December....a little late

I know, I know, I'm a little behind. But after a lengthy on-again off-again relationship with our internet, we are finally back on again for good....I hope. So, I'm starting where I left off.
The middle of December we surprised the kids with a train ride on the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Palmer and back, thanks to our good friends Keith & Amanda for sharing the idea and letting us tag along. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause paid us a visit on the train and the kids couldn't have been more excited.

Asher got this idea off an orange juice commercial and was determined to make it work.
This kid cracks me up!
Then we had a weekend out at G-ma Kays for a Christmas party and of course we had to stay the weekend and enjoy Kay's pancake designs the next morning.

And what kind of weekend would it be if we didn't get into Kay's costumes, which fill up her three car, yes I said three, garage! Her husband LOVES it and wishes she would buy more. ;-)

Then on Christmas Eve we went to G-ma Porters for dinner and the nativity story. This was my favorite shot. Lilli, who isn't fond of this tradition, agreed to be the Star, but here it looks like she's checking her watch and wishing it would just end. ;-)
And it just wouldn't be Christmas without turning Joseph's staff into a rifle!

On Christmas morning the kids were showered with gifts, even though every year we TRY to keep it under control, we just can't seem to control all the grandparents!

This year I decided to get a little crafty, it happens once in a blue moon, and with a lot of help from my close friend Amanda (thanks!) I made each of the kids their own little teddy bear. And thankfully they LOVED them.....which made it all worth it. ;-)

David decided he needed to get the kids their own little snowboards, just the inexpensive kind, and they loved testing them out in Grandpa Porter's driveway.