They came...and they went!

I am hoping this is the last time I have to start my blog with excuses as to why it isn't up to date! Holidays, they are just busy I guess.

We attended Shawn's Holiday Party earlier this month. The first time we have attended since 2006...ever since then I have been pregnant or taking care of an infant during Christmas. We had such a great time! Here we are all dressed up for the festivities.

We got a rarely captured picture with our friends Josh and Katie, too!

It's become a tradition in our family to go see it "snow" during the holidays. Of course living in Arizona this doesn't mean what it means everywhere else. Cole loved it again and I am sure next year Sis will as well. She was too tired so she just relaxed in her stroller.

It was then time for Cole's Christmas Concert. We were so excited for this event! Mom, Sis, Grammy, Papa and Emily all packed up and headed to church to see his preschool performance. Unfortunately Dad had to work and wasn't able to join us. Turns out he didn't miss much! Got Cole all dressed up for performance and I think he lasted about 3 minutes on stage. He then started crying and wanding off the stage saying, "Mommy? Mommy?" Yep...I had that kid! I have pictures, but really aren't worth posting. Who wants to see forever how sad Cole was as his friends sang, "Happy Birthday Baby Jesus?"

Holiday baking is so much fun, especially with the kids. They always want to "help" which is just so messy and ridiculous but what the heck...I let them help. Sis got her new apron on (the 3 of us have matching ones. Mine says "Goodie Maker" and their's say "Goodie Taker") she was ready to help. I then looked over and she had Cole's bike helmet on. I guess she knows was a messy and dangerous job baking is. Safety First Sis!

Speaking of baking, Cole insisted that this year we make a Birthday Cake for Jesus (thank goodness for Lutheran Preschool!). Here is the finished product and what was our dessert on Christmas Eve. Totally decorated by Cole! :)

Here we are at church on Christmas Eve...what is with our red eyes? Clearly there is a function on my camera I am not understanding?

We left cookies for Santa, but the Guiness was Daddy's! Santa got milk (not pictured).

Christmas Eve was spent assembling Sis' kitchen from Santa. Here is the finished product, it is so cute! Woo Hoo...he came, even without the chimney!Too bad for Santa he left 1 gingersnap cookie behind. Lucky for Sis...she snacked on it all morning! I think she is inspecting one of brother's presents here.Santa brought so many wonderful things, but as it turns out everyone had their favorites. Cole's was by far his DJ Lance hat and glasses. He hasn't taken them off, once again wore them to school today.

Miss K loved her kitchen! In action...making something fab of course!

Here is Cole enjoying Daddy's favorite present. The Kinect for his Xbox! They played all day going river rafting, bowling, boxing. Mommy and Daddy even played into the wee hours of the morning one day. Shawn got so into it that he actually hit the ceiling fan with his hand while "spiking" the ball during a game of beach volleyball!

We had a great Christmas overall. The absence of my dad was felt all throughout the season. He loved Christmas. He loved the decorations, the cookie making, the chex mix, the traditions, his family and the entire thing. Hard to believe I won't spend another Christmas with him. We will carry on his traditions in our house and pass them onto the kids. Lefsa doesn't make the man, but the man loved lefsa...so we will eat it! Love you Dad!!