I had an idea of what it was, but I was not at all expecting it, so when I opened it, my hands were shaking! It was a beautiful new camera! A Nikon D300s, for those of you who speak camera. It is fantastic, I absolutely love it and it will really help me get where I want to be with my photography! So, in case my squealing and hugging wasn't enough to let Dan know how grateful I really am, I'm saying it now...THANK YOU!
Okay, here are the pictures. Some from my good old D40x and some from the new. I can already tell I have a lot of new things to learn. The manual is insane on this camera, but I am determined to get through it and learn everything I can! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas too!
This beautiful train was made by our good friends the Hollanders. I had to photograph it because it is just so cool! It is edible, but we are not letting the kids touch it because it's too pretty. :)
Building the houses on Christmas Eve. I love Ellie's hair!
Little burned outhouses. :(
Stockings!
Waiting to open gifts. I took this in one shot and loved it...it's very "Christmas morning".
Opening gifts!
Love that wrapping paper!
Logan set Ellie's shoes up in a "shoe shop" for her.
Outside, playing in our White Christmas with my new camera!
Linc and I made our snowman together...
...then Logan made one alone.
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4 comments:
So many things to comment on. That pic of ellie in all the wrapping paper? be still my heart! so cute.
Yay! for the new camera!!
Can't wait to see the 'little black dress'.
Gorgeous pictures! I can't wait to see what you can do with your new camera. Ellie's hair is getting so long. Love the kids playing in the snow...what a special treat for Christmas.
What a fun Christmas! Congrats on the new camera - so exciting! Oh, and I find it terribly funny that you guys had more snow on Christmas than we did. Here in our neck of the woods where we are "known" for our snow, we were actually just "dreaming of a white Christmas." :)
I can't believe you guys got snow. We missed you guys these past holidays. Hopefully we will get to see the family soon.
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