Favorite

Is there anything better than rocking a baby? I don't think so.

Christmas at home

These is something magical about Christmas at home. We are always in Nebraska for the actual day but coming home and celebrating with just our family is really special. Watching their eyes light up as they look to see what Santa brought, savoring them unwrapping the gifts we picked out. I like the calm, peacefulness of it all.

A camera for Noah.

Lego fire trucks for Micah.

My friend, Brennan, is so talented. She made the boys felt dinosaurs and Alice from Alice in Wonderland for Celia. I look forward to her handmade gifts every year.

Shawn thought of getting the boys these old school gym scooters since our basement is unfinished. It is open gym down there.

This track Santa brought is a big hit.

Celia likes it too, much to her brothers' chagrin.

Lucas Christmas 2011

My picture taking frequency really started to peter out at this point. My sister, Beth and her husband Jestin graciously host every year. This year turned out different than we expected as my brother and brother in law ended up taking my dad to the hospital for what later turned out to be an infection. He is going to be alright but it put a sad spin on our Christmas get together. That being said we ate, gifted and played.

Our little drummer boy.

Cousins

Playing Just Dance 3. Once our boys got past the bumps on a log state it was really cute to watch. I realized we need more frequent family dance parties.

Mom For Heisman

Their daily clothes choice. Micah is sporting a jersey that was Shawn's when he was a kid. His cousin Tisha made it for him because pre-internet it was a little tough to find a Notre Dame jersey in the middle of Husker Country. Noah is wearing Shawn's high school jersey, taken out of retirement from Grandma Jane's cedar chest over Christmas, "Go Big Purple!"

Grandpa Dennis teaching the boys how to enjoy a football game. Micah wearing Shawn's other high school jersey.

The boys are obsessed with football at the moment. They wear football pants and jerseys every day at some point, usually all day, and Micah frequently wears his football helmet to school, the store, and the other places we go. They only like tackle football with Dad and have turned the living room couch into the end zone. Grandpa Dennis got them excited about football on tv and now they frequently ask if football is on. When we let them watch a few minutes they always pick out their team and which player they are and for some reason they always watch for the players with hair sticking out of their helmets and yell, "There's Mom!"

Wagoner Christmas 2011

We celebrated Christmas with the Wagoners. The whole gang was there: 8 adults, 9 kids and 1 dog. It is fun, wild and busy to have all of the cousins sleeping, playing and eating under one roof. A great celebration for sure.

Grandpa Dennis reading Twas the Night Before Christmas

Every one of these shots made me laugh. This was the best of the bunch. I didn't realize until scrolling through the photos that Captain America was there!

Brooklynn and Julia wanted crutches. One of my favorite moments was seeing their faces when Shawn carried them in.

Our baby girl's first Christmas.

Uncle Darren had fun making a police helicopter with Noah. With 4 girls in the house they have no legos...I cannot imagine!

Aunt Deanna tried to broaden Micah's wardrobe with a Jayhawks jersey.

Molly got a cheerleader uniform too and this was the best attempt at getting them to pose together. Ha!

F I V E

This boy turned five on Christmas Eve. He is sweet, sensitive, smart, fun and handsome all rolled up into one amazing kid. Boy are we lucky to have him!

We celebrated in Wood River at Aunt Judy's house. It was a great party filled with so many people who love our little guy.

He chose a construction cake. This photo was taken moments before a full scale tantrum broke out over Micah not being able to have the backhoe.

The Captain America costume from Aunt Beth and Uncle Jestin was voted best present.

Yes, they wear jerseys every darn day!

Baptism

On Christmas Eve morning our baby girl was baptized. Uncle Darren and Aunt Beth are Celia's godparents. Grandma Jane picked out an outfit for Celia and she couldn't have looked more beautiful. The morning was made even more special because we were surrounded by so many family members.

Noah was happy to see Uncle Tyler.

A good cousin shot is proving impossible.

Aunt Judy giving Celia a snuggle.