Christmas 2011

part one:  christmas in charlotte.  where the grass is still green.

 belly laughs.  contagious belly laughs at the sight of falling bricks.

 they all crowded around to discover all the details of the ballerina jewelry box.

part two:  colorado:  we definitely got our snow fix.      

 the day of a huge snowstorm we took a santa train up pikes peak.  santa rode with us, sang carols, read stories, and visited with each child.

part three:  my best friends, ben's best friends, our kid's best friends.  it was a short night but a sweet night.

part four: christmas eve.   two of the three look less than pleased but caroline was sick all trip and this is one of the few shots i see her sparkle.

nevermind.   she is a feisty one.

part five:  christmas

hallie and caroline were up all night puking.  this is how the baby spent her christmas morning.

sarah, lane and baby brennan stayed all week with us.  we got lots of playtime with the happiest baby ever.  ever.

ford trying to look real tough.   hallie looking a bit like cindy lou who.

even after getting dressed the baby looks a little out of it.   bless her heart.   to top it off there are sharp molars breaking through.  poor thing.

makena and kinsley.  kinsley and makena.   peas and carrots.

uncle lane (army ranger) leading the girls in some seriously good cheers.

one last failed attempt at a cousins shot.

i can't even describe the stress involved with flying with caroline the kids.  guess who were amazing?

the baby didn't sleep on the 3 hour flight but crashed on the 37 minute flight.   she slithered out of my arms and found comfort by my feet.

we already miss everyone in colorado.   it was less than a week but a full trip.   it was also fun coming back home and having it actually feel like home.   and, it's not too shabby taking a family bike ride yesterday on the last day of december in the perfect north carolina temps.