Christmas!

Every year for Christmas we travel back to our hometown, St. Charles, MO, to be with family. This was a Christmas filled with a lot of firsts. It was Oksana's first Christmas with us, her first time going on a road trip, first time meeting most of our family, first time playing in the snow, etc. She had a blast. Unfortunately, illness swept through our family in the form of the flu so it was a low key Christmas and many of our plans had to be cancelled. We still managed to enjoy time with our family which was our main goal anyway!

Back at the orphanage on the first day we met Oksana, the one person in our family photo book that got the most response was our neice Auriana. Ever since then she has looked forward to meeting "baby Auriana" and she finally got her chance! She's making sure to really check her out!


Everyone was SO excited to see snow on Christmas Eve! We don't get much in Arkansas so this is what the boys wanted more than anything for Christmas. Oksana thought it was the best and couldn't wait to get out in it! They made a huge snowman and after we all went inside we realized that the flu had hit Clayton.


Here is Oksana and Evan surrounded by their presents on Christmas morning.



Clayton managed to make it downstairs to open presents. Poor guy looks like he's been hit by a truck!


Evan was very excited to get an archery set and immediately went outside to try it out. His target was a huge snowball!


It is a tradition at my in-laws house to have a Nerf war every year. We take it very seriously! Even Clayton managed to appear to shoot a few people from above!


Auriana in her Christmas best!


Oksana and her Aunt Valerie. Valerie is Larry's sister, Auriana's mom, and the person whose name we gave to Oksana as her middle name. They met for the first time this week!


My favorite picture of the week! At this point Clayton was recovering and Evan had been hit with the flu so there were no brothers around to take a picture with her.


She decided posing with Mama would be a fine substitute for her brothers!


Hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Christmas!