Cake decorating

I have started a tradition of doing a gingerbread house with Hailey the past couple of years. This year it was Jayda's turn to join us and I had decided to do rice krispie cakes instead. The girls came over the other afternoon and we got to work. Jayda had her cake and Hailey had her own. Hailey's had to have pink icing on it. Or course candy and icing was consumed in the process, but we had fun. I only got a couple of pictures before my camera battery died, (on both cameras), so I didn't get pictures of the finished products. And the girls were ready to go and play by then anyway.

And finally

Just a few more pictures of all the activity of the afternoon

To finish off the afternoon we decided it was time for a Grammy and Papa and grandkids picture. We must have taken about 30 pictures with 4 cameras going at the same time. It is hard to have everyone looking good all at the same time, but we thought this was a pretty good one and so we chose this one as our Christmas card for the year. To all who didn't get one in the mail, enjoy this as our card to you.


We are looking forward to another couple of gatherings in the next couple of days, and then it will be time to pack our bags to head south for our time of service with MDS in Dulzura, CA. It has been a challenging year for us but on reflection we realize that there was lots of good in with the difficult times, and God was right there with us through it all. We chose to praise Him in the midst of all the challenge, and though it didn't make all the stress go away, or make life easy, it did change our focus, and helped us to make it through one day at a time. God provided ......again.......still......and so we look forward to what He has in store for us in the New Year! He WILL be there with us, because he loves us and cares about the details of our lives. May you all experience His love and feel Him near in the New Year, wherever you find yourselves, and in whatever circumstance. Have a blessed Christmas!

More....

Opening gifts

beautiful girls

cousins

More Christmas pictures

Waiting for the gifting to begin......

Kerry checking out the sawzall he got from the kids

Wonder who is more excited about this gift, Shaun or Nolan?

Let the fun begin......

Hailey

I sure hope this is not a printer like it shows on the box......

It wasn't ! It was this beautiful princess dress that grammy made for me. I thought she had forgotten all about it, I asked for one soooo long ago.

Hailey loves to get her hands on a camera and take pictures. She comes up with some pretty good ones at times too. Maybe a future photographer??! Who knows.....

She wore the dress for the rest of the day. Here she is enjoying Jayda's book with her.

Jayda

Hey, these workbooks look really interesting. I can hardly wait till I can do my homework!

This IS a nice chair. ...a great place to sit and enjoy my cookie.

Hmmm.........This could be tough but I think I can get it right.

More fun things to do in this quiet book that Grammy made for me. Maybe I should let Hailey help, it sure looks like she would like to.

Norah

Check out this cool crayon carrier! Mommy and papa think it is pretty neat too.

Look at that! I am going to have lots of fun playing dressup after this!

Ripping off wrapping paper is always fun.

Playing with the quiet book that Grammy made.

Madelyn

Madda was just a little baby last Christmas, so in some ways this was almost like her first Christmas too. She was around and busy and enjoyed checking everything out.

Trying out the toothbrush from her stocking. She should really have opened it first!

OOh! That is a funny monkey! Thanks Auntie Kristy!

Trying out Auntie Vicki's new step stool. Actually, I think it is a pretty good chair. Just the right size for me.

Posing for big sister Hailey, who had a camera in her hands.

Nolan

The cameras were out and lots of pictures taken of the little ones mostly. This being Nolan's first Christmas, Shaun and Vicki took lots of photos, and here are a few of him enjoying the gifts he received. He was a happy little guy for the most part, but finally around four in the afternoon he just had to give in and have a nap. He just hates to miss anything.

Enjoying his first hockey stick.

Trying to figure out the book he got from Grammy and Papa.

Playing with his tractor and barn.

Wow! That was a good haul! I really like Christmas!

Christmas at the Eidse's

We celebrated Christmas with our kids on the 13th of December this year. It was a bit early but we just got into the Christmas spirit that much earlier this year. It was a good day, a busy day, a fun day and I think we all had a good time. We met at our house after church and spent the rest of the day together, eating, sleeping, visiting, playing and of course exchanging gifts. It was lots of fun to see the little ones enjoying their gifts. After a good meal, and sharing the highs and lows of our year over dessert and coffee, we finally got to the gifts. First on the list is always the stockings, and first of course, are the little ones. Erik helping Jayda and Madelyn with their stockings.

Nolan is not quite sure what this is all about, and what he should be doing.

Norah getting to have a treat from her stocking.

Hailey is a seasoned veteran already, and needed no help to find the treasures in her stocking.