Family photos...

Our dear friend Jen Derby donated her time and talent to capture our little family for posterity. Thank you! We had so much fun running around campus chasing our two little ones. And we LOVE these photos!!

We pray that each of you were given joyful memories and rest this season of Christ's celebration. We love you!

Cougar...

Ray had a day off from work and gathered us up for a trip to one of our favorite places- Cougar Hot Springs. The day was gorgeous, cold and crisp.

It was the first time we took the kiddos up there, and believe me, they stole the show. They loved the hot water, loved the attention, and certainly didn't want to go. It was wonderful for all of us...

Quiet times...

Around the house, never a boring moment...

Muffin Tins...

"Look Ma! We can feed ourselves!!"

Now that the little ones are independently wanting to feed themselves, I've been trying to make it fun. The muffin tins were pulled out last week and have seemed to make a hit! They love the different compartments and the sound the metal spoon makes when it contacts the metal tin. Fun!!

Around the Casa....

Long cold and wet days have pushed us inside a bit more than usual. But we still manage to have plenty of fun...

Boxes continue to be a favorite perch for our two little ones...

Fiesta!!!

Our themed meals have been so much fun, that we have been trying to do them with more frequency. There's something about getting good people together to enjoy good food that becomes almost addicting. Well, last Saturday I decided to keep it simple by doing a Latin night. Four other couples came, adding to the assortment of meals in potluck fashion. Such GOOD food!!! Ray's pulled pork certainly was a hit, along with chile rellenos, enchiladas, empanadas, fish tacos, fresh pico de gallo and guacamole.... Thank you friends!

"First" Christmas...

Though the kiddos are almost two, we didn't really take in any Christmas festivities in Japan, so everything here in the states feels new this year. For example, this is the first year as a family that we have had a tree! Though we would have loved to go the live tree route like Ray and I did our first year of marriage, a family that Ray works with through basketball gave us a tree from their lot. It is beautiful and makes our house smell wonderful!

Ray and I decorated the tree while the kiddos were sleeping. The next morning they awoke to lights and decorations, and as you can see through the photos, sheer delight! After a few ornament shattering incidences, and a bit too much "tree hugging", we eventually had to raise the ornaments to the top third of the tree where they now reside. We love our tree none-the-less!!

(Waking to see the tree for the first time...)

(Sol doing some excited fist pumping.... or something...)

Merry Christmas to all!!