Happy New Year!

Ahh, Christmas.  What a wonderful (and busy!) time of the year.  This Christmas was wonderful though, filled with many happy memories.  We did a lot, but not too much.  Thanks to my friend Jen I had advent activities all planned out at the end of November.  This really decreased my stress because I was able to choose what was important and know that I would have time to do it (well, most of them anyway).  Maybe next year I will do a better job at documenting all that, but for now a sampling of our December...   

two little elves decorate the tree

Abbie and Dutch were not much help with the tree decorating

Abbie got less helpful as the afternoon went on...

after the tree was up they turned it into a fort and wanted to eat all their meal s in there....for  three days!

just a sample of the many christmas crafts we did this year

the annual gingerbread house decorating...he might be an architect some day

Kaylee's gingerbread house (made by dad since she was sleeping on the couch with a fever for the entire afternoon!)

At the Santa Parade, downtown Rockford 

Isaac's school program (front row, 2nd from left)

Church program (practice) Kaylee got to ring the bells this year (she's the 2nd from right)

Isaac (in the middle) as a shepherd holding a sheep in the church Christmas program

Would it be Christmas without a trip to the Critter Barn? (Kaylee, Aviela, Isaac)

Christmas at the DeWittes, most of the kids were either sick, recovering, or coming down with something, another Christmas tradition (Isaac, Nathan, Kaylee, Katie, Abbie)

Abbie with Mema

Isaac with his pile, that's a happy look I promise! (And he did have a fever...)

It was an American Girl accessories Christmas for Kaylee, and by accessories I mean lots of large items that I need to find a place for in her room

These PJs made the day (because they matched Katie's of course!)
She immediately put them on and didn't take them off until the next morning

 And last but not least, Abbie rocking an old cabbage patch kid (who needs new toys?)  at Nana and Grandpa's/  Notice Gramps "fire" in the background!