Christmas Decor Home Tour....

...courtesy of Mackenzie! After we decorated a few weekends ago, MJ must have taken the little camera around the house because these are what I found on it when I was uploading photos!

Peace on Earth-Goodwill toward men, always a good motto to remember!

MJ's Advent Wreath (yes, I realize we are missing the candles). I received a really neat new one for my bday, so I gave her this one. She thought it would be better with a Christmas tree in the middle of it.

We put a couple decorations in the girls' bathroom.

Emma's Christmas decor-a Nutcracker from G'ma Carla and a wintery Tigger from Daddy.

Our blue and orange Boise State tree with Denver Bronco ornaments. It's down in the TV room. And Josh's golf Nutcracker. A fitting touch for the sports-themed room.

This is the kids' table. The girls decorated it.

My beautiful Willowtree Nativity. Love this set!

I seem to have quite a collection of snowmen. They are displayed above the piano. MJ put the candles up there too.

Mary, Joseph and Jesus-hidden behind the baby gate up around the tree so J doesn't get into them. I bought this set at a craft fair the first year we were married and I just love the rustic simplicity of it.

Our tree-the girls chose to put colored lights on it this year. And they decorated it too. Of course, I put some of the ornaments on the high branches, but they did a great job getting the rest on there.

I hope you enjoyed the tour from eyes of a child!

Latest happenings at our house

Showing off his new trick-walking with his push cart.

Emma helped cut out the Gingerbread people.

J's favorite game in the kitchen-empty the towel drawer!

First snow and snow castles

Strike a pose girl-MJ's dance performance

Cousins

It was so cute watching these two check each other out.

Thanksgiving '09

Mya and Jayten thought each other were pretty cool and were laughing at each other at the end of the evening.

Little J's 1st Thanksgiving

Our Cookie Display

The girls spent some time coloring after dinner.

It was Little Mya's 1st Thanksgiving too!

E came in all decked out and ready to help. She looked so cute in her hat and apron.

MJ was ready to help prepare our Thanksgiving feast.

The girls showed off their Thanksgiving crafts.

Thanksgiving program

On Nov. 24, MJ's Kindergarten class held their Thanksgiving program. MJ chose to be a little Indian girl. They made their costumes out of pillowcases. She was really excited with getting to decorate it. They sang several songs and she had a part to memorize. She was on the front row so I was able to video her and see her really well! Everyone did a great job.

More catching up!

Sunday morning I woke up to the sweetest sound-Little J pounding on the wall saying dada, dada. That was the first time he'd done that. And even sweeter-Josh got up to get him and bring him to me. I didn't have to leave the comfort of my new warm flannel sheets!

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Toward the end of last week, I started to feel crummy, congestion, cough, etc. I pretty much lost my voice all weekend and still have a cough, but am feeling better. J is almost finished with his medicine and his fever only lasted a couple days. The girls have the sniffles too, but we're thankful nothing more.

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Saturday morning we woke up to snow and lots of it! MJ had a little dance clinic with the high school dance team so I took her in for that. E and J and I returned a couple items and shopped in town while we waited for her. She had a great time. That day the girls and I made sugar cookie dough. Baking cookies and making goodies are one of the traditions we have. My mom is famous for all her baked treats and candies and I have lots of memories of being in the kitchen with her. I love having the same time with my girls. The dough freezes well and we'll bake and decorate the cookies closer to Christmas time. It's nice to get the dough making out of the way. Saturday night we went back to town so MJ could dance at half-time of the boys BB game. She did fabulous and had so much fun. I videoed it with our regular video camera, but I have a few shots of her posing afterward.

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The girls played in the snow on Sunday and we baked Gingerbread cookies after their baths. I think MJ's going to be my snow girl. She loves the snow and played out there a long time. And she always requests a cup of hot chocolate to warm up with when she comes back inside.

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I have a very busy work week, trying to meet a deadline before the holidays. I definitely want to spend next week hanging out with the kiddos since the girls will be out of school.

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I caught Little J standing with his walker today. Then he just took off and walked a complete circle around the house through the living and dining rooms behind it. That kid just isn't going to stop!

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I attempted Christmas card pics of the kids Saturday. I don't know why it's harder for me to photograph my own children. Maybe it's the perfectionist in me. Anyway, there were some cute outtakes from the session that I hope to get posted. Kind of a behind the scenes look at what really goes on sometimes. :)

little man