It begins

Emily and I took a few pictures indoors today. I have my first appointment of the year tomorrow. I really enjoyed having the past month off! I'm writing a book so I got to work on that a lot and have really enjoyed the whole experience. Here are a few of the pictures we took an hour ago

Fun in the snow

Kids enjoying the first big snow storm of 2010:

Happy New Year, a little late

We had quite a snow a couple of days ago. The kids got to go out and have fun in it. Here are a few pictures:

Snow angels:

Nate hiding in the tree fort:
Kaylee be the tree fort:
lots of snow on the branches:
Emily the snow kitty eating snow flakes:
Not into making snow angels:

Christmas Part 2

Christmas Day:

Poor Nathan was so excited this year that he couldn't fall back to sleep after he got up at 4:30 in the morning. We finally gave up at 5:30 and let him play with the circus he got from Grandma the night before. Kaylee got up just before eight and Emily wasn't far behind her. Nana and Papa got to the house around eight and then we opened gifts. For lunch we made sandwiches out of Jimmy John's bread we had bought the day before, yum! The kids spent the day playing and then Nate, Emily and I all took an afternoon nap while daddy and Kaylee set up her new computer in her room. Jimmy's parents came over for Christmas Eve dinner which worked out wonderful. Everyone was rested and it wasn't rushed! We love spending time with Family!

Kids and stockings:

Kaylee got some new dvds:
Nate excited about his new Mario game:
Best gift of the day, Emily and her fur real kitty that moves and meow's, she loves this and plays with it all day every day:
Cozy family Christmas:

Twas the night before Christmas...

and all through Grandma's room, the family was singing, everyone on tune:

Kaylee and Nana singing:
Emily hopped up to help Grandma play Christmas songs:
Hm.. what's down there?
CJ and Rachel and baby Chloe:
The three Thompson kids:
Our big ol' family:
Kids with Nana and Papa:
Jimmy and I and the stick tree:

Christmas Eve at Grandmas!!

I love Christmas Eve at Grandma's. We eat roast beef sandwiches on homemade rolls, Grandma's potato salad and beans, mom made fruit salad, chips veggies and dip, tons of cookies and the best Christmas punch ever!! The kids open a couple gifts from Grandma and then we all head over to the Christmas Eve service. Then we went back to Grandmas for family bonding and Christmas Carols around the piano. We lucked out and had perfect driving weather, no ice or snow! The kids did very well considering all the traveling and the late night. Emily enjoyed dancing and kept asking Grandma to play frosty the snowman and then jingle bells. She even got up on the bench and helped Grandma play the piano!!