Merry Christmas!

Kathleen was a reindeer and Brandon was Santa. They went from tree to tree pretending to deliver presents. Kathleen had a piano recital this week. So cute.

Ryan and I finally finished our Thomas Kincaid puzzle. Puzzles are a Christmas tradition.

Cody playing with a Christmas ornament:

Watching a movie. Daddy must be so comfortable.

We built a snow tunnel. Cody especially loved it.

Acting out the nativity.

Christmas PJ's:

Kathleen is "in love" with her new PJ's. She had to pose for this:

Santa came. And this is just one side of the tree. Brandon just said this morning, "Mom, I don't think Santa remembered to check on us in his magic mirror." When I asked him why, he said, "Well, we were pretty naughty." I guess he feels he got the good end of the stick this year.

Cody was so slow. He was so careful about opening his gifts. Then he would get so excited and play with the toy for a while before carefully opening the next.

The kids got Ryan Homer Simpson slippers. Luckily they match his pajamas.

Enjoy the mess while it lasts.

Best gift ever: Season 1 of Chuck.

Ryan wanted record of his gifts this year. I think he just wanted something to look up so he could pretend he remembered what he got for Christmas.

Kathleen and Brandon playing with their Christmas gifts, easy bake oven and pixos.

Oops

Forgot to tell you that Brandon is the kid on the top row in the solid red sweater (second from Right) in the concert pictures. Just for those of you who didn't know.

Christmas Concerts, Anniversary, Nutcracker

Brandon had a concert at his preschool. Cody was so excited that he FINALLY got to go to preschool himself, that he packed his backpack full of fun things. Brandon was so cute. And of course, every concert has to have the one kid who falls off the risers. This year it got to be Brandon. Luckily it was at the end as they were walking down off the stage. He was so cute; he just bounced right back up and was so brave until he could get to his mommy. Then he just cried so sad-like.It was also our 9-year anniversary on the 18th. We had a lovely day. But the best part was sitting at the table while Kathleen was at school and Cody was napping and playing play dough with Brandon, while Ryan and I drank cider and cracked nuts. Brandon was so cute to visit with and took this picture of us. (Okay, the real best part was the next day when we got to go out on a date).

Kathleen performed in the Nutcracker with her ballet class. She was a Chinese tea girl.

Brandon and Cody LOVED the show. It was the first time we got to sit through one of Kathleen's recitals without having to leave with a child.

When the girls are quiet (which doesn't happen often), one must wonder where they go. Well, Ryan found out:

Kaylee picked out these candles for us and I thought she might like to see where they ended up.

We finally got some fun snow. I was starting to think that Spokane stole all our snow before it got to us.

Kathleen's Dance:

Brandon's Song:

Gingerbread Party

Brandon and Cody are what I like to call on-again, off-again best buds. Here is a picture of when they are "on". Kathleen and Brandon made some gingerbread men for fun (well Kathleen had to do it for school, it was just fun for Brandon).

Ryan had a lame-o work Christmas party. Not that hanging out with drunk engineers isn't my favorite time. He is the only post-worthy picture.

We had our annual gingerbread house party. It was super fun.

For some reason, Ryan can't take a picture without making it blurry. We will work on that.

I made a nativity. Weird, I know.

Ryan made what we called a cathedral.

After everyone left, there were still a few bags of frosting and a TON of candy. So I made another one.

We got quite a bit of snow today (for us anyway). It was going on and off all day. We had to have a snowball fight, naturally.

Cody played the piano and sang "Jingle Bells" on the top of his lungs. It was so cute.