Merry Christmas 2013!

This year, Leland and I surprised the kids with a Christmas kitten.  We picked her up the Thursday before Christmas and kept her in our closet.  When Leland and I went to pick her up from the animal shelter, we prayed that we would get a kitten that would be sweet with our kids and not claw them.  So far, Gigi has been an angel.  When we went to get her a booster shot, she sat in Lucy's arms the whole ride to the vet and was comforted soon after.  All of the kids have been so kind with her.  Leland has taken it upon himself to change her litter morning and night and Lucy spends more time with her than she does with anything/anyone else.  She keeps talking about the day when Gigi will sleep in her bed and sit on her homework papers (fond memories for me growing up with my cat).

  

Both Jack and Lucy wanted to sit on Santa's lap when he came to the church.  Alice just wanted a candy cane and Dexter didn't even realize this was going on.

Lucy and Jack sporting the "Holiday" shirts I whipped up for school that very morning.

Leland playing with his baby (he loves her)!

Lucy with her most prized possession: an American Girl doll

We played games with Leland's sisters, brother, and brother-in-law a couple of the evenings after Christmas and loved it.  There are fun times to be had by all when the whole family gets together.

Dexter "sleeping" on the couch, waiting for Santa.

We played baseball on the street with the neighborhood kids both on Christmas day and two days before.  One of the highlights of the school break for me.

We continued our Christmas Eve tradition of going ice skating.  Lucy, Jack, and I loved it!  Leland went around once (the longest 20 mins of his life!) and Dexter and Alice tried it a little and hated it.  Maybe they will like it better next year....and EVERY YEAR...dun dun dun!