Christmas

 We didn't do Christmas cards this year, but we still took our annual "picture by the tree".  It's fun to see how the kids have grown each year.  So I guess this is our "Christmas card":

Santa came!

Checking out the presents:

 The kids each get a stuffed animal that they get to open while they're waiting for breakfast.  Katie got her newest favorite, Miss Piggy.

 Playing with animals.  This is why we have so many - because they actually play with them.  (No comments from my sister about how that's so weird and unusual.)

Staring at the presents while they were waiting for everyone to be done eating.  This picture makes me laugh.

 Then the kids all gave their presents to each other, one by one.  It makes the fun last longer.

 Then presents from mom and dad.  Lydia, opening her Bitty Baby.

 Elizabeth got a Furby.  This is Lydia saying, "NO FAIR, she got a FURBY?"

 Little did she know hers was next.

 Katie got a bunch of Muppet Movies.  We've seen Muppet Treasure Island about 50 times since Christmas.  I'm regretting that purchase a bit.

 Elizabeth got a squinky castle.

I have to include this entire sequence of photos because it makes me smile and is so Anna. Anna got a phone.  

 This is blurry because she freaked out so bad.  Notice Blake, trying to jump away from the excitement.

 And plugging his ears because she's screaming.

 Fainting from shock.

 I think she likes it, what do you think?!  

 Nathan and Michael both got gaming head phones and a smart phone.

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They each got a couple more gifts, but I won't bore you with more pictures.  We had wonderful, relaxing Christmas!

Caleb vs. Asthma again

Caleb was back in the hospital with asthma yesterday.  I swear, he gets a sniffle and he's back in the hospital. This time he didn't have to stay overnight, but we were still there for close to 10 hours.  They gave him a bunch of medicines and an hour long breathing treatment.  Eventually they found a combination that worked for him and he was able to go home.  We were so glad he got to be home for Christmas!  

Able to breath again.

 He slept most of the next day.  

Leaves in December

Dec 1st and the kids are out raking leaves??  It has been unusually warm for December.  The kids went out to rake the leaves and ended up playing out there all day.  They raked leaves, but instead of bagging them, they all played in them.  Then they had to rake them again.  This went on for about 5 rounds before they finally decided they were done and put them in bags.  They had a blast!  Maybe I should get them all leaves for Christmas.  They kept them entertained for a lot longer than any toy.

Putting up the Tree

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  I couldn't decide which ones I like best, so you get them all (well most).

 A real smile from Katie!

 Don't know why this didn't rotate.  Michael is always in charge of helping everyone get the branches in the right place.  I love that he loves to be involved.

 Hanging ornaments:

 The kids always play with our collection of sheep after the tree is up.  It's a tradition to play with the sheep.  We have many family jokes about Handel's "Oh we, like sheep..."  

 Dad always hangs the star.  This is the star we've had since we were poor, starving students.  It has come to be a sign of our humble beginnings and we love this star.  We'll never, ever get another one!  (Darn pictures, why don't you turn?!)

We always have egg nog after the tree is done.  

 The kids play with our collection of Nutcrackers.  Most of them are Anna's.

 We've had this penguin since Nathan was a baby.  My mom made it for me.  He used to love to play with the penguin and the rest of the kids loved him too.  Now it's Caleb's turn to love the penguin.