Happy New Year??!!

Amy decided to get out of  her annual New Year's Eve party by having a hysterectomy today!  She was pretty nervous before hand, but I'm sure that after a few weeks of recovery, she'll decide it was one of the best things she has ever done!!  Surgery went very well and after a few hours in the hospital, she was home to be pampered by Todd and the kids.

Down the Rabbit Hole

Our last adventure of 2018 was our attempt at an escape room.  It was pretty challenging and I'll have to say that when we finally asked for a clue, it was pretty worthless.  Yes, we made it out with 1:29 left.  We narrowly escaped, but escape we did!!!  Thanks for a very fun time.

Knott's

For Christmas, Amy and family gave everyone tickets to Knott's Berry Farm.  It was so much fun to go all together. 

Too Cute to Forget!!

The kids spent a lot of time playing on their computers.

Beat gift ever...plastic bags!!!

Best breakfast ever...Christmas pull apart bread

A gift from Kathy...love both Hallmark and hot cocoa

Opening up presents.

Christmas PJ's

This year it was really hard to get matching Christmas PJ's.  It was imposible to even get matching non-Christmas PJ's.  The boys are all sizes, ranging from men's L to kids 10-12.  And the girls are both kids and adults.  I was happy just to find anything.  I"m thinking that next year, I may try to start early and make them!!!

The Nativity

I think this is my favorite activity on the kids advent.  I love the simplicity of the story...I love the willingness of these kids to still do this every year...I love Todd taking over and managing the "show"...I love our new costumes...I love the donkey.

Cookies, Cookies, Cookies

Evidently, there is such a thing as too many cookies!!!

The two Todd's made their "mini me".  So cute. 

Annual Swing Pictures

For as long as I can remember, we always get a picture of the kids on the front porch swing.  They are usually dressed up for church and it's always an adventure.

This years pictures...

The earliest picture I can find, must be 2007?  No Sophie or Owen.
All six fit on the swing!!

I love Todd photo bombing...

And I love our ability to adapt.  The two families weren't together for the pictures, so we took separate shots.  We had talked about photo shopping them together, but it was too cute to leave them as is.  

Santa

I loved his reaction when all these kids ran up to him!!!

'Tis the Season

Finally, it looks like Christmas here!!!

The Grinch Dinner

The Grinch Dinner was especially good this year.  Wyatt started the evening with his rendition of the story, and the meat was fabulous.  I'm not a real meat lover, and this meat was amazing!!!

Christmas Letter