Merry Christmas!!

Nathan had his first Christmas this year, along with his cousin Levi. All of the kids had a great time! We did our own gifting a little different this year on Christmas morning... All of the kids, along with Paul and I, each got one present for eachother. So, we each got 7 presents (along with stockings) and each present was from a different person (I still bought the gifts from the smaller kids) When we sorted the presents, instead of making a pile with gifts TO a person, we made a pile of the gifts that each person was going to give away. Then, we took turns personally handing out a gift from our pile to the person it belongs. We figured that way, the kids would be able to connect the present with who gave it too them and the giver would have a part in the actual giving process. I think it worked out really well. And the bonus is that eventually, (because we have a larger family), Paul and I will each give one thoughtful present to each person, but the amount of gifts they get won't change!

We did have tons of fun with the families! I love getting together with everyone! Here's a mix of pics from Christmas Eve at my brother Mark's house with the Pemble's, our house on Christmas morn, and Grandpa and Grandma Larson's on Christmas Day...

2 angels, 2 shepherds, and a wood worker

The children's Christmas play was really cute this year. Maybe I'm a bit bias because, after all, I did have 5 of my kids in it. Caleb and Seth were Shepherds, Grace and Ellie sang "Away in a manger" as pint sized angels, and Noah was Joseph a silent, but very important little guy. Oh, yeah, and the guy with mouse ears is our Pastor (the only adult allowed to have a roll in the play).

Both Caleb and Seth have been taking piano lessons for a while, and last week they were in a Christmas piano recital. This was the first recital we've been able to attend, so it was fun to see them play in front of an audience. They both did great. Caleb also played "Angels we have heard on high" on the piano during the Children's Christmas Service before the play.

My girls are CRAZY for curls

Grace and Ellie love to get their hair curled. They were so thrilled with having curly hair! Gracie spent quite a while looking at her locks in the mirror. They did look cute.

Nathan 3 months

Nathan's just getting old enough to sit happily in his Bumbo! He is such a serious boy. This is only the second time we caught him smiling long enough to get a picture. He will carry on a very serious conversation with you in baby language, but it takes a little doin' to get him to grin. A friend of mine that had a baby 2 days after Nathan was telling me that her baby was doing that deep belly laugh already, so I have been trying my best to get a laugh from little Nathan to no avail. He's alot like Caleb in that respect. Caleb was the more serious type who was hesitant to smile. It's funny how they have their personality already stitched in them from birth. Nathan is definately a busy-body, though. He loves to be up and looking around. If you cradle him in your arms where he can't see, he'll let you know that he does not like it. He also likes to have my attention. If he is near me and in his mood to talk, and I am not paying attention to him, he'll cry until I turn to him and start talking. Then he'll talk to me and voice his frustration at my lack of attention.