Christmas 2008

So its about time I updated the blog. Christmas seemed to go to much to quickly this year and I think I wasn't ready to let it go. We just took our tree down yesterday - that's right more than 2 full weeks after Christmas. I couldn't put it off any longer, the branches we starting to snap because it was so dead. I absolutely love Christmas - everything about it. I think this year I enjoyed it even more. Less time was spent on the shopping and fretting over the worldly material gifts I would give, and more time was spent thinking about and celebrating the true meaning with the ones I love most, my family. I am so thankful that at least once a year, the world comes together to make this world a brighter and happier place. I love that we use lights to celebrate this season, to make everything shine with more light. It really is wonderful as we celebrate the Light of the World's birth that we all come together to make more light. We love Christmas music, starting early November, you will hear Christmas music playing around our house. Emma and Parker can still be caught singing their hearts out to the Christmas songs. That another things I love, I love that once a year its okay for radio stations to play music that helps us all reflect on our Saviour. This really is the greatest time of the year. Here's counting down to next year - only 346 more days :)!

This year we celebrated Christmas 2 week early because Shon's mom was in the hospital over Christmas getting her bone marrow transplant (as of Saturday she was doing really well). So we all celebrated early this year. Here's Parker giving Grandma a kiss to say thank you for his present.

Grandma and Grandpa with all the grandkids

I love this picture of Evan. He found our stockings and apparently thought they would be great as boots. He even adorned himself with a cowboy hat (kind of).

Parker had an adorable little preschool Christmas program. Here he's putting on his long nose for his part in Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer ("like Pinocchio").

Parker and Evan with Grammie and Grandpa at his program.

Here's our beautiful little Emma after her first dance recital. She did wonderful. If I can figure out how to post videos of the dance and preschool programs I'll so that later.

On Christmas Eve Shon took the kids sledding. Appartenly it wore Evan out because he fell asleep on the sled on the little ride home.

The whole Mickelsen clan, minus Lafe who was taking the picture, in our jammies for Christmas Eve dinner (one of my favorite traditions).


Opening presents was a joint effort this year - so cute.

Our happy little Christmas bunch.

This year's Christmas church attire, adorable if I do say so myself.

This year we did the Nativity with our own little family for the first time by ourselves. It was a lot of fun. Here's Evan as the sheep.

Parker as the shepherd/wise man.

Emma as out angel.

Here's Emma giving Evan a kiss in the snow and the following few pictures are of more snow fun we had on Christmas break. We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!