Lighting the candles twice - blowing them out twice (with the help of Marcella) - and singing Happy Birthday twice! Marcella looks sad in these pictures because she had been crying. When Jon was first lighting the candles she blew them out and we all made gasps or some type of noise and she was either embarrassed or thought she was in trouble but she jumped into Kanien's arms and was clinging to her hiding her head and started crying.

Happy Birthday to Kanien and Jason! We celebrated their birthday's together today! We all gathered into the tv room and decided we need a bigger room to fit everyone - Jon mentioned knocking out the wall again to make one great big room and we might just have to do that if we stay in this house much longer. The above pictures speak for themselves - Jason and Kanien opening presents and the rest of us watching! Marcella put on her hawaiian outfit to show her mom and dad - she didn't sleep in it if you read previous posts!

Jason playing with Claire. It's fun to see Jason interact with Marcella, Claire and William. His soft side and caring side shows through when I watch him with them. He was having fun with Claire this morning and then Chester(the dog) became jealous and wanted to jump up on the couch and get in on the action. Chester seems to be jealous of Claire and curious.

We had the privilege of watching Marcella and Claire overnight while Kanien and Jon celebrated Kanien's birthday. Dann brought gifts back from Hawaii for everyone and gave Marcella's to her that night. She was so appreciative of everything he gave to her. He gave her some seashells and she hugged the big one and said "Oh grandpa I love this so much thank you". She had to put on the dress he bought her and the skirt, coconuts and necklace then she did a little hula dance.
Claire is such a cutie and we had fun having her here with us too. She loves to watch her hands and will stare at her thumb and then try to get it in her mouth - sometimes she does and other times she will hit herself in the face. She seems to like to sit up. I would lay her down and she would try to sit up so we sat her up on the couch for awhile. She slept all night long which she does for Kanien and Jon but I wasn't sure she would for me since for some reason I can't seem to get her wrapped up as good as they do. She did sleep though all night without a sound from 8:30 p.m. to 8 a.m.

On Sunday December 14th the family was all together (minus Dann who was in Hawaii working) got together and decorated gingerbread houses. David and Rose , Nathan and Amy, Jason and Ashley, Marcella and I, and Kanien each made one. I helped Marcella with her Graham cracker house which was pretty easy - she was pleased with the sprinkles and didn't want to think about putting much else on but sprinkles. I talked her into a few other things. Jon chose baby duty and I helped out with that after I was done helping Marcella. I don't know that he actually chose it but that is what he was doing some of the night. We didn't have enough frosting and ran out of powdered sugar. Nathan tried making powder sugar in the blender with regular sugar - said he learned it on his mission and it was turning to powder but the blender started smelling like it was going to burn so he stopped. Jason and Ashley, David and Rose gave up when the frosting ran
out. Kanien ran next door to borrow and came back with pre-made frosting so she was able to finish.

We decorated our Christmas tree tonight - Dad and Nathan put on the lights which I didn't get pictures of. Nathan and Jason put the ornaments on the tree! Then they gave the tree a hug they liked it so much. The other pictures are from the sunset tonight. I thought the sunset was pretty and I tried taking pictures of it with my digital camera and didn't do it justice.