December 2011

Okay, so maybe there is 1 more 2011 post. Here is a recap of December.



















Our Churches Old Fashioned Christmas
























Christmas Crafts

























Church Christmas Program - Kaden (Back Row - Gray sweater)










Jack (Front Row - Gray sweater)













Kyler (Front Row - Black & Red sweater)













Kyler's Preschool Program. He was a wise man.



















My sweet grandma surprised us and came to the boys church program and Kyler's school program. I wish Kyler had cooperated with this picture.













Kyler's gingerbread house he made at school.


















Kaden's 1st grade program: "Be Claus it's Christmas"












Singing around the Christmas Tree with Kaden at school - right before the break started.



















Kuhn Christmas - Dec. 23rd





































The boys were so funny. They opened their presents then immediately boxed them up and guarded them. They didn't want to share! Here is Kyler in his new boots from Aunt Kristen sitting on the farm set my parents gave him.



















Dec. 24th - Barker Christmas. The kids not so patiently waiting to open presents.














Decorating Cookies














My FAVORITE memory of this year. Jack and Karoline insisted their elves (Frizzle & Felene) get married. So here we are at the ceremony. Jack is the best man & Karoline the maid of honor & the elves are sitting down. Oh this wedding had it all including "wedding music" played by uncle Josh.


























Christmas Day



















My favorite new tradition this year was the manger at the base of our Christmas tree. I was telling some friends about this and one of them sent me a manger! Basically, the whole Christmas season the kids got to add hay to the manger when they were kind or did something for others . The idea was that by being like Jesus our hearts would be ready for him as well as he would have a soft bed on Christmas morning.












And to remind the boys of why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus arrived on Christmas morning along with the gifts from Santa.













And because I might have some control issues with my Christmas tree, the boys have their own tree to decorate however they want. Yoda is even welcome to be the tree topper.



















Christmas morning Jack was the first one up and in the living room. He came running back to our bed and said in disbelief, "WE were on the nice list!"























































And 2,558 Legos later Christmas was pretty much wrapped up.

We ended the day with a Just Dance party.












Whew! After a fast paced month Tim took the last week off and we had some much needed down time as a family.