Christmas Cookies

It's been a tradition for years that we bake sugar cookies and the kids frost them. So I spent the day baking and when the boys got home from school I asked them to work their magic. Here are some pics of the big event.
By the way, I took all of these pics with no flash and my camera on manual mode to see if I could do it. Not too bad.
ISO 1600, 1/80-100, f/2.8-4.0



I was standing over the table to get a birds eye view of everything and snapped a quick pic of Evan.

The dog just waiting for the kids to drop a cookie on the floor.

Favoite Christmas Carol

I have so many favorites, how do I pick just one? I can't so I'll just make a list of my favs.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
Silver Bells
I'll Be Home for Christmas
O Holy Night
Christmas Was Meant for Children (this one's by Sandy Patti, so here are the lyrics)
Christmas was meant for children,
children like you and me.
With mistletoe and holly,
and toys 'round the tree.
The stockings by the chimney,
and hearts so full of joy.
Oh Santas riding through the snow,
for every girl and boy.
So ring out the bells from the steeple,
for the worlds in it's mantle of white.
May the star in the east that led them,
Shine on your tree tonight.
Always remember the infant,
Away in a manger so sweet.
For Christmas was meant for them,
For children, like you and me.

A Gingerbread Masterpiece

The kids had a 1/2 day of school last week. We used the time off to decorate our gingerbread house. Logan ad Isaiah are the designers.

Ready for Santa!

One more week till Christmas.

A Holiday Tradition

Each year the boys pick out a new ornament to hang on the Christmas tree. We try to tie the ornament in with some interest they had over the past year. Here are this years picks.

Just Goofing Off with my Camera

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

First snow at our new house. Just a dusting, and it was gone before noon.

Outside Looking In

All the Trimmings

Here's our tree this year. We lovingly refer to it's decorative style as "Early Childhood Education". Each year the kids make ornaments and decorations at school and church and we hang them on the tree.









These pictures were taken for a camera challange to use your cameras Macro mode and take pictures of your ornaments. I didn't like how they turned out so I used my 50mm 1.8 lens in manual mode.

Trimming the tree

We played Christmas music and trimmed the tree. Logans friend helped us. The goofy pics are of the kids dancing to holiday classics.

Deck the Halls!

Our house all lit up for the holidays.









Dennis did a great job with the lights didn't he.

Getting Ready for the Holidays

Here's our Christmas card picture for 2007. Our realtor called and asked to use our family photo as her advertisement this year. This is also one of the photos we sent her. We'll be in the Evansville Sunday newspaper on December 30th.

Welcome to the Minniear Family Blog

Our lives are so busy these days with 3 boys in sports, school, work and well, just life in general. So maybe if I post pictures and updates here you'll all be able to keep up with us!