The Polar Express

Dramatic reading - this guy was amazing!  He gave me chills!

Getting tickets punched...

The hobo...

 Andrew seeing Santa arrive on our car.  I love how happy he was!  This reminds me the girls a few years back.  Not that they weren't happy too, they were thrilled to talk to Santa!

This is right after Gianna asked Santa if she could have a ride on his sleigh for Christmas and he said, "yes"!!!  Thanks, Santa.

We were the last off the train so Santa said he'd walk us out.



January

Skipping right over Christmas day (I'll post some eventually) here are some from January...

New Year's Day - taking down the Christmas decorations...

Playing a new game received at Christmas, Fibber. If you get caught in lie your nose grows!

Can you tell who the big liar of the night was??

Gianna's treat day at Girl Scouts...

Bella in her new top and tights from Aunt Jane - this is her current favorite outfit!

Small but Mighty...

A little of Christmas Eve

Aunt Jane has many traditions with our kids. One is making recorded books for them to open on Christmas Eve. Here they are listening to their new book!

I let the kids open their presents to each other on Christmas Eve.   They all put a lot of thought into each other's gifts.  Here is Bella with her make-your-own book from Andrew.

Bella gave Gianna a stuffed horse - a sure hit with that girl. Gianna gave Andrew his first Webkinz.

Bella's first tooth out!

Isabella lost her first tooth a few months ago and her bad mommy didn't post it until now. Things were a little crazy the last quarter of 2012.

Some more pre-Christmas pics

The kids loved the nativity in front of Andrew's school.  Andrew and Gianna wanted a picture of them in front of it.

Mike and I received the most beautiful ornaments (and the packaging - I love it!!!) from the kids. 

Our tree gets better each year!

Handprint ornaments - I love that the snowman family has five members! 

These two were made by Andrew.  LOVE LOVE LOVE...



Isabella taught us all about St. Lucia Day in Sweden.  She was really smitten with the whole idea of it.

 We watched a live nativity on Christmas Eve Eve.  Can I just tell you that is was 13 degrees out during this?!?  It was very nice though.  I wanted to bring every animal home and let them warm in front of my fireplace.  I'm not joking...

I & G's Christmas Show

In the morning before school...  (I'm not sure what's up with Isabella's expressions!)

 

 If you look REALLY closely, you can see the girls - Isabella back row center, Gianna front row center, looking down...

Andrew's Christmas Service

No pictures were allowed during the service, but we were able to take pictures on the stage afterwards.  We were also able to buy a video of his it -his very first public performance!  I don't think he enjoyed it as much as we did!

 

Oh, and he wouldn't let us tuck his shirt in.  I think he knows it's the style now!