Trying To Catch Up...

FINALLY!!! I have a spare moment to get caught up on Christmas pictures and recent happenings. You know...only 3 weeks late!

Before I start with anything, I have to show you this picture I took of Mariah last night. It is SO difficult to capture her smile on camera...because our camera is not fast AND I'm not a very good photographer. So I'm pretty proud of myself with this one! I'm bragging, I know, but she's beautiful, isn't she? (Just like the other kids)

Okay, on to Christmas pictures. Here are our 6 stockings hung up on Christmas Eve. It took us a long time and many routes to get to this...four beautiful children.

Much to the dismay of my husband, I was really pathetic when it came to baking Christmas cookies this year. There just wasn't time! So instead of his favorite - frosted sugar cookies - I was able to make M&M cookies and those store-bought cookies you only have to put in the oven! ANYWAY, it seemed to work for Santa. Here are his cookies (on the plate we only use for Santa) along with a glass of milk and, of course, sugar for the reindeer.

Christmas morning, before the kids were awake. Santa even managed to organize the gifts into piles for the kids this year. I wish I was that organized...

Here is Jared opening his presents...

And Meghan, with another one of her infamous cheesy grins...

Caleb was interesting to watch. The entire "opening presents" thing was new to him, he wasn't quite sure what to do at first. This changed soon enough...now he thinks that any wrapped present is for him!

And finally, Mariah. No, I didn't dress her up to open presents Christmas morning. Between the camera and video camera, I didn't get any still pictures of her with her presents. But I do have this shot from the family Christmas on Keith's side the day after Christmas. It pretty much sums it up, she was most interested in trying to eat the wrapping paper...

I was successful in catching Mariah with the video camera. Can you tell she's the youngest...she's not afraid of anything and is definitely not a wimp. Watch her try to beat her way into her gift!!!

Christmas vacation at home with the 4 kids is always CRAZY. Here's what happens when I allow Meghan to dress herself:

(PLEASE! Ignore what is under Caleb's nose)

Here is Caleb enjoying the outdoors. We are lucky, he is not affected by the cold or the snow AT ALL. The week he came home from Guatemala, it was -20 (without wind chill) and he was begging to go outside. He likes the cold a lot more than I do!

Just a typical pose for Meghan. I believe she WILL be famous someday...either a singer, an artist, or CEO of a major corporation. She certainly has personality!

Caleb didn't want his picture taken for some reason. First, he tried ignoring me:

And then, I got "THE LOOK." I can't help it, but I love "THE LOOK"!!! It cracks me up everytime, and I'm thrilled (again) to have it on camera.

I hesitated to show this picture...it is just so wrong. But it does show what a week of Christmas vacation will do to you! Meghan got a Hannah Montana dance set from Santa. Caleb is NOT a good blonde (although he liked the hair)!

Mariah obviously thought this was the worst idea ever. She is probably right...

Have a great week, everyone!