Swallow Falls on New Year's Eve

It was hard to believe that just one year ago the falls were totally frozen over and we were able to walk out onto the ice! The snow was melting away while we were there and the falls were really flowing this time! We bundled up for the wet and cold and enjoyed being out in creation for a big hike. Happy New Year!

Josh was climbing all over the rocks and trees - it was amazing to watch him. He has really good balance and picks good holds for his hands and feet. Daddy is going to take him to the rock climbing gym soon!

We caught Josh deep in thought at the water's edge:

Deep Creek

There was snow at Deep Creek when we first arrived. Enough for a little sledding and lots of snow balls:

By the following day, most of the snow had melted, but there was still some packed snow on the roads to make a good sledding path:
As you can see though, the sleds ended up veering off the road. Here are Josh and Ania waiting for a tow:

So the kids decided that it was easier to just run:

Josh, Katelyn and Ania make some snow angels:

Josh gives Ania one last pull:

We ventured off behind the house to go exploring:

Ania, Katelyn and Josh hold Baby Wesley:

Christmas with Granddad and Grandma

Our final Christmas celebration was with Granddad and Grandma Squires. We had a really great time visiting, decorating (and eating) cookies and exchanging gifts.

Granddad and Katelyn with their new hats:
Katelyn and Josh did a great job decorating cookies that Grandma had baked. Lots of sprinkles were used. And we lost Katelyn's hair clip, so she wore her hat to keep the hair out of her face...and the icing:

Time for some silly antlers:

Mardi was a in a very good mood and let Katelyn pet her for a really long time. Katelyn has found a friend:

Christmas at Nana's

Next stop for Christmas - Nana's House! We celebrated with Nana, Uncie, Unco, Aunt Cassi, Grant and Jackson. The kids had to wear decoder glasses to find their gifts that Daddy had labeled. After presents, we went outside for a candy cane hunt and then enjoyed Aunt Cassi's sherbet punch with some cookies. It was a fun celebration!

Jackson sporting his decoder glasses
Unco, Grant and Josh opening gifts

Katelyn LOVES this shirt from Uncie

Uncie and Katelyn being silly

Katelyn shares her stash of candy canes after the hunt with her flashlight

Jackson and Katelyn snuggling and watching a show!

Christmas Day

Josh and Katelyn were excited to find the gifts they asked for from Santa on Christmas morning. Josh received a Transformer and Katelyn received a new bunny!

Josh and Katelyn picked out gifts for Mommy on their own this year. Katelyn was so excited to see the Mickey Mouse pajama pants being unwrapped. And Josh picked out the new slippers.

Gigi gave Josh a new dinosaur and robots...our toys are changing from Fisher-Price to much scarier things!

We went to Aunt Jodi and Uncle Dave's for Christmas dinner. Here is Aunt Jodi and Baby Danny:

Katelyn and Josh playing with Baby Jack:

The "big kids" - Josh, Josie and Katelyn:

And the "bigger kids" - Dana, Betsy and Natalie:

Here is a clip of singing Happy Birthday to Jesus:

Christmas Eve

We woke up in New Jersey at Gigi Gallo's house on Christmas Eve. We had a fun day of preparations for Christmas.

We started by decorating the Christmas Tree:

Then it was time to play Shepherd and Sheep with Gigi's cane:

Baking a birthday cake for Jesus with Gigi:

Sprinkling reindeer food on the front lawn:

Putting the cookies and milk for Santa by the fire place:

Placing Jesus in the manger:

Christmas is here!

Nativities

We have quite a few Nativities around our house. You never know how Josh and Katelyn are going to rearrange the people and animals known to the scene!

Josh spontaneously constructed a Nativity in the bath tub. It was very sweet.

Did you know that it wasn't just Mary who rode on the donkey's back? A sheep hitched a ride also.

Josh and Katelyn love the magnetic Advent calendar we use throughout the month. This is how the scene unfolded. Everything pretty normal in the end except for a cow in the loft!

Family Christmas Fun Day

Aunt Cassi, Grant, Jackson and Grandma Squires visited so they could attend Katelyn and Josh's Christmas Programs. Thursday was a fun day with two programs, cookie making and the Miracle on 34th Street Lights!