Family Picture - Runners Up

Last night we posed in front of our Christmas tree for our annual family picture. We did get "the one" that we used for our Christmas card, but I wanted to share some of our "outtakes." These kids crack me up!

Sugary Sugar Cookies

Today we had another bake-fest... This time we used a box mix from Trader Joe's - a sugar cookie DIY kit, including cookie mix (just add butter and egg), 3 metal cookie cutters and a whole lot of icing and sprinkles (all for $3.99!!!!). FUN! The kids were on sprinkle-duty, of course, and ended up with more sprinkles on themselves and on the floor, than on the cookies... Ok, that is an exaggeration. Cause a whole lot of sprinkles ended up on those cookies! Evan is mean-muggin' the camera, while I was able to catch one of Ellena's brightest smiles ever!

Our Tree!

Today we picked out our Christmas tree! We have been going to the same tree lot for the last few years - reasonable price, really nice looking trees, proceeds go towards the church's home-building program in Mexico - everyone's a winner! In past years, we've gone with Douglas firs because we like the pine-y smell and the full look. This year we found a 9' Noble fir that was extra full and a nice bonus - shouldn't drop as many needles! Score! Tomorrow we will embark on decorating the behemoth. :)

Gingerbread Men

Today the kids got to decorate their super-large gingerbread men. I found some reasonable kits at Trader Joe's (9" cookie, icing, sprinkles and candy coated chocolates for $3.99!) They had fun squeezing on the icing, placing the m&ms and pouring the sprinkles... huge mess! But they enjoyed themselves and also got to taste a little, too!

Kids' Christmas Trees

I love the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree, but I hate all the needles that drop on the floor. So we decided to do a real Christmas tree for the family room downstairs (no more carpet! Just sweep up the needles!) and the kids each got an artificial tree. They were thrilled! Here are my clowns posing in front of their trees - each self-decorated. Notice, Ellena puts all of her decorations on the bottom. Evan did a pretty good job of spreading his out.

Here's a picture of Ellena's big-girl toddler bed. She has been hounding us to move into this bed for a few weeks, so we finally took apart her crib and moved in the bed! Oh goodness!