We can honestly say we had a great Christmas season this year, not too busy, not too slow, just right. I think it was due to Alan putting his foot down and saying after over a year and a half of being too busy that we needed a month to just "be"...so we said no to a lot of things and only went to the festivities that we had to be at or wanted to go to, we spent lots of time outside sledding and having snowball fights, followed by cups of hot chocolate, followed by lots of movies (Oak is becoming a movie buff like his dad;), played tons of cars and tickled/wrestled for hours. It was so great having Alan home for over 2 weeks...I think I enjoyed this holiday break more than one I can remember...probably due to having both kids and loving to have our daddy around to play with! For Isla's first Christmas and Oak's third, it was so beautiful to watch them...the beauty of the sights and sounds around the house and town, Oak loved our tree so much that he cried when we took it down last week...he understood that it was Baby Jesus' birthday we were celebrating and that we made cookies for his party...Isla was mesmerized by the lights every morning as we turned them on in the dark...Oak was appreciative for every gift he received (amazing in my book , for a 2.5 year old) and concerned about Isla getting nice things, too. Alan and I enjoyed seeing our kids bring the spirit of Christmas alive in our hearts...of true love and sacrifice, of giving of all that you have for others. We love this time of year...and this year, we loved it so very much!!
We felt so blessed to have our family, a warm, safe home, and wonderful friends all over the world...so many do not have these amazing riches, we pray God's provision and peace for all those in need...it was an amazing season to give thanks and rejoice in all that God has given and blessed us with!
I love this picture- both beautiful ladies looking out the window:)
Play-time at the Children's museum- Daddy and Grammy had not been there before
Isla's first time in the sled- she went down with me a few times and Alan said her eyes were wide as could be-but I heard her giggling:)
Last year, Oak hated the snow...this year, we can't get him out of it...he LOVES it! He wants to build BIG snowmen and sled AGAIN AND AGAIN...he walks up the big hills all by himself and sometimes even carries his own sled...we are loving being in the winter wonderland with him...so much fun! 
Christmas traditions
Isla's first Christmas- she was awake long enough to open her stocking on Christms eve and pose for some cute pictures
Oak joined the annual tradition of making Christmas cookies on Christmas eve before candle-light service- he used the entire bottle of sprinkles on those three cookies...yummy! Isla watched wondering if she could get her hands on some...not til next year, sweetie...
Cute hubby!!
Cute kiddos!! 
Oak making Christmas treats for neighbors and friends
I know Isla looks kinda goofy here, but between trying to sit up for the first time and the crazy cloth diaper...so funny, she started to lean and slowly went left a few seconds after this picture:)
Sweet, sweet, precious Baby girl
Making play-dough pizza "for everyone come over tonight for party Oak's house" in his exact words!!
