New Year's Eve

 We had a pretty low key New Year's this year - just had a few friends over for pizza, dessert, and some bubbly to celebrate.  Here are the boys drinking their toasts at 9:27pm (the time we chose to celebrate as New Year's - yeah, we're all old, boring parents now!). 

 The girls with the kiddos (minus Lexi who was already in bed).  I like how half of them are in PJs - yep, good thing 9:27 is the new midnight! ;)  Crazy how our count has doubled in 3 years - there must be something in the water around here!

But don't you worry, 9:27 can be just as exciting as midnight - complete with noise-makers, toasts, and even a smooch or two!  Happy New Year everyone!

Snow Day

 Since it snowed all Christmas day, the 26th was our dedicated "Snow Day", and the last day of our trip.  Lexi got all decked out in her marshmallow snowsuit, but we didn't have any waterproof shoes for her, so Brad decided mittens would work great....so, Monkey-Baby was born!  Hilarious!  But at least her little tootsies were toasty. :)

 I absolutely love this tree in Grandma and Grandpa's front yard when it snows - it's breathtaking!  

(Can you tell what non-snow people we are, what with all our borrowed gear and all!?  Brad's coat, Monkey-Baby's mittens, Libby's boots...)

 Time for sledding!  

The hill on the side of the house was just the right size for the little ones...oh, and that big one, too, I guess!

 They even got to give it a go all by themselves.

 Grandpa and Kade joined in the fun.

 And this might be a record for this little sled - four people, including one full-sized adult!

 When Lily came out to join us, all four kids went a few times.  Cousins are so fun!

 The first of our two snowmen.

 Libby "helping" her daddy form the base of the next snowman.

And the other snowman-builders hard at work.  What an awesome day in the snow!  A perfect ending to an incredible trip.

Christmas Day Family Pictures

 Diann made the girls matching dresses to wear, and with that amazing tree, we HAD to get a family picture.  If only they'd look at the camera!

 Our perfectly snowy White Christmas day - I love it!

This is just right off Grandma & Grandpa's deck - it looked so beautiful!

Christmas Morning

 This was Lexi on Christmas Eve ready for her first Christmas.  What do you think, does she look excited?

 Santa came!  Lily and Kade beat us to the punch, so they came to check out what our girls got, too.

 The search through all the treasures begins...

 More present-opening fans - Grandma and Aunt Jayann.

 Of all the goodies, anything we can shove in our mouths is always the best! ;)

 When the whole gang arrived, it was mass present-opening time.  Here we are with our loot - yeah, you can say the Macbeths go a little crazy at Christmas!

 Some of the others with their treasures.

 And a few more...after most of the opening was done.  We changed the system this year:  instead of going one at a time in age order, we did kids one at a time, then everyone open their present from one family at a time.  It was a much more efficient method and was over in about an hour and half (instead of the 4 hrs it's taken in the past!). 

 Lexi was napping during the first round, so she got her own present-opening time.

 Lexi and Aunt Mindy

 Lily showing off her beautiful new purple princess dress that Kristina made for her - it was gorgeous!

Uncle Paul had all the kids laughing with his version of Kade's new 6 foot tunnel.  Lexi thought it was GREAT!

It was a great Christmas morning and the best part was, it snowed the entire time we were opening presents, and all day long!  So, yes, I'm convinced that was Heavenly Father's Christmas present to me - it was the perfect White Christmas! :)