merry christmas!

We have had a lovely first Christmas together! Just us three. :)

Clam chowder, king crab legs, and sushi for Christmas Eve dinner

Cuddle time :)

My two handsome boys

Jude's Plastibell came off on Christmas.Now that's a good Christmas present!

Ohhh, I'm in love with those lips, double chin, and arm rolls! We just can't get over his cuteness at bath time.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Dan, Rachael, and Jude

christmas in california...

we've had a wonderful & long vacation... yes, we are very spoiled! we've been out in roseville, CA for two weeks celebrating christmas with the mulder side! it has been so wonderful; we have loved every day. we have spent lots of time finishing up all our christmas gifts, shopping, eating delicious dinners, playing chicken foot, wii [even had our very own wii olympics], board games (wits&wager), watching movies and tv shows [we love cake boss, it's awesome>

christmas eve&christmas were wonderful! we had our own little fireworks show on christmas eve! we played lots of games and had some delicious food! {thank you mom mulder for teaching me so much! i learned a lot!} we watched the nativity story (see earlier post) and watched the traditional mickey movies and had a big sleepover in the living room {most of us}... christmas morning was full of lots of gift giving &receiving, which lasted for many hours... it is so much fun to give & receive and watch everyone get their gifts! we had some really special gifts this christmas! dan made me the sweetest white board/magnet board decorated all on his own and built on his own [!!} so he can write me love notes on it... {i know:)}, a pearl necklace from my sweetie, an indo board for my hubby, a beautiful homemade quilt from mom to sydney and from grandma to carly, a whole set of hand-sewn scrubs that mom made me {! one for every season, i will be the most stylish girl at the hospital} ... i will stop there. but we are so blessed! our greatest gift was to spend time with our family and make memories that we will never forget. i love having sisters! they are adorable and hilarious. {who's madonna?!}

we loved cookie decorated! delicious...

how cute are those boys?

had a wonderful night of unsuccessful caroling, those carols never seemed so long!

sweet little sydney!!!! she is perfect.

margi is beautiful.... love you shmoogie!

family photo shoot!

how cute are they?!

uhmm.. gorgeous! sorry boys, she's only fifteen.

i know... i had to.

lovelovelove!

we like to dance a little.

dad's manly dance moves...

she is a mickey PRINCESS!

pyro..

twins... moogie & sac wag

we won these christmas story lights in our christmas eve game... yay!!!

christmas morning... this is the board he made me!

toes on the nose in his new manly pjs.

what i did while the boys were fishing....

christmas day activities... they were very focused.

my lady bug friend! see you her hiding back behind the leaf?

cute :} christmas dinner! i decorated the table with the nativity!

love, love, love!! thank you mom&dad for a wonderful trip and for allll that you have done and do for us. we love you, we love you, we love you!!! 

now let real life begin...

disney lights divine

there is this neighborhood here in roseville and they have so SERIOUS lightage goin on... like, it's basically more than anything you've ever seen even in the movies. it's fabulous. here's a little taste....

yes, this picture was an accident but i love it :]

do you even realize what you are looking at right now?! these are humongous greater than life size car fresheners. they are as tall as the garage... how amazing?! definitely take the cake for me.

this house won i think. they were synched with the radio, pretty delicious.

cutest. who doesn't just adore UP!?

dan's as cute as that old man.

...christmas time is here

happiness and cheer

fun for all that children call

their favorite time of year...

yes, those are the peter pan kids in the window....

such loveliness...

and of course...

they were adorable too.

christmas joy..

we just watched "the nativity story" and oh how i love that movie. i absolutely love the focus on the relationships between mary and joseph and mary and elizabeth. mary is so beautiful in that movie, and joseph is just soo sweet. as i watch that movie i marvel [again] at the story of our Savior's birth. born to the most humble people in the most humble of circumstances.. the bravery and faith of his family and their trust in the Lord.. i am so humbled and realize [again] how truly blessed[!] and humbled i am by my blessings and the love and peace i have in my life. i feel in no way deserving of all my blessings and feel so indebted to the Lord {and to my parents} for everything i have. from my testimony of my Savior to the my knowledge of the plan of salvation to the eternal love and support i feel from my parents and the most special and ever-growing relationship i have with my husband. no matter what goes on in my life i can truly say i know, know, know that every detail of my life is in the Lord's hands and everything will work out how it is supposed to if i am faithful and true to what i believe and know is right.

thank goodness for this time of year to remember our Savior and turn our hearts to him and serving others. 

merry christmas!

lots of love from dan&rach!!