Tis the Season!

First ornament on the tree - Jeff's Little Drummer Boy
Colleen and Kellen are ready to decorate

Colleen hanging up Cinderella

Kellen needing some help hanging his ornament

Our Christmas Tree

Kellen watching the tree

Kids waiting for presents

"Colleen, when do the presents come?"

Colleen dressed up in her Christmas outfit

Kellen and Colleen all dressed up

What is this?

Kellen all dressed up and ready for his picture

"Cheese!"

That is my big boy!

Colleen with her Santa hat

This is a family shot that didn't make the cut for our Christmas picture

Right after Thanksgiving was over, we were ready to put out the Christmas decorations and lights!

Jeff started by putting up the lights, while it was nice and warm outside, and even has them hooked up to music! It is so cool!

Then over this past weekend, we got out all the rest of the decorations, the Christmas tree and even took our Christmas picture!

My First 5k Race!

Getting my "trophy" from Santa
Pat walking in the race with his friends

On Saturday I ran in my first 5K race - Tom's 7th Annual 5K Reindeer Race.

Pat does the race every year - not always running - but he does participate. When he told me about it, I thought it would be a fun thing to try.

The day of the race was SOOO cold! I was freezing and have never ran in such cold weather before, so I was a little nervous.

I ended up getting 2nd Place in the Female 20-35 Age Group! Who would have guessed that! I also had a great time doing it and it is for a very good cause, so I think I will go back next year!

The kids LOVED cheering me on and eating the donuts afterwards.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kellen doesn't look happy
Now, he is happy when he hears we are going to Uncle Bill and Aunt Sue's

"Let's go!"

Colleen all dressed up and ready

Colleen in her new dress

Haley and Me

Emily enjoying her Thanksgiving dinner

Haley and Josie playing

Ben enjoying a roll

Bill and Corey watching the game

Kiely and Corey

An attempt at a Murray children and grandchildren picture

Chaos!

Kids playing in the basement

We had a great time on Thanksgiving!

Big Thanks to Bill and Sue for hosting this year! Everything turned out great! We were all sad that Mom was too sick to make it.

Here are some random shots from the day.

Kids visiting Santa

Kids with Santa
Santa asking Kellen what he wants

Kellen wasn't talking

Kids watching the trains

Kellen fast asleep

Colleen exhausted after a long morning

After church on Sunday, we decided to take the kids over to the Bass Pro Shop to have their pictures taken with Santa. The kids enjoyed sitting on Santa's lap and getting lollipops and trying the free samples of fudge.

But, after walking around the entire mall, the kids were exhausted. Colleen and Kellen both fell asleep in the car on the ride home!

Kids Making Cookies

Colleen rolling out her dough
Jeff helping her out

Colleen making it all even

Kellen decorating his cookie

Colleen decorating her cookie

"It works!"

"Tastes yummy!"

Colleen really concentrating

Finished products

We had a great weekend. We all love that Jeff no longer has college football games to work and he can spend his Saturdays doing fun stuff with us!

This Saturday, after Colleen got back from spending the night at her Grammy's house and a birthday party, we decided to make cookies with the kids. They had a BLAST! I think they both enjoyed decorating the most.

Big Birthday Bash!

Colleen and Emily playing
Ben and Andrew

Emily upset about something

Kellen playing with his truck

Haley

Josie

Don't know what Josie is trying to do here

Katie excited for Emily's bracelet from Aunt Suzanne

Emily excited by our gift to her - Taffy and inflatable horse she can ride!

Party Central

Kellen opening his presents

Kellen loves his Redskin hat from Aunt Suzanne

Kellen also loved all the books he got

He loves his Trick or Treat shirt from Grandmommy

I loved his purple pin striped shirt from Grandmommy

Kellen's aquadoodle mat from Mommy and Daddy

Josie with her card

The twins with their shirts from Aunt Suzanne that say "It's my sister's fault"

Josie would rather eat a plate than her cupcake

This doesn't look right - does it?

Emily ready to blow out her candle

Kellen ready to blow out his candle

We told Ben to sit down to get a cupcake, so he grabbed the only chair left.

Sunday afternoon, we had a HUGE birthday celebration for all of the November kids birthdays. Kellen's is November 8th, Emily's is November 11th and the twins - Haley and Josie are November 14th.

Everyone came over to our house for pizza and cake. The kids had a blast playing with each other, running around and opening presents.