Christmas with the Weavers and the Blacks

On Dec 22 we celebrated Christmas with the Blacks and the Weavers. Ruthie and her family are here this Christmas from Canada So we decided to do a little get together. So at church the Sunday before we chose drew names. Then on the 22nd we got together for donuts for breakfast then presents.
Here are all the kids ready to go. On the floor, Matthew, Cole, David, Kyla, James and Bryson. Up top Kaycee, Brie, Maddy and Lexi Ruthie getting ready to hand out the gifts.

Maddy opening her gift form Ruthie's kids. She got 2 books

Cute little Whitney

Kaycee got The new Parent Trap movie

Cute Brie

Matthew got a Target gift card to go towards a Wii game he wanted

James got a cool game for the computer

Sarah opening her gifts

Ruthie opening her gifts

Ruthie gave Sarah and I friendship rings that read: "Friends are family we chose for ourselves." I am so grateful to have such great friends that share in the same values and things I do. These two are defiantly more then friends. They are my sisters. Love you two. Merry Christmas

The Nativity

This year for Family night the Monday before Christmas we acted out the Nativity.
Maddy was our Angel Cole was Joseph, Kaycee was Mary and James was the donkey

Mary and Joseph. The kids picked out their costumes. I promise

Matthew was a Sheppard

The cast

Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus (played by one of Kaycee's dolls)

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

After visiting with Santa we came home and put up our Christmas tree. Dad was the main tree fluffer. While Ben fluffed the tree I put the kids to work by putting the hangers on the ornaments

Then we started trimming the tree

Matthew

Cole

Maddy our little "Who baby" As the nurse at the kids school call her. :)

Me helping Kaycee

Kaycee

Matthew

James

Cole

Kaycee

Maddy. She loved that Rubik's cube that night

Cole

I LOVE this picture of Maddy.

The tree all finished.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Visiting with Santa

For the past few years we have gone over to our friends the Markwalters to visit with Santa. The kids look forward to it every year. Here are the kids with Santa. Thank you Wendy and Vince for putting this on ever year. Cole and Santa

James and Santa

Matthew and Santa

Kaycee and Santa

Maddy and Santa. Maddy want to impressed

Here's a funny story to go along with the night. When we pulled up the kids started asking where Santa slay was. They said they couldn't see it on the roof. Well as we parked the van we parked behind a red Toyota truck. I told them that when I was a kid at our family Christmas party one year my cousin and I snuck out as Santa was leaving so we could see his slay. But guess what he got into a red Toyota truck and drove off. So I said maybe the red truck we parked behind was his. Well we went into the house and talked with Santa and was eating some goodies. Another little girl that was there went up with Kaycee and asked Santa were his slay was. Santa replyed, : I drove my red truck tonight." PERFECT!!! :)

Snow in Houston???

It wasn't much BUT it was snow. At one time during the morning the flakes were so big and pretty. Any way here are a few pictures of the day and Cole and Maddy's first experience with snow.
The front yard The back yard

The licence plate on Ben's car

Maddy trying to figure out what that cold wet stuff is

Maybe if she tastes it she will know what it is.

Hahahaha!

Cole showing me the snow that fell on this blow up ball

Cole trying to keep his hands warm

Snow ball fight. He was trying to hit me through the window. :)

The wind up

HIT!!!

And another hit!Dads turn.

Cole was having a blastMaddy was having fun watching from the inside. :)

Look how happy she is. :)