Christmas 2009

Our Christmas was good this year, very quiet but good. The girls got surprised by a few things which was fun and Gavin was a lot of fun to just watch him run around crazy and playing with everything. Santa did good this year! Stockings. Grace's list was very different this year than I would have expected, not too "girly" anyways.

Haylee is the opposite, she wants EVERYTHING girly and dressy and flashy. ;)

When do you think they'll catch on that the hand writing looks just like someone else's they know??????

Our feast does not look too pretty but sure tasted yummy!

This boy LOVED his train!!!!

His first set of tools.

Thanks Daddy. :)

The next colorer of the family, so far two out of three have been quite obsessed with this hobby. And can I just say that Color Wonders is a BRILLIANT idea!!

New games.

She loves her books!

Haylee passing out after she opened up her beads. ;)

Moon sand.......Mom finally gave in.

Mr.Potato Head.

And from Haylee her 1st remote control car....she was SOOOO excited about this gift it was very fun for Haylee. :)

Darling sweater from Nana.

So we told the kids that we were done opening except for one more that was really no big deal...........but for some reason we had to tape them opening it......he he he he

We have had so much fun with this and though I am so anti video games because I think we watch too much tv as it is it's so been worth it and because of our rain situation it's nice to be inside but still have something active we can all do together. The girls are quite good already too, they have beat Justin and I both at a variety of games. ;)

It was a fun day and now that it's over summer can start any time! :)

Merry Christmas Eve....

Another Christmas Eve down. We went to Mass tonight and it was very interesting to say the least.....will not be doing that again any time soon. Managed to stay awake however with all the movement and the girls got to be a part of the blessing of the Nativity where they were then sprinkled with Holy water (not sure what that means for them....have they been converted????) lol ......their faces would have been a great blogging moment caught on tape but inside the church was probably not appropriate. I did want to try and get a picture outside with the cool church in the background but it didn't happen.
So we enjoyed the dressing up for the hour we had to and managed to get a decent family picture. Though we look like an amazon family standing almost as tall as the tree behind us and me looking like I am very uncomfortable....why is this so hard?So we had Daddy's traditional pasta and got comfy in our new jammies. :)

No stuffed animal for Gavin, sorry buddy next year. :(

I think now they are asleep and Santa had better get to work. Goodnight all............Merry Christmas.

To Moms out there.......

"Over time, the grueling job of a mother requires one to learn everything from patience to clinical psychology. It teaches you to roll with the punches, pick your battles, and fish a favorite toy out of a toliet that has been used but not flushed without a wince. When you are 'in the fire', it is sometimes hard to recognize the value of what you are learning. But the day-by-day refining process, the problem solving, crisis resolution, mental stretching, mess clean-ups, sleep deprivation, and loving more than you ever thought possible truly makes you into a smart, aware, beautifully refined individual". (from A Mother's Book of Secrets)

I read this today and thought I would share. I am listening to the girls play some made up game about having "5 lives" and Gavin is following them around trying to fit in and they are so sweet with him. We are decorating cookies today and playing Christmas music, today is a good day!

Our little Santa....

Mischievous that is.......
.....magically sneaking away to do secretive things that no one else knows about.......

leaving treasures for us to find.
So on that note..........."Merry Christmas".........AND...........

He's not too fond of the filming this time, it's getting old I guess.

I also have some of the elves working for me this year......wrapping caramels and SO proud of the job she was doing. She would tell me "I don't want to stop because I like spending time with you Mom".......love her!


300 later we were done and ready to give em away....yeah!


This is the entertaining elf..........(she learned this one at school and thought she would teach all.)

I have taken forever to post because we've been busy and I haven't felt like doing it. We are having a nice season but it doesn't quite feel like Christmas yet. We did have a few inches of snow and the girls made the most of it.

The decorations are up and the snow is falling......

We got our boxes out with all the decorations and what do these kids want? BOOKS......they were SO happy about the books! I love that! :) Gavin is screaming about something in this one......quite used to that we are though and it's getting a bit old. Probably wants his sisters to read to him not themselves.....who do they think they are????

Oh but let me stop and say "cheese"

Tree is up and these girls did a fabulous job of decorating, they love to go over all the ornaments and get excited when they remember ones.

Done!

We went to a fun "Old Fashioned Christmas" at Pioneer Park where they have original buildings and cabins and everyone that works there dresses the parts. The kids got to sit in the school house and write their Santa letters. Sadly Haylee's consists of things she will not be getting so Santa may not be her favorite person this year....glad I'm not Santa...... ;)

Off to the post office for mailing.The lady in the fur coat taking her job very seriously and getting them on their way.

The only downer is it was FREEZING cold with the wind blowing HARD! It was in and out and moving on.....with no real heat either when we got inside each cabin so we got a real taste of winters with cracks in your walls. Insulation is a great thing!

Making cookies.

Ornaments

Kids (and Mom) seeing Santa........okay okay I just wanted a candy cane. ;) They wanted nothing to do with him.......I had to coax them into it.

Getting poppers from the tree.

Enjoying some cookies, wassail, hot cocoa and coffee.

Fun day!