One More Picture

Oops...somehow I forgot to add this picture. I think it is my favorite from all of them. They had just put out their cookies for Santa. Why can't they always get along like this?

Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. We have had a wonderful few days. Yesterday we went and saw Santa and we made gingerbread houses. We went to the Machis for dinner last night and then came home and prepared for Santa. Emma was up before the sun this morning and couldn't wait to wake up her brothers. We held them off until 7:15 or so and then there was no holding them back. Emma and Owen both got the DS that they wanted and Logan got his Lego table (along with many other things!) Memaw and Pepaw came down last night and spent the day with us. We made a turkey and all the fixings for lunch and just enjoyed the kids playing and getting along all day. Tomorrow we're headed off to Williamsburg to see the decorations. Happy Holidays! Enjoy a few of the Kodak moments from the past few days.

We always spend Christmas Eve with the Machis - ever since we stopped traveling to PA for Christmas. We had a delicious dinner and the kids always have fun together. Emma and Tyler are 11 months apart, Owen and Grace are 10 days apart and Logan and Nolan are the babies of the bunch. They all get a long so well.Emma was a bit frustrated making her gingerbread house. It only fell apart a few times - Daddy had to condemn it!
I loved her Santa hanging out of the chimney.

Owen and his gingerbread house - icing everywhere!

Logan posing with his house.

Emma and the final product.

The kids posing with their finished houses.

Getting ready to open their gifts from each other on Christmas Eve.The kids in their new PJs - ready for Santa.Christmas morning - Logan was not thrilled to have his picture taken. He just wanted to go downstairs!

Mommy and Logan

Christmas in PA

We had a wonderful weekend in PA - quick, but nice. We celebrated with the McElwains on Saturday and enjoyed spending time with Connor and Maisie. We had a delicious lunch and had lots of fun opening presents. On Sunday we headed up to Cara and Nathan's to celebrate with the Herseys. The kids woke up to a dusting of snow and you would have thought it was a blizzard. We didn't get much snow last year in VA, so they were excited to play outside. I hope we get at least one good storm this winter. I bought those snow boots last year and they were never worn. I think we can squeeze their little feet into them for one more season!!!! Anyways, we had a great time with the Hersey's. After a wonderful day there, we headed back to VA. It was a quick trip, but Jonathan had to get back to work. The kids and I are enjoying our winter vacation already. We cleaned and made room for more toys today. Tomorrow, we plan on baking cookies.

Dad is doing great. He finished detox and is now headed for rehab. He is still positive and Mom says that he's taking classes and is doing well. We missed him at Christmas, but we know we'll have a chance to celebrate when he is through. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate it more than you know!

Check out the dusting of snow - they don't ask for much!

Connor and Logan...best buds!

The kids waiting to open presents at Uncle Nathan's.

Emma with Maisie and Madison. She is drawn to her little cousins.Logan with his Thomas set from Uncle Brett and Aunt Katie. He was in heaven.

A great shot of the McElwain cousins.

Happy Holidays!

Whew...is it really that time of the year again? Christmas has snuck up on me again. We have been so crazy busy that I haven't had much time to post anything new. Emma had a chorus performance at school last week. They did an amazing job - it was definitely one of the best concerts I have ever seen (in elementary school). We finally got our Christmas tree and decorations up last weekend. That was much later than we usually do, but now I feel better. Jonathan is so busy with work that he is hardly ever home. We are looking forward to Christmas break. He is taking some time off, so we will enjoy our time as a family. Ms. Beth had her annual visit from Santa today. It's always a lot of fun. Santa comes and reads a story to the kids. Each child gets a present and they get to tell Santa what they want for Christmas. Logan wants a Lego table and Owen wants a DS. Emma (Miss Social Butterfly) decided to go to her friends house instead of going to see Santa. She just wanted to make sure I would bring her her present and some of Ms. Emily's sugar cookies. My baby is growing up. She'd rather be with her friends than see Santa - I guess I knew it would happen sooner or later.

We have received the best Christmas present this year. For those of you who don't know, my father has had a drinking problem for a very long time. I received a call from him the other day telling me that he was getting help. I am so incredibly proud of him - I love my dad...he is an amazing man when he is sober. Well today he went off to detox and rehab. It is going to be a very difficult road ahead, but we are hopeful that we will get our dad back. We are going to miss him at Christmas, but we are so thankful that he made this huge step. Please keep him (and Mom) in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you Dad...we love you!

Happy Holidays!

Emma's Chorus Concert
Flashback of Christmas Past

All of the kids with Santa at Ms. Beth's

Owen and Santa

Owen making gbread houses at school.The cutest little Santa ever!!!!!Logan and Santa

Logan in a box!

Greetings

Sorry it's been a while. We've been fighting the stomach bug at our house. Owen started with it in the middle of the night Wednesday. Logan got it on Friday, and I got it on Sunday. Knock on wood, we've passed that 48 hour mark, so hopefully we're past it now. It was not pleasant.

Nana came down this weekend and stayed with the kids while Jonathan and I went to his Staff Christmas party. We had a delicious meal and a fantastic time.

Here is our annual shot in front of the Christmas tree. You can tell that everyone is just thrilled to be there...especially Emma. We're going to try again this weekend, after we decorate the tree! (It's been a rough week!)

Check out Logan's shirt...what a joke!