Kate's B-day

We celebrated Kate's birthday early at my mom's house this year.

Wow! What a cake! We didn't think through enough to order a princess cakes. When we went to the bakery they only had New Year's sheet cakes. No princesses. So, we got this instead. I think it was way better than princesses anyway.

The frosting was made with marshmallow so it set up. It was quite interesting.

There was so much food coloring in the frosting it even made their poop pink.

Yup, she's a girly girl. What 5 year old do you know is excited about getting clothes for her birthday? Honestly, I'm not sure where she gets it from.

Love that Sock Monkey

Good gift choice, Auntie!

1 Pensive Mary & Exuberant Angel, 2 Wandering & Confused Shepherds & 1 Very Tall Joseph

Usually our family goes to a Christmas Eve candle lighting service at one of the local churches. This year we didn't go because the kiddos were sick and it was just to much hassle. I missed it.

In lieu of the service we did a live nativity. My mom who has anything and everything you can think of had some costumes for the nativity in her closet from when we were kids. So, we dressed up the kiddos and they were to "act out" the nativity while my dad read the Christmas Story from the Bible.

Despite very uncooperative boys, Kate managed to act out Mary and the Angel very nicely.

Shepherd Brighton

Shepherd Jonas

Kate as Mary

Tired Shepherd ready to be done with this silliness already.

Mary, Baby Jesus and a replacement Joseph. The original actor selected to play this role got sick of his costume and tore it off.

What Kate Remembers about Grandpa Bill

I like his Santa that sings.

He showed me his stamps, but they don't work anymore.

He has a lot of things. He makes lots of things.

He told me that his leg hurt.

I know he loves me because I am his grandchild.

But I am a little sad because he is far, far away.

Walker Chirsmas

While John's parents were here we celebrated Christmas with them.

Unfortunatly, Ben's hat didn't quite fit.




Our little family has grown to a size that makes an all eyes open, all looking at the camera, no one crying, or no goofy faces family picture impossible.

2 looking at the camera

One escaping

At least John is doing what he is supposed to

Nice toasted look, mom. Nice tongue, Jonas.

Can't get through a series of pictures with out a crazy Kate face.

Blessing & Stuff

By the way, we blessed Benjamin last Sunday. It was quite a different experience than the other two baby blessings which were big productions. I think we began getting our yard ready for Jonas' blessing before he was even born.

I missed everyone terribly, but it was nice to focus on the blessing and not be fretting about the food for the after party. I was glad that at least John's parents and a couple of friends were able to be there. We weren't all alone. It was touching experience to see John and his dad stand together to give Ben his blessing. John did a fantastic job. The blessing was beautiful.

Sorry Ben, we didn't take a lot of pictures (actually your papa took these, not us). You were starving by the time we got you home and I didn't want you to yak all over the blessing outfit, so we took some pictures quick and then changed your clothes.

And some bonus pictures of the other kids also taken by papa.

Pretty Good for First Timers

We made a Gingerbread House!

It was a kit from Costco Grammy bought for Kate to make.
I have to admit I was a bit worried. I didn't have faith in the frosting actually holding the thing together. I am also quite unskilled in all things baking, frosting, and food decorating.

But somehow we managed to get it all together and decorated without any major casualties. I did break the tree in half, but Dr. Grammy, like always, saved the day by suturing it back together with frosting.