Friends & Fun Times

our Christmas eve pizza party celebration with the Morrows

making Christmas cookies!

Sara motivated me to do Christmas cookies and I'm grateful because it was a lot of fun for all...and did I mention how yummy these buttery cookies were?!  We put a good portion in the freezer and munched on them for a whole week here and there!

Joel, Gracie & Elianna armed and ready with sprinkles!  They were good helpers.

having fun together one last time before Gracie moved away

Joel & Elianna with their friends Jakin & Brielle.  If you want to get your kids to smile this big,  just tell them their new Veggie Tale movie starts as soon as everyone smiles=D  Joel got "It's a Meaningful Life" for Christmas and Elianna got "Sweetpea Beauty". 

a few minutes of snowflake bliss!

winter wonder

Christmas at Lighthouse

Joel got to be Joseph in the Christmas play at church today.  He was so excited!

family pic before the Christmas service

cute

Elianna & Joel (almost 3 & almost 5!!!)

Joel's first time "acting".  Tim (aka donkey) on the right was helping them out!

Merry Christmas 2010

These pictures were taken my my dear friend & neighbor Larissa.  (Dwell Photography by Larisssa)  So very thankful for her sharing her talent over the last few years with us! 

A Fun Early Christmas Visit

My Mom & Dad visited us second week in Dec for a week.

Joel had so much fun playing games with Grandpa Doug.

Etch-a-sketch from Great Grandpa & Grandma Neuharth.

"My baby!" is what Elianna said loudly and happily as she unwrapped this present from Great G & G!

All dressed up for John's command Christmas party!

We went to "The Lights of Christmas" at Warm Beach Christian Camp, near Stanwood.

Joel enjoyed his first cotton candy.  Elianna didn't care for it!  Surprising.

So beautiful!  And the weather wasn't too cold..a little drizzly though.

 

The kids & I with Grandpa

Joel loved the horse ride! 

Elianna too!

Joel made a button buzzer...here he is decorating it (spin art?)

horsing around and listening to some live country music

Hexbug Nano gift from G & G Neuharth & the aunties.

Grandma Susan really enjoyed her time with the grandkids=D

There were many presents to open from G & G and the aunties!

We met up with my Uncle Ken & Aunt Connie to eat & went to the 5th Avenue Theater to see "A Christmas Story".  I really enjoyed the musical and being in Seattle with family.  Can't wait until the kids are old enough to take them here!  I think I see a Mommy/Joel date in the near future=D

Christmas Decorating

taking out the ol tree--I think it's  8 years old now!  I got this at an Italian "Walmart" for our 2nd Christmas together married while stationed in Naples.

Daddy & Joel got the honors of putting up the angel tree topper

looks pretty good guys!

adding her special touch

having fun decorating

Wow, this was Mommy's ornament when she was little?!

working hard!

always having fun =D

goof'in around with garland!

and the stockings were hung...near the chimney with care!

look at their decorating! ya!  Mom did rearrange things at the end of all their artistic pursuits!

Gloriously decorated, Telenga style Christmas tree!