Christmas Preparations

Last Sunday, Dec 5th, we put up the Christmas tree after dinner, but then it was time for bed... We didn't want to decorate it without Daddy (who was in Korea for work for the week), so we waited and hung the ornaments last night....



Our friend, Claudia, was over for dinner and got a big kick out of watching the kids... (She is widowed and lives in a group home --- but she raised 5 kids, back in the day, so I'm sure this brings back some fun memories!)

(Esther, 1yr, showing Claudia the reindeer Jen's Grandma made)

Christmas!

Christmas was great! (My mom) Grandma Haroldsen was here for most of September, and Grandpa came out the Saturday before Christmas. New House + New Baby + Grandparents = Merry Christmas Indeed!

We didn't do anything "spectacular" --- just enjoyed being family and having fun with the kids. Matt did take 4-yr-olds Mike and Em and 2-yr-old Natalie shopping at a dollar store to pick out gifts for each other and for "Mommy", and they thought that was a wonderfully "big kid" thing to do... It also helped make a grand stack of presents under the tree (without breaking the bank)!

The kids had a good time posing in front of the tree to show off new outfits:

Mike & Em (4 1/2) and Natalie (almost 3)

3-week-old Esther

Christmas Eve we enjoyed the novelty of having a genuine fireplace to hang stockings by:



Chrismas Day we just took our time opening presents and watching the kids play...


...and, believe it or not, I (Jen) was terribly domestic and actually made rolls "from scratch"...

Anyway, we all had a great time! And just think - next year Esther will be old enough to enjoy everything, too!