Here's our official "posing in front of the tree" picture. They both look happy and there was minimal arguing about who was going to wear the Santa hat and who was going to wear the antlers.
This is Riley's first year in choir at church. The Little Praisers sang in service one Sunday. We practiced her song over and over and she had most of it by the performance. 
I love the look these two are giving each other. They look like they're thinking. "What on Earth are we doing up here in front of everyone?"
I could tell Riley was nervous but she sang. I was so proud. The highlight for her was getting a bag of M&Ms for leaning the lyrics. 
The kids decorated some cookies for Santa (and themselves). On one of our runs to Buehlers we ran into Santa, who was handing out candy and asking the kids what they wanted for Christmas. Before we left, he reminded them to leave him some cookies. The kids were shocked to see Santa at the grocery store but were eager to comply with the cookie request. 
Riley and Jeff were putting Santa's cookies on a plate when Riley thought of the reindeer. Jeff got out some carrots and Riley made up another plate for them. She was ready to set everything out when she counted the carrots and realized there were only six. She insisted on adding two more because there were "eight donkeys." She sometimes gets Santa's reindeer mixed up with the donkeys in Bethlehem.
Colin was more excited about eating his cookies than giving them to Santa. He was pretty excited to see him at the store though. Now every time it snows, he asks if Santa will be at Buehlers.
We had a great time with my family (which I apparently did not document with photos.) The Saturday before Christmas was spent at my Aunt and Uncles house with my extended family. Christmas morning the kids opening presents and played with all their loot. My parents, brother and his family came over for lunch then. We had our traditional Coccia House Christmas pizza. It's so fun to watch the cousins play together. Riley loves her cousin Maria so much.
My favorite thing about Christmas this year was watching the kids' understanding of Christmas grow. Colin liked to use our Little People nativity to tell the story of Jesus' birth, usually with some humorous additions. Riley asked a lot of questions about why Jesus was born. She's starting to make the connection between the baby in the manger and the risen Savior.
