magical moments christmas 2011

magical moments. . what precious, chaotic, enthusiastic ages to celebrate christmas. every year santa makes a visit on christmas eve to deliver jammies at grammy's house. i love this photo of the kids literally jumping for joy and squealing every time santa would consult henry (elf on the shelf) if that mcmurray child had been good. when he would report they had all four would jump for joy and cheer!

keagan thrilled with his new nikes!

lucia bursting with excitement in reaction to santa!

christmas eve morning we have a tradition to play the ornament game to open one gift under the tree that matches that ornament.

emery was so proud of herself when she found the pink pig!

decorating gingerbread with grammy.

this could be one of my very favorite moments. aaron and i had put all the kids to bed and told the boys not to come downstairs we we would be wrapping gifts. . . . well i would be wrapping gifts and he would be watching love actually (our favorite holiday movie.) we all of a sudden hear giggling and i see this sign pop up over the couch. . it just struck me as so funny that the boys schemed it up and thought it was hilarious so they would not peak at any unwrapped gifts.

kinkade's christmas eve gift. .

it had not snowed all of december and started snowing christmas eve to sprinkle a white christmas for us in the northwest!

emery with christmas eve santa!

this is what i found left for santa a note, egg nog, whoppers, cookies and tons of carrots for the reindeer.

santa gifts!

some sister love after the sibling gift exchange.

my favorite christmas magical moment i didn't capture on camera but i will never forget standing with all four of my children and my dear parents at our christmas eve service while daddy lead us in silent night. the boys were singing their hearts out while emery and lucia each held their own candle it was the best christmas eve service i have ever been to. . . so real, so peaceful, so intimate and such a clear amazing message it was my favorite hour of christmas. i just love our church and feel so blessed!

just simple holiday fun around the house

it was just good to slow down and be home. . the kids stayed in their jammies all day and just played. it was a cozy week.

cutest cookies ever from the millers. . .

every.single.day i find babies all over the house like this. . it is so sweet from emery pearl.

fruit loop necklaces and bracelets.

uggs and bikinis ready for the hot tub in the freezing cold.

grammy every year makes a gingerbread house with the kids. it turned out so cute this year.

lots of snowflakes. .

and of course a birthday party with the stuffed animals. just good old being at home fun.

merry christmas!

cards by the greatest company on the planet mangoink.com

winter hike with mel

mel took the boys on an afternoon sunny winter hike! they had a blast! we are so blessed to have mel in our life.

christmas cheer!

we started a new tradition this year the mcmurray lights tour. .. . . jammies, favorite blanket, mcdonald's fries, zip's milkshakes, christmas music and of course make believe stories made up by daddy including every friend we have and our cat murphy as the hero! the kids loved it!

on our way to the boys christmas concert at school. it was a fun concert and kinkade had a solo as elvis. . .and rocked it!

the girls captivated by all the kids singing at the concert. emery takes this puppy and baby doll everywhere.

aaron brought me the most beautiful roses when i was having a rough day.

i found this on the couch the other day. the little people nativity scene and little people santa's workshop are a hit this christmas. lucia plays with them every day.

we captured this picture of emery jumping and screaming hello to santa at first glance of him. she does not have a shy bone in her body. keagan asked for madden 12, kinkade asked for the hex bug fighting maze, lucia asked for barbies, and emery asked for princesses. i felt like i had been sucker punched when the girls asked for barbies and princesses. . i have never owned one of either. . . i had plenty of dolls but never barbies or princesses. how do i have two girly girls?

love this time of year it is truly magical to get to experience through children's eyes.

first haircut

emery pearl got her first haircut today. she was a rockstar. . anytime she gets to join the ranks of big human she loves it! she sat like a statue so still and sweet.

she brought her baby doll to watch.

and of course a family cupcake date to celebrate!

i still can't believe it. . the girls!

i always knew in my heart i wanted to adopt. . god imprinted it on my heart at a very young age. i have always been fascinated by adoption and just had a deep calling. . . and i always knew i would be a mom to boys. since the moment i was pregnant with the boys i knew one would be a passionate red head. . . . . .. but i never in my wildest dreams thought i would have two girls so close in age and that all this would add up to being a mom to four kids! i still am mystified that we have two precious, sassy, silly, emotional, feisty, darling, sometimes mean, cuddly, sweet, naughty, and really funny little girls. here they are . . . emery 2 1/2 and lucia 4! they make our life chaotic and really fun!