Ward Party - Girls Singing Christmas Songs

This clip is of the girls singing Santa Claus is Comin' to town at our ward party. Technically it should just be Mckenna but Mia decided she wanted to go up there to. She doesn't really know the words to the songs but you would never know it - she is so animated. Mia loves to perform and be the center of attention. She has no inhibition. Her and Mckenna are so different. We had a "special visitor" at the end of the party - Santa Claus. Mckenna and her friends followed Mr. Claus outside to see if he was the real Santa.....she came running back in the church excited to share her findings. "He's not the real Santa Claus. He got in a car." Oh the magic of Christmas. I cherish these days.



Another Visit With Santa

The kids enjoyed the "special visitor" (aka Santa) and telling him what they wanted for Christmas...again. Mckenna asked for ice skates and Mia asked for a computer. Mia was so funny. She came down from sitting on his lap and told us that Santa said girls could have two candy canes. So she quickly got back in line. I'm not sure if that was true or if it was just a tactic Mia used to get another candy cane. We didn't see any other girls getting back in line. Kaden was mesmerized with Santa. He just kept looking up at him. He is such an easy going baby. We love having him around.

Visit with Santa

We visited Santa a few weeks ago.....I wish I would have had a video camera. Santa visits this photographer's house for picture taking. When we walked up to the house Santa was walking by the front door (taking a little break from his photo shoot). Mia started bawling and wouldn't even go in the house. Santa was so sweet. He stopped and tried to tell her how nice he was. She didn't buy it. I finally convinced her to go inside. Santa came up and told her how much he loved her and she was all smiles after that. He picked her up and rubbed his nose against hers. It was a moment I wish I could recapture. I take my kids to get their pictures with this particular Santa on their first Christmas. This is a tradition Brittney started for me. On Mckenna's first Christmas she surprised me with a picture of her with Santa. I loved it... and so I have continued it with each of the kids. Mckenna convinced me this year that she already had enough pictures with Santa and didn't need anymore so I didn't force her to have another one. Looking back now I wish I would have. I know the magic of Christmas will soon be gone for her.

Kaden's First Christmas 2008


Mia's Third Christmas 2008


Mia's First Christmas 2005


Mckenna and Mia Christmas 2005


Mckenna's Third Christmas 2005


Mckenna's First Christmas 2002

Let it Snow!

It's finally "beginning to look a lot like Christmas" around here. We have had such warm weather lately that we were starting to wonder if it would ever snow.....obviously it did. We got a great snow storm on Monday. The girls enjoyed playing in it. Mckenna built this snowman all by herself (Thanks Grandma J. for the kit). As you can see the pictures get darker and darker as the sun was setting. It was cold but they were determined to complete the snowman. Mia keeps asking if he will come to life (maybe we've watched Frosty a few too many times). It is fun to have snow on the ground. It feels like the holidays now!