Christmas Night

Christmas night I went to check on the girls. It looks like they liked their presents. Lucy had her train set in bed with her.

and Joy would not let go of her new toy. I tried to take it from her hands and she just grasped onto it tighter (mind you, she was sound asleep too). 

Christmas Morning

Opening the first gifts of the morning.

 What is it going to be Lucy?

 A train set!

Mia helping Joy get her new toys out to play with. 

 The girls enjoying Tic Tac treats from their stockings. 

 A keyboard. 

Sam and Mia playing with the cheese puzzle, working to be cheese geniuses. 

Dollhouse dolls from Grandma and Grandpa Swenson.

Lucy and Joy enjoying each other's company.

 Matt, Amy and Todd joined us for Christmas brunch and stayed the day with us. The girls got a couple of new Wii games for Christmas that kept us all entertained.

 Joy with her favorite present. If you look back in all of the photos of her she has it with her all day long. She would not let go of it. Including when she went to bed at night.

 Lucy and her new train set. 

Leila got to stay in her pajamas all day long- one of her favorite all time things to do. 

Christmas Eve Indian Feast

Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men. This year we started a new family tradition. In order to learn more about our brothers and sisters from around the world each Christmas we will choose another country and learn a little more about that country and make a feast with the traditional foods. This year we chose India. Leila was especially excited about that because she has some Indian classmates. The food was delicious. 

We were so happy to have the Turpin Family over to enjoy Christmas Eve with us. We had a delicious Indian meal, played the game Charades, baked some gingerbread cookies, and exchanged gifts. 

 Just before bed the girls were given their first Christmas gift from Mom and Dad.

 New slippers. Leila got bears, Mia got puppies, Lucy got lambs and Joy got flowers. 

That evening all four girls had a sleepover in Joy and Lucy's room. Surprisingly they all slept quite well. 

Christmas Ball

Our friends, Vanessa and her family hosted a winter ball. The invitation stated that we were to come dressed up (the fancier the better).

So we spent the afternoon pin curling the girls hair. Here they are waiting for their hair to dry.

I surprised the girls with some dresses that I had found at Once Upon a Child.

 The girls looked gorgeous at the ball.

Leila and Mia and Sam at the ball.

Lucy was so excited to be at a real ball.

Leila. 

Making Christmas Presents

This year I had really been thinking about how everyone talks about the true meaning of Christmas and I decided that I wanted to think up a gift that helps to remember the true meaning of Christmas. The girls and I used some tissue paper and glued pieces of it to jars. Then put some mod podge on top. We then stuck a candle inside and when all of the lights are off they look really pretty. So the light was to represent the light that Christ is in our lives. I also loved how the girls were so excited about the family members that they were making them for. Lucy would excitedly say, "I'm making this for Nate and Heidi!" in a sing songy voice. And Nate and Heidi's family got the one that Lucy made especially for you. Hopefully they won't be reading this before the packages arrive. 

Lucy

Mia taking a quick cereal break

Leaves, leaves, leaves and more leaves

Mia. It's amazing, she is actually looking at the camera and smiling too!
She is not one for pictures being taken, I sure wish she would, oh well.

If you look closely in Lucy's left hand she is holding a worm.
She very often chooses everyday creatures like worms, houseflies, squirrels
and claims them as her "pet".

As I was raking the leaves I kept telling myself that at least this is easier than shoveling snow. Although at the rate I was going I think the sun would have already melted all of the snow by the time I get all those leaves raked up. I also kept reminding myself of when we moved to Evanston, IL, a suburb of Chicago when I was a child. We had moved from an apartment building in New York City. I was so excited about simple things, like having grass in our own yard, in fact I even sent some grass to my friend Lizet, who lived in the apartment that we had moved from (she said her mom was excited about it too and framed the grass and hung it on their wall). When fall came I was so excited to rake leaves. One afternoon afterschool I decided that I was going to rake the leaves. It was slightly drizzling, but that did not stop me from riding my bike to the 5 and 10 cent store a few blocks away to buy a rake with some money that I had saved. I rode my bike home with rake in hand and started at it. I was grinning from ear to ear! Then my neighbor, Vanessa from across the street and her brother came over and were so confused as to why I was raking the leaves in the rain. This was when I was in sixth grade. 

Waiting for Dad to Come Home

These girls get so excited when their dad to comes home. I am trying to teach them that a great way to show that excitement is to run and give him a hug... but they still continue with their affectionate way of showing their excitement. Typically the first person that hears the garage door open yells, "Dad's home! Hide!" They then all run to find a hiding place and wait for dad to find them. One evening as I was preparing dinner, I realized that I had not heard the girls for quite a while. I went looking for them and could not find them anywhere. They had turned all of the lights off in the living room and had made a fort and were hiding in it waiting to surprise their dad. I asked Leila how long they had been hiding and she replied, "Oh, for about a half an hour". I thought about it and she was probably right on. Their dad is all fun and games to them. Even Joy has figured that out. When her dad comes home and goes to say hello to her she gives a big smile and will usually start laughing for no reason at all, she really thinks her dad is pretty funny. 

Mia turned 5!

Mia's fifth birthday was packed with fun! We woke up and Mia opened her presents. Some gifts that she received were:

• Music Jewelry box from Leila
• necklaces from Lucy
• My little Pony from Joy
• Remote Control Car from her Dad
• Playmobile School set from her mom
• A beautiful handmade quilt from her Grandma and Grandpa Swenson
• A dressup skirt, Hawaiian candies, and a new church dress from her Grandma Burgoyne
• bath paints from Matt, Amy and Todd

Breakfast was puffed oven pancakes, as requested. After breakfast we played with her new toys for a bit. Then off to see the movie, Tangled- a very awesome movie that we thoroughly enjoyed. For lunch we went to Chile's (her first request was Sushi Unlimited, then she saw a Dennys and could hardly believe that they had one in her own town as we usually eat there on our trips to Utah, then, well, Chile's was in the same parking lot as the movies). Later in the evening, after we finally got the Playmobile set put together, Matt, Amy and Todd came over for a shrimp dinner (one of Mia's favorite foods) and for some delicious strawberry ice cream cake. It was a fabulous day and Mia shown in her usual way. She is one of the most selfless people that I have ever met. She was so excited that we were all going to have fun together and did not even occur to her to have everything be for her. She just wanted us all to have a fun time and we certainly did! I love you Mia! You are growing up and continue to be a thoughtful and fun little girl. Have a great year! 5 is a big year.

Playing in the Leaves

Amelia, Lucy, Leila

A day in the life of Joy

Joy looking at herself in the mirror in her bedroom

Joy's Bird Mobile above her crib

Joy has always had a sweet disposition. Recently we have seen her determination. She has been rolling over for a little while now and now she is very good at it. You put her on her back and then all of a sudden she is on her tummy. Yesterday she rolled and got stuck under the bunk bed (oops). We saw her determination in learning to do that and now we see her determination in learning how to scoot, especially when she has a moment with bare feet. We are all really enjoying having Joy in our home.