Christmas Morning!

There is no other morning like it! This year the kids stayed in bed until 8:30 and then got up and sorted the presents. Pete made coffee while Alex gave me a foot rub to help me get up because he knew "you must be really really tired". It was a great morning, as always. Lots of squeals of joy and surprise!
We have a terriffic afternoon with our friend Lori and her family for dinner here. The kids loved playing with their new toys and sharing their games. It was great fun AND food!

Christmas Eve

Our annual Kakela/Wheeler/Ritchey Christmas Eve celebration and dinner pictures can't capture the fun and excitement that we have with all of these kids each year! I think each year gets more fun as they get older, and more excited or there are more of them, or something! It is so fun to watch them grow and share their excitement and joy of the holiday. I feel so blessed to have all of you! I agree with you Chelsea, it's the BEST!

Pre Christmas Eve!

We all had a wonderful evening with Aunt Kate and Uncle Rick, Chris and Beth on Wednesday December 23rd! There was just enough pre-Christmas excitement to have the entire house nice and warm and noisey! We loved having the evening with all of them! The kids loved their presents and are still having fun playing Wii games. Pete shows off our wine opener EVERY chance he gets to everyone who comes in the house! It was great fun and an evening I will always cherish!

Christmas Cookies

These are all "better late than never" posts.... we did bake some mighty awesome Christmas cookies. These are the decorated best of the best! The decorators had a lot of fun!

New Driver!!!

Pasha received his driver's license yesterday morning. He graciously let me take his picture in front of the secretary of state's office after it was over. It was fun going with him. We got there too early, to went out to breakfast and then walked back over ---- he drove us home and then went off to Meijer to take the cans and bottles back as a SOLO driver! Congratulations Pasha!!!