Merry Christmas~

O come let us adore Him...

Christmas Card Photo Shoot~

It didn't dawn on me to take these pictures in October.  Jeff was out of town twice then and we were all sick.  Then in November he had his mustache.  Then he went out of town a third time.  Then it rained for several days.  Finally there was a good weekend.  Unfortunately it was slighty cold out, like "only" 58 degrees.  Some of us weren't very happy about that.  So, I got a few good pictures, but then forgot to check how to do the timer on my new camera, so there was no pictures of all of us.  These are my favorites from that day.  I almost used these to order a late Christmas card, but then I just LET IT GO!  I think it has been a crazy few months for us and I needed to just not worry about cards and addresses and focus on my sweet family that I love so much!

Here they are...

 So this is take 2 from last week on a sunny, warmer day.  Not everyone was in the mood for pictures, but I got one of all of us which I will post later!  

Christmas Joy~

Just needed to see some joyful pictures today.  These are some of my favorites.  

"Arise, cry out in the night,...pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.  

Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children..."      ~Lamentations 2:16

A Christmas Carol~

                            Mikayla was in her school's production of A Christmas Carol!  

She was Belinda, Mr. Crachet's daughter and a few other parts like a party goer and a caroler, passer-by, etc.  I did all the photography again, so most of these are from dress rehearsal.  She did such a great job!  I love watching her on stage!  She always stays in character even when her friends miss a line or giggle.

Here she is as a party-goer.

Belinda and her sister and mother.

The passer-by when Scrooge has his change of heart and gives money away on the street.

Landen waiting to give flowers to his sissy.

With Papa

And Grammie

And RuthAnn

And G&G Thiesen

Everyone wanted a picture with the star!  That's fake snow in her hair, btw.

There is one with me and Jeff and Landen, but it was raining that day and my hair blew up to 10x it's normal volume so that one will just be for the scrapbooks.=)

The Star~

We finally put the star on the tree.  Jeff was out of town again so we waited for him.  Our tradition is for him to lift one of the kids up to put on the star.  Of course, there wasn't even a question, it was Landen's turn.=)

Not a good picture, but the only one I got with his Elmo slippers on.  He hardly ever wears them so I think this is just really cute!

So proud!
Our living room has horrible lighting for pictures.

The final product!

I just had to post something on 12~12~12!  Mikayla wants to try to do a cool picture since she is 12 yrs. old.  Not sure what, but hopefully we will think of something!

Deck the Halls~

Landen wanted everyone to pose for a picture by the stockings that he hung by the chimney with care.=)

Landen really liked this one that was "his size."

Our tree!  Daddy and the kids picked this one.  I liked the one behind it.  This one is very bushy.
"A little full.  Lot of sap!"

Such a darling boy!

The kids decorated it for days!  We have way too many ornaments now.  Landen took great care in hanging all of the snowflakes and bells.

Joy~

Christmases Past~

2007

                                 

2008

2009

2010

2011