We found Amy's missing gift! It's this super cute owl toy that she MADE! I am so jealous of all of your sewing skills. As you can tell by Annie's face, she loves it!
To our defense, the gift was wrapped in this Christmas bag, so we assumed it was a Christmas gift. You know what happens when you assume things...
Thanks Amy!
(and notice our completely dead Christmas tree in the background. It is totally crispy.)
Annie got spoiled by her Grandma Lari and her aunts in Arizona! They sent a big box of gifts to her for being born. Everything is so cute, and most of them are handmade, including her blessing dress. I'm so jealous of how talented they all are. Thanks so much Lari, EmmaLee, Adina, and Buff!!!
We took the kids to see Santa last weekend. It was freezing cold, but still fun.
Ella actually talked to him. She told him that she wanted "princess barbies like Kennedy".
Annie was mad that she had to get out of her nice warm carseat, but once Santa started bouncing her, she was fine. We decided that she has the most chance of getting everything she wants for Christmas since she's only been here a month. How naughty can you be in a month?
And Ruby, not surprisingly, wanted nothing to do with him. This is the same girl who took two trips to Disney and finally, on the last day, decided it was ok to take a picture with the princesses. I didn't have high hopes for her with Santa. I guess I'd be kind of nervous too. This Santa had a gigantic fuzzy beard and you could barely see his eyes.
She'd rather just stay at home and dress up like Flashdance.
If you look really closely, you might see a little elf hiding by the tree.
Our ornament this year is one that we bought while we were in Paris. It has all of the major Parisian sights on it.
Ella's ornament this year is none other than Sleeping Beauty. This will commemorate the obsession she has and also our trips to Disneyland and Disneyworld this summer.
Ruby's ornament is Cinderella. This also commemorates our trips this summer and her love of wearing dress ups, especially her Cinderella one.
And Annie, who turned one month old yesterday, got her first ornament. An "A" for Annie, and it's a cookie because she's been such a treat to have in our family! She's making me love newborns! We are spending Christmas here in Buffalo this year. It's the first time we won't be home with our families for the holidays (except while Richard was on his mission). It's sad to miss seeing and celebrating with everyone, and it takes a little more effort to get presents sent in the mail so they can arrive on time. But, we are actually really excited to celebrate Christmas with our own little family...I guess a family of 5 isn't exactly "little". We can buy our kids gifts that don't have to fit in a suitcase! We are carrying over some traditions from our families, as well as making some new ones. This week I am planning some type of Christmas activity for each day. Tonight Richard is taking two finals, so the girls and I will have to watch Mr. Krueger's Christmas (my favorite holiday movie!!!) on our own. We have lights to go see, hot chocolate to drink, lots of baking and goodie delivering to do, crafts to make, snowmen to build, and storytelling to do. I love it!
Look at this handsome fellow! I'm using Richard's computer and found a goldmine of old pictures. Ha ha!
Anyway, the big news is that Richard got his orders for the Navy. He was offered an AEGD (I have no idea what that stands for, but I do know that it's a residency) at Camp LeJeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. We will be there for three years, starting probably in July. Richard is excited to be able to learn the dental specialties more in depth. I am very proud of him for being accepted into the program. It means that we will end up being in the military for one extra year, so a total of five, but it seems like a really good opportunity. Besides, we have no idea where we would choose to live permanently at this point.
We had been hoping for San Diego, but the more we look into it, the more excited we are to go to NC. It is beautiful there and we will be right by the beach. And the biggest plus is the weather! The high in the summer is typically in the 80s and the high in the winter is typically in the mid-50s. WITH NO SNOW!!!!! Hallelujah! As I was scraping snow off my windshield the other day, I was sick at the thought of going through the whole winter having to do this. But now that I know this is the last time, I can handle it.
So now you all will have a place to stay on the East Coast (the real east coast...Buffalo doesn't count), so you'd better start planning a visit now.
Thanks Amy!
Annie got spoiled by her Grandma Lari and her aunts in Arizona! They sent a big box of gifts to her for being born. Everything is so cute, and most of them are handmade, including her blessing dress. I'm so jealous of how talented they all are. Thanks so much Lari, EmmaLee, Adina, and Buff!!!
If you look really closely, you might see a little elf hiding by the tree.
We are spending Christmas here in Buffalo this year. It's the first time we won't be home with our families for the holidays (except while Richard was on his mission). It's sad to miss seeing and celebrating with everyone, and it takes a little more effort to get presents sent in the mail so they can arrive on time. But, we are actually really excited to celebrate Christmas with our own little family...I guess a family of 5 isn't exactly "little". We can buy our kids gifts that don't have to fit in a suitcase! We are carrying over some traditions from our families, as well as making some new ones. This week I am planning some type of Christmas activity for each day. Tonight Richard is taking two finals, so the girls and I will have to watch Mr. Krueger's Christmas (my favorite holiday movie!!!) on our own. We have lights to go see, hot chocolate to drink, lots of baking and goodie delivering to do, crafts to make, snowmen to build, and storytelling to do. I love it!
Look at this handsome fellow! I'm using Richard's computer and found a goldmine of old pictures. Ha ha!
Do our children look like Richard or what?!
