The Best Time of the Year!

I love the month of December! Besides how stressed out I get, it really is the BEST time of the year! I love the lights, the music, the goodies that sit on my counter that I get to eat and most of all, the message that we celebrate of HOPE and PEACE because of a little baby that was born in a manager that grew up to be the Savior of the world.  This year I had a greater love for my Savior as I got to hold my own little baby close and think of Mary and her baby that FIRST Christmas all those years ago.  It made for a very special Christmas for our family.

Our month was busy with a piano recital for Macy, the kids Christmas programs and sugar cookie decorating parties, nightly drives out to see the Pepsi lights and to get chocolate peppermint shakes at Dairy Queen. There was baking and shopping and daily deliveries from the UPS man since I don't live anywhere close to shopping. Thank you Amazon for helping out Santa this year! He couldn't have done it without you!

Nicholas and Karlee's school put on the sweetest Christmas pageant.  

They were little angels (literally)!

Macy had a snowflake party at school and Nicholas & Karlee got to decorate gingerbread houses. 

Below is Nicholas' house. It's a beauty!

The girls were treated to the Nutcracker ballet in Eugene by my dear friend. They came home and danced the night away. Thank you, Toni! Now, all Karlee talks about is being a ballerina when she grows up.

Then there was Christmas morning...

Oh, the MAGIC!

The kids in their Christmas jammies.  Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Swensen.

Stompie slippers!

Macy wanted a desk "MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD."  Her reaction brought her and me to tears.  She was beyond excited!!!  

Karlee got an American Girl doll that looked like her and matching clothes.  Now she can play with big sister and her friends.  I can hardly get this dress or these pajamas off of her.

Here is Logan trying to figure out WHAT in the world is going on!

Logan's "First Christmas" outfit and Santa hat from my Mom.  So cute!

My parents faced the storms and drove all the way up here to spend Christmas with us!  They made our whole Christmas!  This was my dad's first time meeting Logan and it was sweet seeing them together. We had so much fun cooking and shopping and playing games.  Mark even took us on an adventure to find a house with lights set to music that we had heard about.  We eventually found the house (2 hours later and after we were all carsick) but it WAS WORTH IT! The memories are already better.

My mom made her famous scones on Christmas and magically turned them into donuts for the kids! They were so delicious and the kids LOVED them! Thank you, Mom! 

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! It was so fun hearing from so many of you!