The view from here....

Every year at Christmas, we enjoy pulling out our nativity sets.  We have our beautiful "grown-up" set that Scott and I received as a wedding gift (I've always LOVED it).... we have our Fisher Price set.... and we have our VeggieTales set.  The girls have loved both of the latter two this season.  Baby Jesus (AKA Junior Asparagus) from the VeggieTales set has gone missing and still hasn't reappeared.  Maybe he will show up around Easter??  ;)

Just thought you might enjoy a little look....

"Wait, Deanna?  I think I see something....."

Yes, you are correct.  Our boys decided that the little army/combat dude needed to join our beautiful nativity for the past month.  I guess to protect Jesus from Herod?

And another view....

"Wait, Deanna?  I think something looks a little off...."

Yes, you are correct.  Mary has gone missing, too.  Ellie decided that Snow White could stand in for her.

A little view of life with our kids. 

Our littlest baby....

.... is also our last baby.  And she gets away with all kinds of craziness.

bottles (STILL!) at bedtime

pacifiers (STILL!) at bedtime AND while she is running laps around the house

sigh.

this would have never happened when I was a younger mom.

it didn't ever happen when I was a younger mom with our other three.

but then, I never had an Audrey.

and now, I do.

and she is our littlest.

and she is our last.

but I am believing that we WILL take care of the bottles and the pacifiers....

someday....

The tale of two teeth

All Isaac wants for Christmas.....

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Last year, we promised our boys that we would cut down a real tree again this year (I would go and cut one every year if it were up to me, but it is not Scott's favorite tradition.... probably because we used to fight every time we were picking out a tree and trying to set it up.  We have since STOPPED that Christmas tradition!) :)  We headed out to our little tree farm on Saturday but were so disappointed to find out that their little trees had been nearly devastated by the drought and heat last summer.  But.... we were persistent.... and we found one that would work!  We had fun decorating our tree, but the boys were so funny.... after using an artificial for the last 4 or 5, they had forgotten how prickly real trees are and ended up wearing gloves to decorate.

On the hunt!

Poor little one.... the high brush in the midst of the rows nearly knocked her over.

Such a sugar!

This one works!

"Killing the tree" as Daddy likes to say

The finished product!  I love white lights but was vetoed this year as many of our white strands weren't working.  The kids are thrilled to have colored lights this year!