Capturing the Joy...

Trying to take pictures of three kids 5 and under, in their dress-up Christmas outfits, post Christmas-program and post-bedtime is no easy task.

Mom, we're so mad that you want to take our picture!

We're happier now, but Bridgette won't cooperate...

OK, we'll sit and smile and even put the chokehold on Bridgette so she stays put!

Making gingerbread cookies with Mom.

Some of the finished products.

Cassidy's preschool Christmas program.

Catching Up

I haven't blogged in about three weeks so here is the super-condensed version! We had a fabulous Christmas at home, followed by a nice getaway to Deep Creek Lake, MD, and rounded out with a few great days in Pittsburgh visiting family and friends. I will let the pictures tell the story :

The kids pal-in' around on Christmas morning at home.

Alex's first game of Chutes and Ladders, at the condo in Deep Creek. Grammy, Pap Pap, and Aunt Julie sure do have a lot of patience.

The "mountain coaster" at Wisp Resort in Deep Creek. It was super fun - Alex loved it and Cassidy really, really wanted to try it! She kept trying to walk right up to the front of the line and get in the cars.

The kids had a blast with Aunt Julie. She and Alex were bunk mates at Deep Creek. Alex just couldn't figure out why Julie didn't want to get out of bed at 7am with him. "But, it's daytime!" he would say.

Alex being his normal goofy self in front of the magestic Falling Water. We stopped here on our drive from Deep Creek to Pittsburgh since John had never seen it and always wanted to.

Alex enjoying the "water play" floor at the Pittsburgh Children's Museum. We aslo went to the Carnegie Science Center and highly recommend both places! Oh, and John and I got in free to both for showing our military ID's!

Pap Pap and Alex making a controlled descent.

Cassidy and Mommy eyeing up the course. Cassidy loved sledriding just as much as Alex did! (by the way, I just tried for the past 30 mintues to get this picture oriented the right way, so you'll just have to turn your head)

Christmas is near!

Our advent season has been fun yet peaceful this year. We try to keep it somewhat simple, remembering that Jesus is the REAL reason for celebrating Christmas. I thought I would share some photos of our Christmas preparations. We went to a great tree farm and John cut down our pine-smelly tree!

Decorating the tree.

Alex loves this "advent calendar." Each day he gets to cut off one "loop" until Christmas. He asks to perform this operation at least twice a day ;)

Alex (far right) some other angels before the children's Christmas program at church.

Alex waiting for his turn to flip his letter at the preschool Christmas program. It was "M" for the manger where Jesus slept. He said the whole thing!

Cassidy checking out the stockings.

We hope all of our family and freinds have a wonderful Christmas!!