Merry Christmas!

Paul had to work on the 24th this year, so we had a nice relaxing Christmas at home with just the three of us!
On Christmas Eve Jenna and I went to a party with friends. Then Paul picked us up, we did our final devotional and put baby Jesus on our tree, Jenna opened new PJ's, and we put out cookies and carrots. Jenna had to make sure there were enough carrots for all the reindeer!
 Apparently our tradition for Christmas morning is being woken up ridiculously early by Paul, because I just can't stop him! He's such a big kid!
That's why we all look so tired:

When Paul finally managed to drag us out of bed, we put cinnamon rolls in the oven (that helps wake me up!), read the story of Christ's birth from Luke 2 (a tradition from my family), then ripped open all our gifts before getting ready for church.
We were pretty excited to watch Jenna open her presents. We were so sure that her reactions were going to be hilariously extravagant, because every time we come home from the store with a gallon of milk she jumps up and down and screams for joy "you got milk for ME?" (seriously). Surely a whole gaggle of presents warrants at least as good of a reaction, right?
Sadly, she was pretty calm about the whole thing. She may have still been tired.

It wasn't until later when she got to play with everything that she got really excited.

When she came into the room, she pointed at the easel and said "I like that! That's a good present." very matter-of-fact like. It was so funny.

I still think she's too young for barbies, but she sure loves them! She brings them with her all over the house!

Oh boy, her very own camera from grandpa! By the next day she had taken over 200 pictures!

We are so grateful to all our friends and family who thought of us this year! It was a wonderful day!
Thank You, and have a Happy New Year!

Temple lights

Paul has had a very busy month at work, so we were so excited when he finally made it home in time to go see the beautiful Washington D.C. Temple lights!

Jenna was especially excited to see the life-sized nativity:

Then we went into the visitor's center to explore the displays about Christ and listen to a saxophone quartet play Christmas Music.
This was a map showing exactly where events in Jesus' life occurred:

I really love the D.C. Temple! It's where my parents were married, so I grew up with pictures of it on our walls. It is always the first one I picture in my head when I think of The House of the Lord. I'm so grateful that I am able to go to it now!

sugar high

For the last couple of days, we have been in cookie-making mode! And I couldn't ask for a cuter little helper:

Tonight we finished our cookie marathon with Paul's mom's delicious orange sugar cookies! Fun to make, fun to decorate, fun to eat! What more could you want?!

She's at that stage where she thinks this is smiling  :)

Jenna's cookies. She went a little crazy with the sprinkles!

I love my melting snowman and Paul's adorable tree!

For people we love! Want one? ...Come visit!  :)

And we still have enough left to feed a small army...