Last snow of 2009

Funny old dog acts just like a puppy when it snows. I think the cold feels good on her old joints

She never does this, but she was just so happy

All Ainsley wanted to do was build little snow forts on the table.

Just after I said to him don't throw that at me.

I'm the king of the world.

Emery and her dog. Her Love. Her life. Her world.

See the little fort. She was so proud of it.

She would not leave her gloves on

My snow angels

It trapped Jeff in Portland overnight and we had fun playing in it.
But It wasn't much and it was gone the next day. So much for the great snowstorm of 09.

Christmas with Jeffs Family

Part two of Christmas was the 24th with Jeff's mom and Loren. We had dessert and exchanged gifts. It is always a good time when Grandma and La La come over. The kids just love them especially when they bring gifts.

Yui: "What? I was just looking. I wasn't going to do anything."

Part three: It was just our little family Christmas morning.

First the kids got their stockings

Emers just loved her little pink dog

Oh Honey how I love you for being such a good sport

I think he likes his new gun.

Ainsley and her big girl bike.

Em and her baby having tea

Jeff and I opening the gift Jackson made for us at school

I just love the stuff he makes and how excited he gets to give it to us.

Part four: Jeff's Dad, Grandma, Brother Brad, His Girlfriend Kelly, Kandle and AJ all came over for dinner and more gifts.

The kids Kandle, Ainsley, Emery, Jackson and AJ

Best gift ever!! Jack's neighbor made this rocking horse and she LOVES it. But that's just the beginning. The wood that he used to make it was from Jeff's and my old bed's footboard. So instead of being burned or thrown into a landfill our old bed gets a second chance at life and what a great new life to have.

Brad channeling his inner child .

Cindy got this bed for Brad's dog Jenna and Emery spent the whole evening laying in it. There is no end to this kid's love for dogs and longing to be one.

The McCumber's Christmas

We started the evening with dinner and some dessert. Everyone brought something. It's always a collaboration. That way, no one person has to do it all.

After dinner, but before the gifts, Mackenzie went into the living room and started reading a book and, before you knew it, all the kids were at her feet listening. Well, maybe not Jackson.

Jackson and Morgan glued to each other as always.

This is four generations, minus me. My Mom, My Dad's Mom and My Girl.

The melee that was opening of the gifts.

Oh, the matching pajamas. Our kids are going to hate this some day. But for now it is one of the funnest parts of Christmas for me. I just love seeing them all matchy matchy. And to think we almost didn't get little Mr. Grant to put his on. Funny little man didn't think that PJs were a good gift at all and was not about to put them on.
But as you can see we got him to do it and he even has on the biggest Smile.
Thanks to his daddy's belly of course.

The Living Nativity

Tonight the church put on a live nativity and the primary kids performed at the open house.

Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem

The angels visiting the shepherds that night.

The three wise men that saw the star in the east

The stable where baby Jesus was born

My kids were in Awe.
I don't know if I have ever witnessed them just sit and take something in like that.

They just loved all the animals

But the Camel was by far the best.

My Ainsley singing

My Jackson singing.

OK. So I know that every parent thinks that their kids are the best at whatever they are doing. But my kids are the loudest and they know all the words.
Being loud may not always be a wonderful thing . But when they are singing it is. My kids are not mumbling through their lines. You can hear every word. Even if you are standing at the back of the gym.

Jackson's first piano recital

Jackson has the most wonderful piano teacher who is also our neighbor.

The kids waiting to get started.

You will have to turn your volume up to hear it but this is Jackson's rendition of
Jolly Old Saint Nickolas.

I'm just so proud of him, he tried so hard.

A picture of Jackie with all her students. She's amazing.

She is only 18 and she knows what she wants to do with her life and is doing it.

Off to see Santa

Because of the snow storm last year I did not get the picture of the kids with Santa that I wanted.
So we went early this year. This is no "mall" Santa. We go to Jeff's ( My baby Daddy) office.
They set this thing up every year and it is spectacular.

My little princess telling Santa what she wanted for Christmas.

Oh my gosh Jackson was all business. Funny Kid.

Emery didn't want anything to do with her good buddy Santa this year.

Just a shot of the kids and I in front of one of the displays.

Redecorating the Barbie Tree

I made Jackson suffer for a whole week of the pink wonder that was the Barbie tree before I decided to remove the Barbies and let the kids put our decorations on it.
In all honesty this was a first for us all. The kids have never decorated the tree. Not that I wouldn't have let them. But for the last 4 years we have gotten one from the Gala and haven't had to do that. The last time our family decorated a tree, Ainsley was 3 months old.
And now look at her - my big 4 year old.

Emery has been convinced lately that she's a dog

J and I working on the tree.

Oh my funny little hambone

The kids in their matching PJs

After we were done, Jeff said how impressed he was that I didn't get all Christmas Nazi on the kids like I did the first and last time we ever tried to decorate a tree with each other.

I guess I take that as a compliment.