Posing

Here are some of the pictures that helped create our Christmas card this year ... and a few extras. The girls enjoyed hamming it up, if only for a few seconds. In fact, you can't tell from these pictures that they hardly stood still for the camera at all. These lone shots are the results of lots of bribery!

Ailey
Marin

Silje

From Leaves to Snow ... and Lights A-glow

Here are a few pictures I've been saving up from this fall. We had the usual leaf-fall, a blanket of yellow leaves to rake.

The girls tried their best to pedal through the leaf covered patio.
Helping Andy with the raking

The yard then got covered in snow for a few days. Two school-snow-days already to make up at the end of the year, and it wasn't even December yet!

Levi, Parker, Ailey, Marin & Silje bundled to up to play in the snow. Usually by the time we in WA are out playing in the snow, the temps have risen to melting heights already. But this time we got a cold-snap to go with the flakes. 20 degrees is just not something we're used to! But that didn't keep the kids from wanting to frolic in the white stuff....

Luckily the snow gear I bought last year still fit the girls this year, so we were prepared with snow-bibs and boots.

Silje persisted until she got Marin up the hill

We created a sledding hill on the steepest slope in the backyard, and the girls had a great time sliding.

Gingerbread House making

We went to The Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach with Gma & Gpa Johnson last weekend. Lots to see and do - 1 million lights (or so I've been told, I didn't count them), a train ride, pony ride, fresh donuts, a talking Christmas tree, and a beautiful nativity.

Greeting Frosty

I hope you're enjoying the season!

Santa Visit

We took the girls to visit with Santa last night. They were all prepared with their answers to "What do you want for Christmas?" I don't think Marin ever got around to answering him, but Silje wants her very own ... tutu dress, and Ailey said he could bring her whatever he wants. Nice!

Happy Advent

Happy Advent season! ... A couple days early I know. The girls got their Advent presents tonight after putting the tree up. Ailey has been asking to put the tree up for a week now. We told her it had to wait until after Thanksgiving, so of course it went up today. Guess she's excited for Christmas!

For the past few years they have gotten Christmas pajamas on the first day of Advent ... or the day the tree goes up ... whichever comes first. This year it's nightgowns for the first time.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and - two days from now - Happy Advent! Enjoy the preparation for Christ's birthday!

Backyard sledding

Snow and cold has hit us here in Washington, causing TWO snow days from school already that will have to be made up in June. Ugh.

At least the snow covered hills around here are good for something, if not for driving these days!