Christmas Day!--posted by katie

Christmas Day--those few hours that only come once a year (and seem to come faster the older I get). Due to our late Monopoly game (see the below post) we weren't all up until 8 AM. We awoke to several inches of fresh snow on the ground with it still falling! A white christmas! We were thrilled, to say the least.

What better way to begin Christmas day than with a little football (yes, I know that's debatable).
Uncle Mike's rather disturbing drawing on his new Buddha Board (the gift he gave himself--see the below post again).
The last shot I'll get of the Christmas tree WITH presents underneath it.

And how old are these two again? Precisely...
Our version of stockings this year--there was nowhere to hang "stockings." It's what's inside that counts :)
We got some hats from our cousins--they could be worn as hats, or "gators." Uncle Mike preferred the gator look.
He also preferred the mask look. We didn't.
Robert got a nice new coat :)

And a soft blanket.
He expressed a desire to learn to knit, so I gave Uncle Mike knitting needles and yarn for Christmas, along with a free lesson (since we're both lefties and only a lefty can teach a lefty how to knit). He looks like an eager pupil to me (if not a little turned around--take a look at that yarn between those needles).
Mary got a really fun game called "Whoonu" (pronounced "who knew").
What a darling shirt Ellie got.
And here are those hats again--how cute!

Christmas Eve--posted by katie

What a jolly Christmas Eve we had in our lovely, cozy, new house. We opened about half our presents that night (tried something new) so there are quite a few gift pictures... Enjoy!

Why can't guys just SMILE?!

See, Mary and I had no problem with it *laugh*

Elizabeth got a gift card :)
OK, Robert is smiling, but I DON'T understand what he's doing with his whole head... Oh well.

Trishie likes her new striped sweater.
Mike, enjoying the whole process immensely.
He even bought himself a gift and labeled the present as from "Mary and Patricia." What cheek...
We got him Monopoly for Christmas (his very favorite game). He was quite excited and you know something? Since Tuesday we've played that new monopoly at least five times...
After the present opening, we played a game of the new monopoly until midnight--then said Merry Christmas, went to bed, and slept all of Christmas day *just kidding*

Team Robert-Mary. They didn't do too well--hence Robert's excellent sad look.
Team Mike-Trish. I do believe they won...

And, last but not least, the Blaine-Katie team. We came in third :(
And a shot of the whole group. What fun monopoly is--I love it!

I hope you all had just as merry a Christmas eve as I did... God bless!

Sunday Sledding--posted by katie

On December 16th, after church, we headed partway into the Rocky Mountains to do some sledding! I personally didn't think the hill was that great (too bumpy) but it was still fun...

Me, Ellie, Trishie. What a view!
Now that's beautiful...
I like mirror shots.

See the sun on the tip of the top? Lovely...

Red Rocks!


Some very fancy houses.

And here are the tired kids recovering from an afternoon of sledding (it's not the sledding that's tiring, it's the walking back up the hill *laugh*).

Church Care Group Christmas White Elephant--posted by katie

On December 13th our Care Group at our Sovereign Grace Church had a White Elephant Christmas party and much fun it was.

From left to right: Hannah, Sheree, Ellie.

Yes, Robert just HAD to do that... From left to right: Ellie, me, Hannah.
Robert's picture war with Hannah :)
Mary A. and Sheree.
Mary with her white elephant gift (penguin) and Bekah.

Mrs. Platz and a cute little boy!
Robert took this picture--I think it's pretty cool. From front to back: Spencer, Molly, William.
This little boy LOVED walking on the presents. Seriously, he'd just saunter over and step on the presents like he was climbing a mountain or something... But he sure is cute looking, isn't he :)
The above pictures were all of before and after the white elephant--here IS the white elephant. We all headed down to the basement... From L-R: Mr. Austin, William, Diana, Mary, Jared.

The stack of booty!

Ruth with her dad--how sweet!
Ruth with her darling siblings.
Poor Caleb had a headache :(
Mr. Platz next to his Christmas tree.
So many smiles! From left-right: Dad, me, Mary, Molly, Zander, Sarah, Sarah's little sister.

Katie and Mary A. :)
My parents.
A close-up of the tree.
Bekah, Diana, and Caleb.
Isn't this little boy just the most darling thing?