2013 Professional Pictures

The day after Thanksgiving we had our pictures done by one of my sweet mom friends.  It was cold...no snow, but very, very cold.  I don't know why I procrastinate getting family pictures done, but we seem to be getting them later and later each year.  I do think she did an awesome job. 

She was going to take a picture of just Dave and I and then asked the kids to run in and photobomb us.

And our 2013 Christmas Card

Christmas Eve

It was a beautiful day here...the kids really only needed jackets and so we sent them outside to play while we cooked and cleaned.

Compare to Christmas Eve 2012 when Dave and Troy took all the kids sledding.

Christmas Eve 2013

Right before Grandma and Papa Nelson came over.

Dave cooked the turkey.

Presley did a little "performance". 

The kids opened their Christmas jammies from Grandma and Papa Kreider.

Grandma and Papa headed back to their house.

Daddy read "Twas the Night Before Christmas", like he does every year.

2012

Christmas Eve 2013

A little Christmas Eve wrestling. 

Then we opened up a special present from my mom and dad...Papa with the Berries reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and the kids followed along with their own books.  Holly is playing the piano in the background.  Such a neat gift.

Family Timer Picture.

Logan and Presley put on some cookies and milk. 

And Rylan sprinkled some red glitter to help Santa land in our driveway. 

The kids followed Santa on NORAD (he was in Peru last we checked)

And they just missed Santa's delivery...

And that's how we celebrated Christmas Eve 2013

Twas' the week before Christmas...

And all through the Nelson house...

We watched  Christmas movies like White Christmas wearing dress up clothes with a princess tiara.

We had our annual Christmas party with our sweet friends and watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

We saw our live Christmas tree grow with cards and letters from old friends, new friends, work friends, and family letters.  I have loved seeing this tree every day.

**Buddy happened to have landed on top of our tree this day.
**Rylan does a very good job of checking if the tree needs water and pours a pitcher full and refills it.
**I had forgotten how many needles end up on your floor with a live tree.

And all through Sunnyslope School...

Presley participated in her first Battle of the Books. 

And Harper and I went to the Christmas Sing-Along (December 19th).

Ry had the funniest face when he was feeling for his front teeth.  The music teacher asks for students who are missing their two front teeth to come up and then the school sings them that song.  I think he was kind of mad to not get to go up there.  

But he snapped out of it and knew almost all the words to "Feliz Navidad".

And Santa showed up at school too...

Everybody was giving Santa high fives and Presley stopped and gave him a hug.  I loved this. 

Harper was not afraid of Santa and happily accepted the candy cane he gave her. 

And all through the Suburban...

We went out looking at Christmas Lights and I told the kids to wear their Christmas jammies.

First we stopped at Starbucks...

Presley, Rylan, and Harper are way in the back.

They were awful together back there. 

But we found a house we liked in East Wenatchee and got out to take a picture. 

The kids are happy to be on a school break.  

We're really ready for Santa to make a stop at our house. 

Christmas Performances: Presley and Harper

Presley had her yearly musical performance this month.  This year the 4th and 5th graders performed Merriment in the Halls together.  She was a lowly peasant (she tried out for the part of the jester but didn't get it).  She got to play the xylophone though and that made her happy.

Matthew, Presley, Ainsley, and Taylor

It was so full that we had to stand during the performance.  I looked down and Ry was leaning against me with his hands around Harper who was leaning against him.  They stayed like this for a long time. 

Harper had her Seeds pre-school performance on Monday night.  She walked in as a reindeer (with an antler headband) and was still and quiet as she sang.  She did know some of the words and some of the hand motions, but not all. 

I took these pictures after the performance, as they were trying to eat their treats.