Christmas, by Leah

***The following is Leah's own blog post about her Christmas.

I love my dsi.  I have lots of games.  Im on world 2 on  new super  mario bros.

On my dsi  i can make my voice high or low. I can draw pictures toooo.  I also got webkinz  you can go online with them.Other games  on dsi i have are littlest pet shop. 

Christmastime with the Koontz's.....FINALLY!!

You should know that I started writing this on January 8th, and it is getting posted on January 21st...Holy Moly...major blogging slacker...sorry!!

Is Koontz's right, or should it just be Koontz'??  I always wonder that.  Anyway, here is a Christmas post...better late than never, right??

We spent Christmas Eve with the McAllister clan in Huntington Beach.  Instead of the normal gift exchange, and dinner we decided to do a little wine tasting and play a few games.  It took the pressure off to find the perfect gift for everyone, and helped the cash flow situation for many of us also.  It was a great new tradition, that I think we should carry on into the future.  We were each to bring a bottle of wine that was less than $15.  We tasted and cast our vote for the best red wine and white wine, and the winners got a prize.  Then we did a little carol singing...and ate and ate and ate.  It was a super fun time with family, and friends.  Here are some pictures of the evening...the wine, the spread of appetizers and the gang!!



Christmas Day is always the same...we get Leah, and open presents to and from the 3 of us, and Santa.  Then we chill...we stay in PJ's play with our toys and hang out.  It is the best!  We don't go anywhere and we don't have to rush around from place to place!  This year, Leah really wanted a DS, and not just a DS, but a DS-I.  The I is very important, because that one has a camera, and can do other things that the regular DS can't do...can you tell I am not too up on fancy Game Boy type gadgets.  Anyway, she got the DSi, some games and the best part of all, a Nerf cover for the DS that adds about a 1/2 inch of padding.  She has already mastered some of her games and is ready to get a few more.  Michael got a bunch of new parts for his mountain bike and I got a Kindle and new shades.  It was a nice simple, Christmas at home. 

The day after Christmas, we headed to Mountain Center...above Palm Desert to our cousin Amanda's house for all-McAllister family Christmas.  We were all there minus Trevor :(.  It was an awesome time of good food, and good times with a White Elephant Gift Exchange and S'more around the fire pit. 

Leah enjoying her S'more!!

The reason we are all family...Uncle Mike, Aunt Diana, Uncle Jim and Dad (L-R)

The Dan McAllister Family

Me, Dad and Mom

The Cousin, minus Linds and Trevor :(



The Holidays were a great time...and we had a wonderful time relaxing and spending time with our family...we are so blessed!!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

The Holidays are here!!  YAY!!  I am so ready for this season, and ready to celebrate.  The first thing we did was decorate our house and now it is all decked out.  I often have visions of my house looking like a catalog and every inch covered, but I love what we have.  It is great to take out the boxes and relive Christmas' past.  Next up, is hoilday baking with my mom, sis, and grandma next weekend, followed by Christmas lunch with my Biola Babes and Em, and then an annual Cookie Exchange.  This year we're looking forward to some time off and relaxation.  We've been workin' and workin' and for me to take a week off between Christmas and New Year's is going to be sooo nice and necessary.  Here are some pics of our house, enjoy, and after all is said and done, I'll be sure to update!!

Christmas Highlights!

This Christmas seems like it was one of the best and here are some of the reasons, in no particular order:

--Our annual baking day with Mom, Emily, Grandma, Uncle Paul, and Leah.

--Making a gingerbread house with Leah, a new tradition.

--Taking Leah to see Christmas lights, it really gets us in the Holiday Spirit

--Having Leah spend Christmas Eve with us this year (we usually only have her on Christmas morn)

--Seeing the love my family has for Leah, and knowing how lucky she is to have them, and we are to have her.

--Staying in my PJ's and watching my hubby and his brother play with his "new toys" for Christmas.

--Having a Rock Band (a video game) reunion with Michael and his brother.

--A mini-Haugen family reunion, at mom's and dad's.

--Michael taking 2 weeks off work, and getting to spend some quality time with him.

--Moses (the dog) and his new shoes.

Here are some pictures of the highlights: (most are also on Facebook!!)

Leah with Grandma Carol:

and with Grandpa Dan:

Mom and Grandma, ohhing and ahhing over their annual calendar gift:

Sisters!!:

Grandma loving her new slippers:

Leah "performing" for the Family on Christmas Eve:

Mom, with her family: Uncle Paul and Grandma:

Moses and his new shoes:

Leah's gingerbread house:

Merry Christmas!!

Michael and I finished up the Christmas shopping yesterday and I have vowed that next year I will do my shopping online! But while spending the day together, we were able to reflect a little bit on the past year and we are so thankful that even though it doesn't seem like it in the day to day, God has been really working in our lives! I still do not have a full time job that I can call mine, but I have hope for the new year, and will continue to sub as I get called. My schedule has allowed me to be there for Leah in times of need and in the fun times. One of the latest fun times was a Holiday Concert and Class Party at school.

Here she is getting ready to decorate some cookies with her class. She had a blast introducing me to her friends. The look of joy she had when I walked into the class just warmed my heart. She is just the sweetest kid I know! The next picture, she is just belting out the Christmas Carols!! It was way too cute!!




Here she is doing a "book exchange" with her classmates. They each got a book and while listening to a story they had to pass the book clockwise when the heard the word "bear" and "snow". I love her very genuine smile!! She is becoming such a great reader, so it was awesome to get a new book!!

Here is our Christmas tree. It is such a highlight for me to get the house decked out. I also love the feeling of knowing that all the shopping is done and all the gifts are wrapped. Now, I just get to relax!!

Michael has about 2 weeks off too, so we have the days ahead to relax and enjoy the season and each other and with Leah. She has been very, very interested in wanting to hang out with us and do what we're doing, and while sometimes it gets a little old we've committed to making the most of our time with the munchkin. We know that all too soon she'll be totally uninterested in doing anything with her family.

We pray that you and your family have a joyous Christmas season and take time to fully enjoy the season. We also pray that you have a healthy and prosperous New Year. Can you believe that it is 2010?? WOW!! We love each and every one of you!