Cookies for Santa

Russell liked the icing

once again Irelyn had to sit in her chair

sticking out the tongue again.  She must not be able to use icing without sticking it out.

Allyssa was very serious about icing the cookies just right

Are there any more sprinkles in here?

Mmm icing

Irelyn and daddy decorating a cookie for Santa

He got caught

She decided she liked playing in the icing better

all done

caught you again

getting ready to watch Polar Express

The kids decided we needed a picture of mommy and daddy

Gingerbread Houses

The kids made gingerbread houses on Wednesday here are some pictures.

Irelyn had to sit in her chair because she wanted the icing and candy

Allyssa got caught

sticking the tongue out helps

The finished products

Christmas Parties

Things have been crazy here since  the beginning of December.  Russell and I have had several O'Charley's parties to go to, we've had breakfast with Santa at Jacelyn's school, and we went to a get together at my Aunts house for my mom's family Irelyn was overwhelmed with the whole thing hopefully she will get better at other parties.  I've been cleaning and baking like crazy this week getting ready for a party here on Friday.  We leave Saturday morning to head to Scottsburg for christmas with Russell's family then Sunday we have to be back here for christmas in Sheridan with my dad's family.  I love the holidays but I sometimes think we try to cram too much into a short time.  The high point is that we are not going anywhere on Christmas day.  We are going to Christmas Eve service at church then we will come home and decorate cookies for Santa, watch Polar Express, and read a christmas story or two.  Christmas morning we get up when the kids get us up and open presents then usually fix a big breakfast and then lay around and play with the new toys all day.  Here a some pictures that we took at my Aunts house, and Irelyn and Jacelyn with Santa.

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken a few weeks ago.  I didn't get all of the poses that I wanted because they were busy, behind, squeezed someone in the was scheduled for the next week and moved another lady whos husband left and wasn't back when they called them.  Anyway Irelyn was not in the mood for pictures by the time we finally got in there so we just did what we could.  Here are some of them.

Halloween Fun

The kids had a blast on Halloween this year. Allyssa, Taylor, and Jacelyn went trick or treating with some of their friends in the neighborhood and Irelyn and I just went to a couple of houses then came home and helped daddy pass out candy and glow necklaces. Here are some pictures of the kids on their costumes Allyssa was the Wicked Witch of the West, Taylor was Legolas Greenleaf from Lord of the Rings, Jacelyn was Dorothy and Irelyn was our little ladybug.