Santa Claus

This picture is so classicly bad that we love it! Jenna and Zoe were all smiles in the line to see Santa. But when we tried to set them in Santa's lap, neither wanted to go! Zoe was a bit scared, but did okay. She finally relaxed a bit and a hammed it up for this shot. Jenna on the other hand, well, she was just happy when it was all over!

River of Lights

We went to see the River of Lights at the Botanical Gardens in downtown Albuquerque with our friends the Hollands. The kids all had a ball, and the lights were absolutely beautiful. It was a cold evening, though, with temps at just above freezing!

Baking Christmas Cookies!

Zoe was a big help making cookies this year! She decorated in her own style and was thrilled to help with icing and sprinkles! Jenna also enjoyed watching and was happy to play with and eat some cookies of her own.

Zoe and Her Puzzles

Zoe has recently discovered puzzles and it has become a favorite past-time. Almost every day she asks for a puzzle to put together! Here she is with Frank and her Diego puzzle.

The Polar Express in Durango, CO

We drove to Durango, CO with some good friends to take the kids on the Polar Express. It was a great weekend! We rode the train to the 'North Pole', all the while

drinking hot chocolate, singing Christmas carols, and even meeting Santa Claus! Santa gave each of the girls a brass bell, which they just loved!The ride to Durango was about 3 hours, so we stayed the

night Saturday and spent the next morning walking down the main street eating Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory candies and drinking Starbuck's. It was a neat weekend, and we plan to go again next holiday season!

The Girls

Zoe wrote her name all by herself!!! She called us in from another room to show off her work, and we were very excited to see what she'd done! We've never taught her to write her name, though we have been working on letter sounds. She knows Zoe is spelled Z-O-E, but this was the first time she had ever written it. What a big girl!

Daddy and Jenna on Frank's computer.

Pilot Zoe

Frank took the girls on the aircraft he flies during family day at work. The girls just loved 'flying' the plane, and Zoe seemed right at home at the controls! This was taken with our cell phone since it was the only camera we had with us that day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at our friends the Kurtz's house. The girls really loved getting the whole day to play together and run around the house. I don't think there was a toy left untouched! Stephani made us an incredible holiday dinner and kept us eating all day with delicious appetizers, cupcakes decorated like turkeys, and of course pumpkin pie. We are truly blessed to have such great friends.

Little Performers

On the left: Jenna had a blast playing in the laundry basket. She especially liked when daddy took her for a ride around the living room in it :)

On the right: Zoe decided to be a musical cowgirl and had a ball parading around the house with Jenna while singing and playing her 'cymbals'.

Olathe, KS Trip

Zoe, Jenna, and I went to Olathe for a week while Frank was in San Antonio for work. We had a great week with Grammie and Pop-Pop and Uncle Dan and Aunt Angie! I was lucky to also get to spend some time with friends.

The top photo is of Jenna, me, Zoe, mom, and my brother Dan at Celebrity's (dad is taking the photo). The middle pictures are of: Jenna on the yellow brick road at Legends in KC; and Jenny, Jenna, and Kent. The bottom photos are of: Jen, Zoe and AJ; and dad and Zoe.