Nutcracker night and the girls were all dressed and ready to go for our special treat...

 a second annual evening on the town with ballet friends and their sweet mamas!

 Late nights coupled with very few naps....

 tripled with lots of excitement and playing....all of these combined lead to kiddos falling asleep wherever their heads land.

 China adoption friends cookie decorating 2013....

 so sweet to see the children dive into their little creations....

 some worked so hard to perfectly spread on the icing.....

 and before we knew it, the goodies were all in their tummies and the littles were lined up for their evening photo!

 Every Christmas season, we welcome Matthew, our elf.  He is quite the silly little thing.  This year, MK decided he was "creepy" and asked if she could write him a letter to tell him not to land in her room.  Her letter was written and I thought that was that.  Then, I found this.  MK had gone in after a few days and written, "I love you Matthew" at the top of the note....I guess even creepy elves need to feel love!

 Zoo lights with Emma and Jay....

 and this would have been the perfect photo....alas, some little person has learned how to cross her eyes and she thinks it is hilarious, no doubt.  

 And our biggest has decided he is too cool to ride the carousel so he opted to ride while standing up.

 Emma and Jay....how fast they are growing up!  

 And today, on this December 22, my girls came home from church, went upstairs and....

 returned with short sleeve dresses on and ran outside to play!  It was 75ish degrees today.....craZY!