Christmas in the new house!

We had a great Christmas in our new house, with a snow storm just two days before to make it feel extra cozy. I was really hoping I wouldn't go in to labor Sunday night after we realized we wouldn't be able to get out of our driveway with out help. Thankfully the baby stayed in, and so did we!

Isabelle got her dream Christmas gift, a violin. She has been wanting one for over a year now, and has decided to join the Celtic Woman when she grows up, or maybe next year if she is good enough and Mom and Dad let her. She has graciously offered a job to Espen as her percussionist.

Espen also got a big gift, a Leapster L-Max. He has been using his sister's for 8 months and she really wants it back. He also recieved many Disney Cars related items which are all his "favorite" and I have no pictures of him with them because he immediately transferred all to our room, where he's amassing a large pile of toys he thinks he's taking to the hospital when we eventually have this baby.

Mom had her dream Christmas gift, a lucious prime rib prepared by Scott that could easily be at home in a four star restaurant. I think I inhaled half of it before letting anyone else near it.

Dad loved playing with Espen's toys and teaching him how to race his cars down a track. I'm not sure which is Dad's favorite, the Lincoln logs, the race track, or the Home Depot construction helmet with the head light. Dad wasted no time in improving the shoddy soldering job for the light, which should now withstand great impact with nary a wire out of place.

He also loved teaching Isabelle how to hold her violin bow properly. Trained as an upright bass player he could barely contain his excitement as he handed her the bow. We've both been close to tears as we watch her beam and glow while she has been making her first notes over the last 24 hours.

Well that's it from the Stene house. The next post will have baby news on it. Have a great New Years!