A White Christmas!

This is what we woke up to see!

It was a White Christmas!

This was the very first white Christmas that we have ever had. My neighbor said that the last time it snowed here on Christmas Day (like this, a snow that actually covered the ground) was in 1962! That's before I was born, by the way.

Here are the children waiting for us to let them come downstairs. It is 6:00 AM. We always ask them to NOT try to come down before 6:00.

They see the SNOW!

Looking at the snow

Still looking at the snow

Look at how excited they all are--SNOW!

Since it was still dark, the children waited to go outside to play in the snow. They went on in the den to see the one gift that Santa brought each of them. While they played I prepared breakfast. The homemade cinnamon rolls turned out delicious, and we also enjoyed a sausage and egg breakfast casserole and mocha punch.

We spent a leisurely day of opening gifts from each other, one at a time. I tried to stay on top of cleaning the wrapping paper. The children would open a gift, play for a little while, go outside to play in the snow, open another gift, and so on, all throughout the day. I reheated Hot Chicken Dip for lunch (and we still drank mocha punch), and we spent the afternoon playing games and playing with our new gifts.

Later, I grilled steaks for supper. Jimmy's dad came down for a quick visit, and stayed for supper too.

Leah and Olivia opening presents and crocheting

Sam checking out the snow

pretty, pretty snow

Clay pointing out rabbit tracks....the larger tracks are his BARE FEET tracks. My children do own shoes!

Julie and Leah in the snow--I guess Leah's feet got cold

Clay worked very hard during the month of December making hand made gifts for his older sisters. He and Jimmy made "medal holders" for the girls to hang their race medals on. Clay did most of the work himself, and they turned out beautifully. Unknown to him, Jimmy also made an additional medal holder and he gave it to Clay for Christmas. Surprise!

Clay with his sisters and the medal holders he made for them

Clay also made a special gift for me--an apron holder! I mentioned to Jimmy that I would like some hooks to hang my aprons on, and he helped Clay make me a pretty apron holder. Its' perfect!

Clay, Me, and the apron holder

Clay with Jimmy and the medal holder that Jimmy made for Clay

A cute running t shirt that Olivia got

more present opening fun

Sam, still looking at the snow

Sam and his new puzzle

The snow took a few days to melt, because we had such cold temperatures. These pictures were take the day after Christmas.

our barn

our snowman

Leah (without shoes or coat) and the snowman