CHRISTMAS

                                                    Sharing with her brother, how sweet!!!

We all must have been good this year because Santa was sure nice! Especially to 2 little kiddos! Carter was so excited and had a hard time falling asleep! He kept thinking he could hear Santa. We decided that now with all of our "stuff" that it would be more relaxing to just stay home with our own little family and start our own traditions. We had some friends over for a few hours on Christmas Eve and enjoyed their company. They went home around 8 so the plan was that we would get the kids in bed on TIME. Not happening! We had to talk about the real meaning of Christmas and I was totally shocked at how well Carter got it! We then watched a little movie on Christ and watched some of the Forgotton Carols which Carter loves! They were in bed and asleep by 9:30 so not too bad and it gave us an early start so Santa wasn't up to late!!! In the middle of the night Brent caught Carter running down the stairs half asleep. He made it to the middle landing and Brent brought him back to our bed. Then pretty soon we heard the sound of tiny footsteps running headed for the stairs. Brook was on her way down too. Brent hurried and got her and brought her back to bed too. So we all cuddled and slept with each other. And of course I was the first one awake at 8:00 and couldn't go back to sleep!!! The one morning the kids decide to really sleep in....I'm awake and can't go back to sleep, too darn excited I guess :) Brook finally awoke at 9:00 and we played and talked with her for a bit while she tried waking up "Ca Ca"! She was finally successful and Carter woke up to ask us if Santa had really come last night. When we told him we thought so and thought we all better go check you could see his eyes light up. Santa left a candy/snow trail from the top of the stairs to their presents. Brooklyn was way more into the candy than her own presents. She couldn't believe candy was all over the stairs and as she kept walking she could get more. Carter couldn't believe how nice Santa was and told us "I really love Santa"! I didn't take as many pictures as I thought. And pretty much after Christmas I never touched the camera again. Makes me so mad but somehow when I don't feel the greatest and I'm surrounded by family I just space the whole camera. 

Christmas day we drove to Twin and spent time with all the family. We were going to try and brave the roads and get up to Canada but with a bad feeling and looking at the road report that had been closed off and on we decided to stay...and although we missed seeing family, we know that we made the best decision. A guy who Brent works with lives in Calgary and traveled down the same time we would have been traveling said the roads were TERRIBLE and said it took him 3 times as long. So we will hopefully get up there in the spring, before I get too big and can't travel for too long. We love you all and hope you had a wonderful Christmas!