Fun in the snow!

Audrey and Jon stayed with us before we headed up to Cocolalla for New Years.  We were so glad they did!  The girls LOVE Aunt Audrey and we had a wonderful time getting to know Jon!

 Jon hadn't really played in the snow before so we took advantage of the Christmas snow and showed him how it's done!

 Talia seems to love the snow!

 Jon and Eliza made snowballs...

 ...and then threw them at Audrey!

 Eliza loves making snow angels.

 Talia got the laying down part, we'll keep working on how to make wings!

 We made a family for Frosty!

 Talia had to give her snowman a hug!

This snow family stayed around for over a week...till the sun and wind finally came and took them away!

Christmas snow!

Since Christmas brought us snow too the girls and daddy went outside to enjoy it!

 Eliza sledding...

 ...and Talia sledding.

It was perfect packing snow!  Here they are with frosty!

We love a white Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas morning the girls woke up about 8:00...I think Audrey and Jon were up before they were!  When they went downstairs to see what Santa had left we're pretty sure that Talia thought Santa was still in the room.  Darran had to prod her along until she saw it was safe!

 They were very excited about the Barbie Princess Dream Castle that Santa brought them.  In fact, it was hard to get them to do anything else...even open up more presents!

 When we finally convinced them to open more presents they were quite happy!

 Talia trying out her new scooter.

 Eliza wearing her new Rapunzel dress up.  After we had opened presents the rest of the Hague clan came over for brunch and more presents!

 Grandpa and Grandma Great with Rapunzel.

 Everybody together...we missed Elayna and Mitch but we skyped with them a little later in the day!

 Opening more presents!

 I LOVE this picture!

 Showing off their new princess shoes from Grandpa and Grandma.

 This is the Snow White head band that Elayna and Mitch gave the girls.

 Checking to see if her new goggles fit!

Daddy and his princesses on Christmas Day!

We even had a white Christmas...it snowed most of the day!  We really enjoyed relaxing at home, visiting, and watching the girls play with their new things.

It was a beautiful Christmas day.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve!

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve!  The Moody family came over for dinner...which included us, Dean/Sarah and family, Chris/Missy and family, Nana and Papa, Derek, Shantal, and Eleanor and Shantal's parents!  After dinner the Hague family joined us for our nativity reenactment...Grandpa and Grandma, Grandpa and Grandma Great, Andy, Julie, Brayden, and Audrey and Jon!

 Part of the show...

 ...and the cast.  Darran looks especially festive in his donkey ears!

 Then the cousins opened presents from each other.

 Cousin picture in their Christmas pajamas.

Before these two turned in for the night they prepared their plate of cookies for Santa and carrots, raisins, and apples for the reindeer.  Pretty exciting night!  We LOVED being able to have everyone gather at our house!  

Merry Christmas Eve!

Sunday best...

Christmas is getting closer!

 Here are the girls in their dresses ready for church the Sunday before Christmas.

 And this is how Talia looked after church!  When we asked her why she had stars on her forehead her response was simply, "My teacher said go for it!"  We really do love her teachers!  When we dropped off some treats later at that same teacher's house he was sooo sweet to Talia.  His wife claimed no responsibility for what he does in nursery...but it should consolation that his children have turned out pretty good!

Mom and Dad picked up Audrey and Jon from the Spokane airport that day so everyone came over to see them.  This was the best of the pictures taken of the them and their grand kids!  

Christmas snacks...

As Christmas approached we even got into the spirit with our food!

 Green Christmas tree pancakes for breakfast!

 And a stocking shaped sandwich for lunch!

 Yum!  This turned into different shaped Christmas sandwiches for the rest of the week!  Just part of getting into the holiday spirit! 

Santa's reindeer...

We met Dancer and Prancer at Beaver Bark!

 Eliza was very curious to learn that reindeer love apples and raisins.  I thought it was hilarious that there were carrots all over the place.  Eliza decided we needed to leave Santa's reindeer apples and raisins in addition to the carrots we usually set out Christmas Eve.

 Brayden showed the girls that it was ok to be friendly with the reindeer.

 It took awhile but Eliza finally decided she could get close enough to take a picture...

 ...and then we convinced Tal to join them but she jumped back as soon as the picture was taken!

As we left Eliza decided she would venture a little closer on her own.  We also discovered that Santa would be coming by Christmas Eve to pick up the reindeer and continue on his way.  A relief to Eliza...I could see the wheels turning in her head!

Christmas time at preschool!

Before the Christmas break Eliza had a little performance at preschool.

 They sang a few Christmas songs and gave the moms a cute gift they had made.

Trevor, Brynn, Tavis, Olivia, Eliza, Mylie, and Megan...singing Christmas carols!

Christmas ballerina!

Eliza had her dance recital on December 17th.  She was so excited about it...and did a wonderful job!

 Before the recital!

 Olivia and Eliza excited to dance!

 Our sweet ballerina!

 Ready to dance.

Receiving a gift from her teacher Ms. Heather.  We're so proud of you Eliza...you danced great and looked beautiful doing so!  

Thank you Grandpa/Grandma and Nana/Papa for coming to watch!

Gloria, Olivia, Eliza (in back) Chanell and Mylie (in front)
Why is it in certain situations you see how grown up they really are?

Lights! Lights! Lights!

We had a weekend of Christmas lights!  Friday night we went to the boat parade and watched the sparkling lights float by.

Then Saturday night we headed over to Senske to watch their light display set to music.  Santa was there so we took a family picture with him.  Merry Christmas!