Snow!!

 When the Yo-Sims came to visit for Christmas we really wanted it to snow.  Like, REALLY wanted it to snow.  There is not much to do in Southwest Virginia when it is cold outside, but what kid doesn't enjoy playing the the snow.  Well, we got a 'dustin' as you say it in the South.  Now, we have already had a couple of snows around 3-4 inches, enough to go sledding, but this was way less than that.  Nonetheless, it was fun for the kids, especially Eli and Linden who don't get to see snow that often.  We took advantage of what we had and donned our snow attire and headed out the door to play.  It doesn't matter how cold it is outside, when there is snow the kid's cold tolerance kicks up by 75%!

 Plotting a for a snowman or a snowball fight I think.

 Eli getting ready to sled.

 Down he goes.  I know it doesn't look like much snow (and you're right, it's not) but it was enough to get up some speed down the hill....well enough speed that the kids thought it was fun.  All that matters, Right?

 David brought out the spooner.  It was lame and didn't work at all.

 I couldn't help myself. I love to play in the snow!

 Lucas loves the snow too and I can't believe I actually found some pictures of him NOT eating it.

 Everyone making snowballs!

 They worked hard to make this little snow midget!

It was a fun morning in the snow.  Since these pictures we have had at least 2 more snows of 6+ inches.

More Feliz Navidad

We had a wonderful visit with our city family.

 Silly faces everyone!

 More Christmas.

 With

 The

 Yo-Sims!

Okay, we tried to get a good head shot of everyone and I think this is the best one I got.  In my opinion, any shot of these kiddos is priceless.  We have some really cute kids!

Christmas imaginations...

 The boys were so excited for Christmas this year.  It was unlike any other Christmas, there were days when I didn't know if I was going to last all the way to Christmas.  One day Hunter decided he wanted to be Santa so he and Lucas came up with a really fun game of elves, toy making, present delivering and Santa.  I loved it! (for the first week anyway, it was the 6 weeks of playing Santa afterwards that just about put me in the looney bin).  So this is how it worked.  Hunter was usually Santa so we had to tell him what we wanted for Christmas.  He would pretend to write everything down.  Lucas was the elf and he would gather the toys and put them on the sleigh.  I was usually the kid sleeping waiting for the presents to be delivered.  I gave them old boxes and gift bags and they delivered presents and played Santa up until Christmas Eve.

 Here is Lucas riding the reindeer and pulling the sleigh full of presents.

 Cutest little Santa in the world.

 Mr.  Elf with another delivery.

Tubes and Teeth

 Hunter had his first set of tubes placed right after we moved to Abingdon.  He was around 15 months. Those tubes lasted for about 3 years.  We thought the big guy had out grown his problematic recurrent ear infections, but we were wrong.  Not long after his tubes came our he started have terrible ear pain and multiple infections.  We had no choice but to put the tubes back in.  He did a wonderful job and thanks to Dr. Petlzer we have been pain and infection free ever since.  We all hope this will be the last set!

Beautiful girl and her trip to the dentist!  Very brave and very smart.

Christmas Morning!

Look who we caught on camera!!!  The boys and I set up our camera in a really sneaky spot to try and capture the the big man at work.  We were lucky and were able to snag this shot!!

 Family dinner.  I thought David had set this up on timer so he could be in the picture as well.

 Blessed on Christmas morning.

 Happy Gaga.

 Chloe showing off her new pink shot gun.  This was a gift from Papa.  David and Daddy took the kids outside later in the day for some practice shooting.  (the boys got Red Rider BB guns)  They were all a little afraid of the shotgun so I think it got traded in for a pink BB gun.

 Our music man finally got his guitar.

 This sweet guy is crazy over Legos.  Santa brought him lots and lots of Legos.

 First set completed.  He works all of these by himself.  He has amazing patience for a 5 year old.

 Getting ready to fire the BB gun.

 Papa helping take aim and giving some  BB safety lessons.

 Nice shot Hunter!

 Check out her professional stance.

 Tools!!  Santa brought Hunter his very own 'real' tools.

More Lego fun.  We had to pace him.  He would have worked every Lego set he got in one day.  He wouldn't stop, he was like a machine.

Twas the night before Christmas

Just as in years past we all get together and make sugar cookies for Santa.  He is one lucky elf to have the best bakers in the world make him cookies.  They love it and so do I, even if it makes the biggest mess you have ever seen.

Even Gaga loves to make and decorate cookies!

As you can imagine, Mr Talkalot (his new name given by Papa) did more eating than he did decorating.

We needed to tag Lucas's with a big fat 'L' so you new eating those were at your own risk.

The aftermath.  Not too bad, but I should have taken a picture of the floor.

Everyone.

Working.

Hard.

Thanks to BJ for the perfect sized aprons for my little bakers.

On Christmas Eve our elf, Beethoven, made another mess for me to clean up.  He had a field day in the marshmallow bowl and munchin on the Christmas candy.