We finally finished our Gingerbread Village. We started it Christmas Eve, then the kids ate a lot of candy off of it, and we finally finished it last night. I'm thinking . . . never again. I guess we are just not skilled in such things. Perhaps we just need BETTER FROSTING. Nothing would stick . . . everything oooooooozed and dropped. It was quite a disaster. The hot glue-gun helped, but it was still quite a mess.
The back side of our candy village nightmare.
This is our Christmas Eve authentic Middle-eastern meal . . . postponed until January 2nd.
Lamb, cous cous, olives, and American corn. 
This view is from our driveway. Our neighbors put on quite an impressive and spectacular display. I guess on holidays the cops look the other way. Gotta love America!
Our family attended an AWESOME family New Year's Eve party put on by the Elliot Family.
The party featured a LIVE BAND! These guys had only been together for two weeks. Incredible!
The kids had the best time dancing to the music.
What's a party without the Chicken Dance?
Virginia-Reel?
Aleya was running me around in circles--literally!
Joseph nearly won the limbo.
Nice tiara, Joseph! This photo is payback for not dancing with your mother!
Joseph finally got up and danced-- the Macarena!
Happy New Year! 
Another year, another birthday. I want to go on birthday strike. Old age go away, never come another day. I wish I were still in my 20s, back in college. I enjoy looking at my college-aged cousins' photos on facebook and remembering those good 'ole days.
I did get a fantastic surprise. A portable convection oven! WOO-HOO! I've been missing our double-ovens from our last home. Now I can bake 2 things at one time, again.
This year we only have a single door, instead of a double. I found a nice wreath at Home Depot that seems to fit the door nicely.
This is the first year we had a low enough roof to attempt to hang lights on. I saw some cool dripping icicle lights at the JAX boat parade and discovered they are sold at Kmart. They were a really cool effect, once we got them up. It was a time consuming and maddening project to get the lights up . . . and ultimately was resolved with the purchase of a LONGER LADDER. If I had just bought that first, things would have gone a lot smoother.
The fuses kept blowing every few nights. The darned "lost bulb" made it impossible to light the "Merry" in our Merry Christmas sign. Then there were the vandals that cut the light string on our roof, stole candy canes, and stole one of the giant light bulbs. Ugh. I GIVE UP! That's good enough for this year.
Is it tacky to mix LED lights and standard lights? Oh well.
Christian's family has always had the tradition that a sheet is hung to block the kids' view of the Christmas Tree and gifts on Christmas morning. The kids all line up, youngest to oldest, and then when all is set, Dad gives the okay to let the kids come in. This year we had to block two openings to the Christmas wonders.
The girls were SO excited! It's time to go in!
First the kids hunt for their stockings, which are all hidden. They can look at all their stocking gifts and open any presents near their stockings, which are from Santa.
Santa gave Aleya her very own American Girl-type doll!
Amara also received an American Girl doll--Julie.
Orrin's dream came true. Mom and Dad are worried he'll shoot his eye out . . . or someone else's.
Mom's been hiding this in the garage for four months . . . a fanatastic 2nd-hand find.
A scarf, Lindt chocolates, and carmels for Andrea. Thanks Santa!
An Easy-Bake Oven? Do they still make those?
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Capener!
BARBIE FASHION FAIRYTALE DRESS!
Headless Orrin.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Yates!
After opening presents, Dad always makes a great Breakfast feast. YUM!
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