No Place Like Home

This year was our first Christmas away from family (apart from our respective missions). Although it was much more low-key than our Christmases in Utah, we really enjoyed it. We feel so blessed to have so many great friends in Iowa and we loved spending the holidays with them. While there's no place like home for Christmas, Iowa comes pretty close. We spent Christmas Eve at the Taylor home along with the Frost family. The kids put on a nativity program. Maddie was the angel.

Cumorah played the part of Mary and her baby brother was Jesus. Isaac was Joesph and the Frost kids were shepherds.

Isaac kept his costume on for about 3 minutes-just long enough for Ryan to read from Luke 2.

I know I'm biased, but she made a darling little angel--wings, halo, and all.

Isaac spent a good chunk of Christmas morning playing with his new train and track. I spent a good chunk of the morning keeping Maddie from destroying said track.

She was pretty excited about her Dora doll and stroller.

We were also able to have Christmas brunch at the Somers' house and Christmas dinner at the Pluids'. It was a great day.

Here is a clip of Maddie opening her Dora doll.

Isaac opening his matchbox cars. The trailer wasn't as big of a hit as we hoped. He immediately re-gifted it to Maddie.