A Very Merry Christmas

Let me begin this post by bringing up last Christmas' post. Last year, I had planned on putting up a series of posts so as not to overwhelm the reader. Well, I only put up 1 post in a series of 3. I was disappointed with the fact that I never got it done. So this year I decided to overwhelm you with a crazy amount of pictures. I know that this is the only way I'll get it done (because if you know me, not only am a procrastinator but I am also constantly filled with good intentions that never happen). So brace yourself, this was our 2008 Christmas.

My family came to our home for Christmas. It was so wonderful to be with them, just us girls...and Daddy and Ian (those poor/lucky guys).

Reagan and Jenna (or shall we say I) decorated Christmas stockings for everyone.


We started Christmas morning off with the stockings. --I am still trying to get used to these things because in our Panamanian home, stockings were such a minor thing with only one small gift inside.--

Then we headed to the tree.

I know that this picture is fuzzy but Reagan's face was to perfect not to share.


Jenna loved her violin. She always wants to play her big sister's but is not allowed to touch it, so now she has her own.


Every gift was so exciting to the girls. Jenna wanted to play with every gift the moment she opened it. Needless to say, it took her quite a long time to open her gifts.


Anita got Reagan "Hungry Hippos". We always wanted one as kids (my parents never knew). So we went crazy playing a few rounds.

Jenna was exhausted after opening gifts, and it wasn't even 8 a.m. yet.

Later that day, we grabbed a neighbor for a family picture.

The "Traditional" Kemple family picture.

In the evening, Reagan finally lost her first tooth. She was so excited. She has been waiting for this day for months!

And then the next evening, the 26th, Reagan lost her second tooth.

Jenna wasn't feeling very well due to a cold. Luckily, she had her Auntie Anita to read her stories.

And she only wanted her Papa to hold her and make her feel better.

I loved hanging out with my sisters, since I hardly get to see them.
Ya'll seriously need to move back to the motherland.
(Texas was once it's own country, therefore, it can be referred to as "the motherland".)

We celebrated my parent's 38th Anniversary while they were with us.

We loved having everyone with us but knew that our time was almost up. The excitement of Christmas was perfect. And we can't wait until we are together again.

I do have to say that even though Ian Claus spoiled me to an amazing degree this year (which I absolutely loved), my favorite thing was and is feeling his love for me and the girls (which we feel everyday), and having time with him (and that is definitely not something that we get everyday).


Everyone, except Heidi, headed back home after a wonderful couple of days. Heidi stayed with us for one more day before flying out (it really helped make the whole family leaving thing a lot easier for the girls...and me too).

We had a very Merry Christmas! I hope that you all had a wonderful one too.

Parents' Day at Ballet

Yesterday, Jenna's ballet class had Parents' Day. It was so fun seeing her in action. It was funny how the girls would pay attention occasionally and then go off into their own thing (they were pretty distracted with parents there). I loved it and thought that it was the cutest thing ever!

A bit of Thanksgiving in the month of December

Yes! I realize that this is a bit behind and all but I am putting the darn pictures up.

We spent Thanksgiving in Corpus with my parents and Ian's parents and brother came down too. It was great spending time with all of our family there. I didn't take many pictures and have actually taken none since this day but I am going to try and make up for it soon.

Jenna with Papa (my daddy).

Reagan with Grandma Lori (Ian's stepmom).

Us with the Roberts Family. Boy I sure am short next to all of them. Oh well.

Like I said before, it was really nice being able to spend time with everyone while we were in Corpus. It had been over a year since Ian had been. The girls kept on asking me if Daddy was really coming with us. I think that it was a miracle that he was able to come. It was wonderful being there as a family and having that time to relax with him. Now Christmas...we still have our fingers crossed that he will be work free for more than a day.