Some bright spots in bleak January...

Laura feels how I do, I think--she's ready for summer! She puts on her swimming suit just about every day. Josh was trying to join in on the fun here by climbing up on the table.


Guess who came to our house? The tooth fairy! Thanks to a little help from Grandpa Nelson, Lia lost her first tooth and was so excited! Apparently there are three more loose teeth now.


I'm not quite sure how I feel about this picture...they all look darling, but they're glued to the TV, even Josh. I think he lasted about two seconds after I took the picture, but he was pretty tuned in for a couple minutes.


Lia after her first piano lesson. She's been begging us for months to take piano from our friend and neighbor Jennifer and we finally have a REAL piano for her to practice on, which I'll explain in the next picture.


This was an early Christmas present from Nate's aunt and uncle. We're actually just "piano sitting" while they're on their mission, but we couldn't be more excited! Nate's been brushing up on his piano skills and is a great helper for Lia. I love to him hear play and I have even sat down once or twice to pluck out a few notes.

Christmas

Our early Christmas Eve at my mom and dad's house. I was glad Josh stayed in his costume long enough to get a picture. He's not big on hats lately. He looks like a perfect little wise man in this picture.



The girls got to be angels. They get so excited for this that for weeks before the party they'll ask me what everyone is going to be and what they are going to be. I love them as angels.


My mom and me. She puts so much time and effort into Christmas every year and it always turns out great. And Christmas Eve wouldn't be the same without my dad reading from the scriptures while also describing the peaceful and amusing scene in front of him while his grandkids act out the nativity.


Lia and Laura waiting to see what Santa brought them (although there was really no question in Lia's mind--She KNEW she was getting an American Girl doll).

Josh is his new pajamas and slippers. He couldn't figure out how to get the slippers off once the girls put them on, so he kept them on all morning. It was so funny to see him walking around in them.

Although you can't see it here, Josh got a train set and I've never seen him so excited about a toy. He laughed and said "wee" every time he'd send a train down the track. Watching him was one of my favorite parts of Christmas this year.

Laura with her "Kit Kittridge the American Girl doll." She took her everywhere for the next few days. Somehow I missed getting a picture of just Lia with her doll Ruthie. Every year we realize after all the presents are opened that we watched more than we took pictures. I don't know which is better. All in all, we had a great Christmas. It was nice to have Nate home and have some time to just be home with the kids.