It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

We really love Christmastime around here, (who doesn't) it is our MOST favorite holiday! We love the music, the smell of Christmas trees, the decorating, yummy foods, and most of all, the family traditions. This is the first Christmas where we are able to teach Lauren about (and have her understand to a degree) the story of Jesus' birth(in short): the prophecy, the star, the stable, the shepherds, the wise men,the angel, Joseph, Mary, and the sweet baby Jesus. We are so happy to be able to share with her these things! It is such a sweet experience to be parents and share with your child the gospel of Jesus Christ. The other day I put on the DVD "Joy to the World" and I was surprised she sat and watched the whole thing! So this past week she's been asking to watch (while peering into our DVD drawer) the "baby Jesus DVD". Really sweet.

So, with the Christmas spirit in the air, we've already enjoyed some Christmas cheer with some friends and family and are grateful for the other memories that will be created throughout the rest of this season of "Peace on Earth Good Will Toward Men"!

Pictures below: (This would probably look better as a slide show)

Regan's party,First time making cut out cookies with Lauren (the Folger's Christmas cookie recipe too-Yum!)Then later that night we had so much fun decorating them together!

ABC's and 123's

Lauren knows her ABC's! Surprisingly. We are amazed at how much interest she took in learning them too-she loves them. When we are in the car she reads the letters and numbers from the signs she sees outside the car window. "7,6!" we heard one night-It's funny. Oh and also this past month she has really been making us smile with her singing-full verses of songs!She surprises us every day. She's been trying to count to 20 these past couple of weeks too. We are treasuring these days as new parents. So much fun!

(I'm not sure why this is showing up sideways. Anyone know how to rotate a video so it is vertical?)

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year we spent it with the Folgers in Manhattan Beach! Lauren was very happy to play ball and skip around like horses with her older cousin Abiah. We really had a fun day making delicious food and just enjoying being together.

Astro Blasters!

Jim and I went to Disneyland together this past weekend and we were able to email ourselves this shot of us inside the ride! We never noticed that before! Jim did well. (Check out his scores! &71st in the entire park for the day) OK, so we got stuck inside the ride a few times, ;) but it really takes a steady arm to hit the targets just right!

Needless to say, we had a blast. He he.