It's beginning...

I have always loved Christmas, but I never new how much fun it could be until I had little kids. They get so excited and love EVERYTHING about it.

Thanksgiving weekend we decorated the house and put up the tree.

This past weekend we went on a "Journey to Bethlehem" at a local church with some friends. They tell a 'live' story of Christ's birth as you walk through--it started with the angel telling Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus and ended with the scene of His birth. On the way we had to pay taxes in Bethlehem, we got to pet some baby animals and take a gift to baby Jesus.

Hanging out in Bethlehem (Marcus, Katie, Addy and Ella)

Being blessed

Angel's proclaiming to the shepherds

Marcus and Mark

Katie in front of the highlight--baby Jesus!

On Saturday Katie and I went to see the Nutcracker Youth Ballet. Katie was SOOOO excited to get dressed up and go watch the ballerinas. She was also pretty excited that I bought little bags of candy for us to eat during the show. She spent most the time picking out what ballerina she wanted to be--which of course changed every time a new dancer entered the stage.

Sitting on our coats so that she can see better

The kids are practicing for their Christmas program at school, they like to take bells off the tree and sing Jingle Bells--and then they just get a little crazy.

Please notice Ah-Ah's (Marcus' name for his monkey) glasses, that is the point of this picture, Marcus was pretty proud of himself.