Christmas!

In keeping with our tradition, we made graham cracker (gingerbread) houses before Christmas.

We decorated the tree the day after Thanksgiving, along with celebrating Jacob's birthday (a day late).  It was such a fun day!

Emily helped spread out the ornaments around the whole tree.  It was the first time I didn't move any around myself!

It's always so exciting to see the ornaments after a long year has passed.

A good little decorator.

Candy train ornament

Ornament with Nathan's name (from Gma W. a few years ago)

For Christmas Eve dinner, we had 7 young single adults over--four missionaries and three marines.  

Climbing on our friends.  What hospitality these little Campbells show our guests.

We did our annual Christmas program with songs, scriptures, and slideshow pictures of Christ's birth.  With such a large group this year--some of them excellent singers--it was our best Christmas Eve choir yet.

Paul had made these little stockings for our guests.

Christmas morning!  Stockings first.  Trains for Jacob.

A recorder for Nathan.  He'd been learning how to play one in music class at school.

A doll-size kimono

Nicole LOVED her sunglasses.

The neighbors brought over presents for the kids.  Nicole's was a princess dress-up set.  She wears the shoes the most.

Man, is this a popular coloring set.  The other kids keep stealing it to color it themselves.

Percy Jackson series box set for Brandon!  (Emily is making mental plans to borrow them...)

Trains from Grandma and Grandpa W.

Jacob made this at preschool.

OUTSTANDING socks from Paul.

The annual "I love this because they're from you" gift.  Excellent.

Puzzles from Grandma and Grandpa W.

Train from Grandma and Grandpa F.  (He's eating the ring pop from his stocking.)

Emily made this little "Thomas and Friends" comic book for Jacob.  He really likes it.

Geotrax set for all the kids.   I would've stuck with "Thomas and Friends" stuff that's compatible with what we have, but got this used in excellent condition so I couldn't resist!  Emily is sad that the boys want to play with it more than the Thomas & Friends stuff.  I'm sad because that was something that brought all the kids together a lot, but Emily isn't interested in the Geotrax.

We gave Nicole this doll high chair and food tray. After she opened it I told her it was from us and she hopped up and hugged both of us. She sure loves this present.

Kimono for Emily

Jacob's 5th birthday and Emily's 12th birthday

Jacob turned 5 on Nov 28

We attended a Thanksgiving potluck dinner with from our church, and they all sang "happy birthday" to him.  This picture was taken during the singing.  ( It was cold in there so he was wearing my sweater.)

Train cake!

Brandon and Nathan pooled their money (with just a little help from me) and bought this Thomas and Friends play set for Jacob.

Train from Grandma and Grandpa F.

Thomas movie from Gma & Gpa F.

Play set from us.

Weasel ball from Grandma and Grandpa Winterton.  hilarious!

More train tracks!

Thanking Nathan.

Thanking Brandon

Emily turned 12 on Dec. 10.

Necklace from Grandma and Grandpa W.

Pom-pom aliens made by Brandon