Family Photos

The beautiful and talented Elise took some family photos of us for our Christmas card this year. The final product is the picture right above. If you didn't get one, it is probably on my counter right now. I didn't get them all out. I sent a lot out but then Christmas happened and life and a long trip to Thailand and Cambodia and now it is almost February! So, here it is on my blog instead.

It was so fun shooting with Elise, she did such an amazing job. Here are some of our favorites! Thanks again...I love you Elise!

Go Ducks!

Before my sisters went back to college, we, including my brother all went to the Mighty Ducks game together. We had so much fun! Missing the other sister Kiki though of course! But we had close-up amazing seats and the game was really exciting, we were jumping all over the place and getting really into the fights! (There were some good ones!) It was a blast, I love how fast-paced it was! And, the Ducks won. After the game we went to BJ's to get a pizookie and we stayed and talked for hours! It so fun...just four of the original five! We couldn't remember the last time it was just us! Let's do that again really soon guys!

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning...Micah was so excited about his brand new red bike, he's been waiting for so long for that bike!

And apparently so was Jade because she was just as excited as Micah was.

Jade got a little barking puppy

Then we went over to the Lundquist's.

Melissa looked as beautiful as ever, even in the morning with her onesie pajamas on!

Love this look on Jackson's face.

Jackson got a really fun train set from his mommy and it was a hit...

By the way, you will see no pictures of me during Christmas because a couple days before Christmas Micah broke my nose! Third times a charm! Micah jumped from the couch to the ottoman and my face got in the way. I was bleeding like crazy and crying because you can't really help it when something like that happens. Anyway, it was no fun, but Micah was a little concerned because of all the blood, until he noticed that my nose was still attached to my face and so he didn't break it off like everyone said! This is the third time I have broken my nose, but the second time was the best story, maybe I will tell it sometime...it happened during a family prayer!

Victor made our traditional "first" breakfast with the Lundquist's...when we went to my parent's home later, we had our second breakfast...because that's how we do it.

The kiddos loved the pancakes.

Loving the onesies!

Micah and Jackson both got a really fun big wheel from Mimi and Papa.

Jade loved her baby and she rode around on Jackson's old tricycle ALL day long...I'll explain why later in this post.

Micah got a fireman hat, but Jade is all about hats so she had to wear it around for a while.

I need to take better pictures of their aprons, but Micah and Jade got aprons from my mom for Christmas, her best friend D'On is an amazing seamstress and we picked out the fabric and she did an amazing job with them. They are the perfect gifts because both Micah and Jade love love love baking in the kitchen!

This picture was taken the day after Christmas. Santa had to bring a tricycle to Jade one day late because he actually thought that since Jade is so little that she wouldn't know or care about what she did or did not get for Christmas! Wrong! She is not even two years old and she had a crappy christmas! How is that possible? As soon as Jade came down and saw that Micah got a bike and she didn't, she was devastated and she kept crying and saying "bike, bike" over and over again. We got her a little dog that walks and barks because she loves doggies! Apparently she doesn't love fake doggies as much as bikes.

Then, we went to the Lundquist's, Jade saying "bike" all the way over. When we got there, Cindy and Vic got Micah and Jackson big wheels and Jade...get this...a fake dog that barks and walks! So, she was obsessed with the bikes the whole time. After we opened gifts and ate breakfast, we couldn't find Jade anywhere and I was walking room by room to find her and finally I looked in the garage and there she was, all by herself, sitting on Jackson's old tricycle.

She couldn't leave the house without it and so we brought it to my parents house and practically the entire time while we were opening presents, she sat on the bike. She continued to talk about bike's into the night. The next morning she got a brand new pink and purple tricycle. Santa won't make that mistake again!

Christmas Night...our version of the Nativity

Every Christmas evening, the Devine's and the Lundquist's get together to do Christmas dinner together. I love how close our families are! We always have the best time together. This year we thought that it would be fun to act out the Nativity with the children instead of just read it. We wanted it to come to life for them.

Look at this Mary and Joseph...especially Micah caressing Mary's face, are you kidding me? Cutest thing I've ever seen.

Blake was our trusty donkey.

Jackson was one of our diligent Shepherd's!

Micah was loving every bit of this story!

Kait was another sweet Shepherd.

Jade was all about eating the M&M's from the shepherd's staff and since we needed the story to continue, we let her down them.

Bree was our beautiful angel Gabriel.

Like I said...downing the M&M's!

Two of our Wismen...except unfortunately we only captured Ryan's forehead in this shot! He was a superb Wisemen just the same! And Melis looking as gorgeous as ever.

Our other beautiful Wiseman bearing gifts. It was really fun and I can't wait until the Nativity play next year! I think it came to life for the kiddos as well as every one else there, plus it was pretty funny!

The End.

One final thing that happened Christmas Night...

Jade is the biggest little troublemaker around, you can't leave her alone for a second! She got into my mom's makeup and decided to give herself a serious makeover!