January

Around New Year's, we went to the zoo.  It was lots of fun!

Anton practiced for region band (yes, those are giant timpani drums squeezed in behind our dining room table).

I think this was a few days after new years. 

Tony made the girls a leaf pile.

 Anna and Emma did some serious coloring one day.  The effort required some strategy talk first.

Anna is supervising to make sure that Emma gets Woody's colors right.

I love that face!!

 Anton texting.  This is what he looks like when he's not practicing percussion or doing homework.

 Emma fell asleep on the rocking chair.

 In the middle of January, I got to go to a women's retreat with our church.  It was really really wonderful!!

The girls stayed at home with Tony.

He brought a little table up in the fort so they could eat lunch up there.

He took them to Anton's region band concert.

And church!  I was impressed with the outfits he put together.  I don't think he brushed hair though...

I guess they painted something in the backyard.

And went to the playground.  This is usually how they get there.

She seems like such a big girl on that scooter!!  She has gotten very good at it.

Emma gave it a try too.

I met them at the playground when I got home from the retreat.

My sweet girl!!

My sweet man!!  I love clicking away with his camera!

Emma rolls around alot in her sleep.  Here's proof... her legs are crossed and propped up against the bed rail.

Anton asleep with his "lovely".

I'm almost caught up with blogging!!

Christmas

Anton played in his last High School Christmas concert... 

 We went to a park on day in December.  Tony brought along his camera.

 Our home group had a Christmas party.  It was lots of fun as usual!

Kimberly baked a cake and we gave the kids different color icing to decorate.

It was a gooey fun mess!  They are singing Happy Birthday Jesus here.

This is Christmas Eve morning.  Gram came to visit, and we told the girls they could open Gram's presents after breakfast.  Anna was very eager!!

They were very excited when the moment came! 

 Putting together their new dollhouse...

 Thanks Gram!!!

That night we went to a Christmas Eve service.  The girls got dressed up in the pretty dresses Gram sent.

We put out cookies and milk for Santa later.

Christmas morning was fun!

 The only thing Emma asked for was "a rock painting", so Santa got her a little craft kit for painting rocks.  She was very excited and even shared a couple of rocks with her sister.

We made a cake for Jesus' Birthday.

 The girls went crazy with the sprinkles.

 We had a wonderful Christmas dinner.

 Anton came over the next day.

 He liked Santa's toys too.

 We opened the rest of our presents.

 And another nice dinner!

It was a wonderful time of celebrating Jesus' birth with my mom.  Thank you Gram for coming!!   And thatk you Jesus for coming!!!  I'm so glad God came to us as one of us.  :)