Our Tree

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree. Since many of you did not get to see our Tree this holiday season I(Doug) thought I would bring some highlights to you! Our tree has all the breakable ornaments above the kids hands so it seems a little crowed at that level. Michelle and I have a star on top that we picked out at "O' Tannenbaum" in the old market the first year we were married.

Michelle and I honeymooned at Disney world!

We went back to Disney in '08 but this time with two kids.

The back of a Disney ornament from the last trip. one of many hidden Mickey's on our tree.

My parents got me this for my trip to the Holiday Bowl in '98.

This is a Pluto Michelle got on our Honeymoon. Michelle has many Pluto's on our tree.

This is a turtle that our Japanese exchange students got me when I was in high school, because they said I moved like one.

Sam's First day of school!

We like the picture on the ornament thing.

Pluto!

Little People nativity the kids Love this one.

A chocolate playing a trumpet. Why wouldn't I have this one?

Some spice from San Antonio from the Alamo Bowl.

Mickey and Minnie

Husker Basketball with Santa Herbie

After the Symphony Samantha, Alden, Papa McKnight and I (Doug) went to Lincoln to watch our Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Jackson State tigers. The game was not the main attraction it was santa and Herbie. Samantha brought her letter to Santa. Alden would not even let me set him down out of fear of Santa as he was screaming one elf(a cheerleader) asked Alden if she could hold him and he practically jumped into her arms. After Sam placed her "order" with st. nick. we went to our seats and papa had supper waiting for us. Alden loved the band and every time they stopped playing he yelled "Band on Band turn on!" Sam did very good and only asked how much longer after the star spangled banner. The half time entertainment was a family of 14 that travels and spins basketballs. They ride unicycles and juggle stuff too. Sam and Alden loved it! The whole family got in the act. Then we hit the road and they were out once we got on I80

Christmas Symphony in Omaha

I (Doug) took Samantha to "Christmas with the Omaha Symphony" last weekend. She had lots of fun. It was both of our first times in the Holland Center. we met Aunt Debbie and walked to the center accross the Gene Leahy Mall. There were live rain deer to pet but Sam wanted nothing to do with touching an animal. We found our seat and setteled in. Sam was upset she could not see the trumpets, She thought they should be right in front and I had to agree. She loved the dancing santas and the sing along at the end. She belted out the tunes. She really loved the dancing. The first pic shows us with the Holland Center over my left shoulder. And a snap shot of Sam and her anunt Debbie.

Samantha's Sunday School Christmas Program

Samantha had her Sunday School Christmas Program on Sunday, December 13th. She did an awesome job! She had the letter 'C' (they did the whole alphabet). Her line was "C is for crowds, growing larger each day, with more people, more animals filling the way". We practiced a few times and she had the lines memorized. We had to practice a few more times to get her to slow down and enunciate (it must be the public speaker in me that wanted to practice so much). She also spoke very loudly, even into the microphone! We also practiced the songs they sang in between the letters and she did very good with those words too! She held her letter up in front of her the whole time and told us later that her arms were so tired from holding it, but she kept doing it! And her feet hurt, but she knew she needed to stand up anyways. :) Grandma & Grandpa McKnight, and NC Grandma and Aunt Susie and NC Papa, and Great Grandma & Great Grandmpa McKnight all came to see her program!

Blizzard of '09

We had a blizzard here in Plattsmouth last week! We got about 12 inches of snow and lots of wind! The kids and I were trapped inside from Monday - Thursday and then again Friday - Sunday! :( Doug even got to stay home on Tuesday because it was too bad to drive to Lincoln. I did all the shoveling of the driveway - taking different shifts to get it done! It was very cold and hard work....but I needed to get away from the kids! The kids begged to go outside during the blizzard, so we told them when the snow stopped, we could go outside. The problem was, that we had below zero temps and bad windchills after the snow stopped. We finally got to go outside and play in the snow on Saturday (the blizzard started on Monday night). The kids really didn't like the snow. They whined alot and were fairly annoying outside. Clair didn't mind it at first, but then decided it wasn't for her soon after that. Alden really wanted to help me shovel.

Sam's Christmas Program

Trying something new let me know what you think!

9 weeks old!

Last Friday, Clair was 9 weeks old already! She's growing up so fast! She is really starting to "coo" and smile a lot. She really seems to like it when it's quiet and she can't hear her sister and brother fighting. :) She's jut a little dolly. :)

Trimming the Tree

We put up our Christmas Tree on Saturday, November 28th this year. We had 2 very big helpers (not really). Samantha helped us "fluff" the tree and Alden played under the tree. One of us had to constantly hold Clair because from her crying we could tell that she obviously needed a part in the process, so I got out my baby carrier that just made it very awkward for her - but at least my hands were free. :) It took over 4 hours to put up and decorate the tree this year. (RIDICULOUS!) The kids enjoyed wearing the "santa hats" and were very excited when we opened the totes of ornaments. Samantha loved hanging the ornaments on the tree, we later found out that she put all of her ornaments on "lights" on the tree. She thought that you had to hang all the ornaments over a light bulb. Where do kids get these things?!? Alden took some ornaments to put on the tree, but they never actually got put on the tree. He would get distracted by something else and leave them lay on the floor or the side table. He did manage to break 4 of our ornaments by the time we were all done with the tree!! Boys are so much different than girls! :) He loved the plastic gold trumpet ornament that he found last year and tried to play it backwards just like last year. It was very cute! We are afraid to put any "wrapped" presents under the tree for fear that Alden will open them all!