Christmas 2011

Yes, I know, it’s March. But better March than never, I say. March is still winter, right? So it’s still at least the same season, technically? Yes, let’s go with that.
As I blogged already, we had ballet, karate and scouting activities in December.
We also hosted the annual home group Christmas Party.
The Beasley’s, who have gone off and left us!

The Jesus cake. It was a beautiful mess.

The kids were all decorating. Except Bella.

She was eating.

She’s washable:

Next we did stockings for the kids.
The Ruckers

Seth Watson. Poor guy his jingle bell didn’t jingle, Jacob announced this was because he didn’t believe (in Polar Express only kids who believe in christmas can hear a jingle bell chime)

Matt, James, Joanna & Natalie Pence

Natalie found some of Bella’s clothes and put them on for dress up. I guess Bella’s regular clothes are kind of like pretend clothes.

Bella loves her orange. For some reason this makes me very happy, to know that a simple orange can still make a kid smile.

Here are some of my favorite random Christmas tree pictures:

A few days before Christmas, my Dad had a heart attack.  He had four stents put in. We brought him here for a week afterward and so he was able to spend the holiday with us.
Christmas eve services at church:


Later in the evening Will’s parents came over to spend the night.
Will read the Night Before Christmas

Christmas Morning:
Jacob got a basketball goal. Bella got a stick horse and a Lving family RV.


Will got Pirates of the Caribbean.


Of course I had to take some food pictures, too.
I made salad with yellow heirloom tomatoes, pomegranate seeds and dried cranberries. Fingerling potatoes. Roast beef with chimichurri sauce and roasted Brussels sprouts.

It took many hours for the men to put together the basketball net, but they got it done.

Bella got a story from Paw Paw.

Lady, all worn out.