A Snowy Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from a very snowy Iowa. The fireplace is on, the Christmas music is playing, the family board games are on the table and there is a blizzard outside. Christmas Eve church service was cancelled, the movie theatre is closed and if the weather man is right this is just the beginning. On top of the bad weather, our house is contaminated with pink eye. Charlie, Brandon and Emily are all fighting red itchy eyes. During a short break in the weather we bundled up and headed outside for a family picture. Even though the snow was lightly falling the wind was a little nasty - hence Caleb hiding his head in the picture.

Christmas Eve 2009
Photo #2 - Caleb hiding

Caleb covering his head from the cold wind

Getting ready to go outside!

Little Emily all bundled up -pink eye and all!

Teacher Appreciation Gift

This year Taylor and Brandon made gift bottles for their teachers for Christmas. The bottles were filled with stickers, classroom supplies and a couple gift certificates.

The label stated:

Bottled especially for Mrs. Guthmiller (her teacher)

The Taylor Couch Bottling Company

2009

We cut a flap into the bottle to get the stuff in and then covered it with the label. I forgot to take a picture of Brandon's, but it looked just the same except with his name, picture and teachers name.

Christmas Program 09

Sunday night we had our annual Church Christmas program. Taylor and Brandon sang several songs and they each memorized a line to speak into the microphone as part of the program.

Taylor's line was,
"It's Christmastime
I want a toy; I want a book
With lots of pictures to enjoy."

Brandon's line was,
"I have a Savior who hears me when I pray.
When I have a need He's never far away."
They both did a great job - even Emily and Caleb enjoyed it!

Taylor is on the top row 5 from the left and Brandon is below Taylor to the left.

Taylor in her church jacket - all ready to go!

All dressed up and ready to go!

It's Beginning to Look . . .

It's beginning to look a a lot like Christmas. The kids had an early out of school yesterday due to the accumulating and blowing snow and this is what we woke-up to today. Between the 10 inches snow, winds and bitter cold school was cancelled today so the kids and I will enjoy a day of movies, games and reading!

Making Mini Gingerbread Houses

This year we purchased a mini gingerbread house kit and the kids had a great time putting them together. Here some pictures of all the fun.

daddy's House

Brandon's House

Decorating
Taylor putting her house together

Taylor put two houses together!

Our four reason to be thankful this holiday season

Thankfulness

Brandon's kindergarten class learned all about Indians and the first thanksgiving. He came home and he showed off everything he made at school that day!