Christmas morning

The kids really enjoyed Christmas this year. Well, truthfully, the kids usually enjoy any day that is given over to presents, candy, toys, and food. So, that is no big surprise. But it does surprise me every year how much their enjoyment of the day lends to our own. Their enthusiasm sure makes it all a whole lot of fun!

The pictures are pretty self explanatory - just the kids discovering their presents from Santa and playing with them.

Scenes from the American West Heritage Center

Next catch-up segment: Fall Festival at the American West Heritage Center with the Jacombs!

Last October, John's sister Nicci, her husband Ean, and their three adorable kids came up for a visit. We took our now traditional trip all the way to Wellsville, Utah - to attend the Fall Festival at the American West Heritage Center. Here are some pictures:

Mary Alice

Mary Alice and the goat

Nicci, Ean, and John, with Steven and Mary Alice

Henry and Sam with their bottles

More of Mary Alice and the goat

John, Ean, Mary Alice, Thomas, Michael, and Nicci waiting for the train.

Thomas

Steven

Steven and Mary Alice

The bottle twins again. ;-)

Michael, Steven, Thomas, and Mary Alice investigating the barn.

Uncle Ean with Thomas, Steven, Michael, and Mary Alice in the barn.

Thomas found a feather.

Mary Alice

Michael

Thomas climbing the haystack

Steven climbing the haystack

Thomas walking the haystack.

Henry with his curls!

John and Mary Alice

Sam

Michael walking the balance beam.

Michael on the balance beam.

and pretending to have fallen... what a boy!

John, Thomas, and Michael.

Henry

Mr. Sam

Steven

Henry and Sam

Sam and Henry

John, Mary Alice, Henry, and Sam

Thomas atop the haystack

Cousins! Michael, Steven, and Thomas on the haystack.

More of the boys: Steven, Thomas, and Michael

Pirate cousins: Steven, Thomas, and Michael

Thomas and Michael on the pirate ship haystack

Mary Alice, Steven, Michael, and Thomas on the pirate haystack (towards the right)

Mary Alice

Sam

Michael

More Sam (can't get enough of this little guy!)

Thomas

Steven

Steven, Mary Alice, and Michael in the corn maze.

Mary Alice, Thomas, Michael, John, Sam, Henry, Liz, and Steven on the train.

Thomas on the horse (this took a lot of convincing, by the way).

Mary Alice on the pony (this did NOT take any convincing whatsoever.)

This little girl LOVES horses.

Thomas finally settling in and smiling for the camera.

Steven - expert horseman already!

Uncle Ean and Aunt Nicci with the poor little ones who did not get to ride on the horses.

Steven (in the back), Thomas, and Mary Alice on the horses.

And one last shot of the bottle twins. They had a pretty sweet ride, too.