Annual Santa visit to Bass Pro Shop

We had to wait for nearly 2 HOURS to see Santa... which is totally our fault for waiting until 2 days before Christmas to see him! So we passed some time at the shooting range as usual.

Dad takes a turn.

We moved on to the craft table.. and still had only about one and a half hours left... felt like it anyway.

Reading Santa her letter.. so precious.  She wrote on her letter that she wished him a Merry Christmas and he told her she is the first one to ever put that on their letter... 

Sharing her letter with Santa too... actually Elise wrote that she wished Santa a Merry Christmas and Lauren thought it was a great idea.. but she got to see Santa first.  Still adorable.

Christmas in Minnesota ~ 2013

We spent the weekend in Minnesota at Grandma and Grandpa Divine's house. We ate fabulous food, opened gifts, hung out with family and played in the snow.. a full weekend of fun!

Ummm.. had to put this one in.. Charlie looks like some sort of crazed 3 year old.. so funny!

Gloria Dei Childrens Choir 2013

Lauren getting ready for the Christmas program at church ~ 7 years old.

Elise ~ 9 years old

My big girls!!!

Making picture frames.

Painting with Brady and Emma Christiansen

O Come Let Us Adore Him!!

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

We made Christmas wreaths for the first time and they are Elise friendly!!

Snuggling in Elise's bed!!

Reading to Dudley by the fire.

Advent Caroling~2013

Getting ready to sing at Advent service
Lauren 7 years

Elise 9 years

Cheer at the JHS girls basketball game

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

I am just now getting a photo of the tree.. photos never do the trees justice.. it's so pretty. I miss my white lights but the kids and Dad LOVE the colored lights so for now... I will give in to colored lights.

Started making goodies on Saturday.. Turtles (pretzel, Rolo and pecan)

Candied nuts.. 

Chocolate peppermint cookies.. they have a name.. just can't recall what it is right now.

Stage one of sugar cookies.. next to frost and decorate.  Ya know.. as a kid I looked forward to rolling out cookie dough and picking out my favorite cookie cutter with my mom.... to be completely honest.. I don't know how she did it.  I have ZERO patience for rolling out cookie dough.. so.. I make plain old circles... they are just as yummy!!

The Dudster

Elise and Dudley hanging out.. it's a rough life Dudley.