FIRST HAIR CUT...EVER!!!!

I know, I know...Caroline is almost 4 1/2 and still have not ever cut her hair. It had grown down to her bottom and was so beautiful. But over the last few weeks she has been working on her Daddy about getting her hair cut. Finally he caved and we decided that since we allow her to pick out her own clothes (weather appropriate of course) and express her developing fashion sense in other ways it was time to allow her to cut her hair. AAAHHHH! So, after putting it off she finally said, "Mom, I want you to call Bon Bon Salon and ask Mallory to cut my hair". I knew she had her mind made up...she even picked her own stylist! This past Saturday was the big day. We were Mallory's first customers of the day.

Caroline was so excited.
Getting ready for the first cut
AAAHHHH! NOT MY BABY GIRLS HAIR!!!
Caroline told Mallory that she wanted her hair just like mine.
I cried.
This beautiful little pony tail was donated to Locks of Love and will be made into a wig for a sick child who has no hair.
Mallory was working her magic. Turning my baby into a beautiful young lady.

Looking at the back
Ta-DA!!!!
Daddy's first glimpse.
ok, ok....I LOVE IT!!!!
I am not sure how I feel about her looking closer to 6 than 1, but there it is and I am still getting used to it. I don't like this business of children growing so fast. Can't we just slow it down a little?

Lexi Is Here!!! (and her parents too)

Saturday morning Uncle Mike, Aunt Pee, Annie and Lexi came into town!!!! We are so happy they are here to spend Christmas with us! Lexi is 8 months old now and has mastered the "army crawl".

A proud uncle Rick and tired little Lexi

My beautiful sister and Jack-Jack
Jack looooves Lexi. Lexi....is not so sure

(that's a courtesy smile)
Caroline giving Lexi some encouragement
What can I say?? She is irresistible!

Christmas Eve Rehersal

This year is the first that I have been available to sing in the Christmas Eve services (all 6 of them!) at our church. It has been a really fun learning experience. It has also been so much more work than I thought it would be. I can't believe how much planning and effort goes into this 2-day event. Planning began in August this year.

I think this picture sums it all up!

This is Laura..."Landlord Extraordinaire" and ministry assistant for Celebration Arts. Couldn't do it without her.

This year our friend Cath was our "fashion designer" for the singers and band members. She was in charge of making sure that our clothes matched the set...this year the key word was "flowy". I can't tell you the challenges this presented...

Makeup application begins...

This is where the "flowy" aspect came into play. Cath left us unattended with the bag of scarves. Lyndz decided she would try to incorporate them all into her outfit.

Something like a gypsy, right?
While we were busy adding flare to our costumes, Anna was hard at work on her feature song,

"It Came Upon A Midnight Clear"

BEAUTIFUL!!

(side note: NO she really isn't wearing those boots)

Aubry, one of the students in our ministry is playing the part of Mary

These little darlings are Angels.

I would encourage everyone to watch our Christmas Eve service online at www.twincitieschurch.com It is really fantastic.

All Ready for Christmas!

Yep! That is our one little ice-cycle. I was so proud! Caroline built a ginger-bread house with her Grammy and Papa
I have to brag for a moment...I MADE THESE STOCKINGS!!!

My mom always made our stockings and so I thought I would give it a go. My good friend Sivje helped me put these babies together and then her nifty sewing machine embroidered our names on the front!

THANK YOU SIVJE!!!

All ready for Santa!

Christmas With Christine & Charles

The other night our friends Christine and Charlie came over to exchange gifts with the kids. Christine has been my good friend since my days working at the bank. We were so happy to get to spend a little bit of time with our friends during this crzy holiday season. Charles and Jack
Caroline was given a really neat oven that bake's with ice!!

AMAZING!! It actually works!
Jack was given a baseball toy...never too early!

Victorian Christmas

I know that I have mentioned the benefits of living in downtown Nevada City before but here is another one; Victorian Christmas. Every year, starting a week or two after Thanksgiving, all of the locals come out of the woodwork and dress in Victorian style clothing and sell the things they have been making. There is plenty of food, music, Father Christmas, PEOPLE!!!

The view from the top of Broad Street.We ran into our friends the Bianchi's while we were down there.

Angelena & Caroline had such a great time.

I wish you could have seen them dance together.Isabella taking a ride on her Daddy's back The only picture of my beautiful friend Shawn I had

(Sorry Shawn! XOXOXOXO)

A live Nativity.

The funny thing was that this was being done by the local Ananda group...they are Hindu.

This lady made some really great balloon flowers.
There is tons of live music. These sweet girls were doing a beautiful job on their violins.
Did I mention it was FREEZING??? It was so cold I had to buy mittens for the kids hands. We still had to jump into a warm bath when we got home.

Random

Jack has become a master climber. Every time he can find a step stool he is climbing up on it to see what the world looks like from his new view. This particular day he found his way to the bathroom sink and into my makeup brushes. He was also chewing on a piece of wood from the fire place.
Caroline (African princess for the day) was twirling
yep, that's a green feather boa.
It was a random day.

Annual Crab Feast

Every December when the Dungenes Crab come into the store my parents invite our friends the Thompson's over for a feast. It basically consists of Crab, garlic-butter and bread. How could you go wrong?? This has been a tradition for about 15 years now. Ron & Kim joined our family when they came on board as pastor with Twin Cities Church. I don't think they have missed a year yet!!

This is the beginning of a great feast!

Caroline & Jordyn
Kim & Ryan digging in!

(Jack looks so much like Ryan did when he was a baby..chubby with curly hair!)

Even Jack enjoyed the crab!
Ron and my Dad
This was all that remained...shells.

This is Jack smearing his pacifier in my Dad's ice cream. He would then suck the ice cream off! It was so funny!

I just love this picture of Caroline. Ryan was playing around with my camera (with supervision of course!) and when I looked at the pictures I was so surprised to see how well he had done!All in all, it was a very satisfying evening!

Santa Babies

Every Friday morning I have the pleasure of watching little Isabella. This past Friday I stripped Jack and Isabella down to their diapers and away we went! It was so fun.. Except for the part where Jack bit through an ornament shattering the glass. None was swallowed but Bella did end up with a little poke in her hand! Talk about stressful!

Bella was a perfect subject.

So was my Jack!
Bella would only sit still for one shot at a time before she was halfway over the back of the couch. This girl can climb!!!
Jack stayed put. He's not big on moving fast.
Don't you want to smooch those lips???

I did.