Merry Christmas 2013

Christmas this year was just pretty awesome. Low key because Nathan had the flu and we couldn't go anywhere or be with anyone. Kind of sad, but maybe a blessing. I wanted to sit back and relax and just enjoy my children and this gave me that chance. 

Santa brought the kids BB guns. I think there is more to Christmas than just Mrs. Clause. And that can be a good thing, right? Except we live in a neighborhood and there is no where to use the guns. I guess I will have to go visit my parents a lot so they can get their use.

Santa brings sugar cereal for Christmas, which is pretty much the highlight of my older kid's Christmas. They really look forward to it.  We basically have oatmeal for breakfast every morning because I got tired of the wasting of milk in the bottom of the bowl and also cereal used as a snack that ruined their supper. So once a year we can have this treat in our home that lasts through January and is really a treat. 

Danielle got that Rainbow Loom she has been wanting. Now to teach her how to use it. 

Gavin with his new BB Gun

The kids got Kindle Fires. Pretty exciting.

Spencer got some underwear. Yes, he got some really cool other things, but I loved that he was excited and even willing to pose for a picture with his new underwear. (This was his "need it" in out 4 categories of presents that Santa brings)

Camie getting a new pair of boots

Spencer got cool books for his "Read IT".

Danielle getting shoes for her "Wear It"

Nathan got a chemistry set for his "Want It"

Taneal got a swim parka with a new swim suit and goggles for her "Wear It." She loves this gift. Kind of a strange gift unless you are a swimmer, swimming 3 days a week in an outdoor pool in the winter. It really was a cool gift and thankfully she liked it too.

Camie and Danielle got new beds and bed covers.

Gavin with his new shirt.

Camie got a well needed coat.

Taneal got new earrings.

Spencer got a room decoration. i thought it was so cool how Santa was able to take the photos and make them brown and white instead of black and white to match his room decor. He said he really liked the gift, he just wanted color pictures. Grrr.

Camie got a new book series to read.

Spencer got a remote control car.

Nathan wanted rackets for Christmas. Not sure why, but he did. Santa brought the family some racquetball rackets. Nathan thought they were his land loved them.

Paisley even got a gift: a dog bed. Can't believe I have a dog that Santa even brings gifts to. What has my family come to?

Taneal trying on her new black boots that we had to return because she thought they were too much my style instead of hers. Teenagers!

And finally Danielle with her "boogie board" from Taneal. It a doodle board that has a battery and will erase the screen when you push the button. Pretty simple, but very cool present.

Christmas Eve 2013

We had big plans for Christmas this year. Christmas Eve at my home with all the family in town for soup and rolls. A Chinese Exchange and talent show. After that pajamas and singing Christmas Music. 

But then when Nathan started running a fever Saturday followed by the doctor confirming Monday that he had the flu, we knew Tuesday Christmas Eve at our home needed to be cancelled. 

I figured there are enough of us to continue the traditions without all the extended family. I had visions of happiness, joyfulness, love, etc.

I started the Chinese Exchange game. And all I remember was Nathan (5) throwing the gift he got because he hated it. Danielle making the face as shown in the picture below of the gift she opened:

And from Danielle and down all crying. It was horrible. I felt like I had the most ungrateful children ever. I had spent $$ on these gifts and my children did not want them.

The pajamas were a hit.

And we enjoyed Gavin repeating Luke 2. Evan read and Gavin repeated every word. It took a long time, but it was pretty entertaining. 

The night didn't go as planned, but we still enjoyed the evening. And the kids went to bed early enough that I was able to make it to be around Midnight.

Gingerbread Houses 2013

It was that time of year again when my home smelled of delicious gingerbread. It was cold outside. It was an evening almost wide open. We invited some friends and some family over to join us in our fun tradition of decorating gingerbread houses. 

My sister-in-law Karen had a lot of fun using her artistic self to decorate one for her family. 

We had a family that I adore over. And I think they may have enjoyed decorating the houses more than my family!

Check out all that candy!

I made gingerbread houses for the adults to decorate- one per family. I made graham cracker houses for all the little kids so we adults wouldn't have to share the real gingerbread houses. And it was a hit. The little kids had so much fun. I know Danielle isn't so little, but she really enjoyed making her own. She told me later she hoped next year she could have her own real gingerbread house to decorate. Yah, not going to happen unless she makes it herself. 

Gavin was even able to participate. 

Nathan and his cheesy smile. He had a great time too. 

Spencer and Danielle went to town on the candy. Their main complaint was that I didn't make the board big enough for them to make a bigger yard filled with candy. They caught the vision of whatever candy they put on their house was theirs to eat later. Smart kids. I always thought of candy as a means for decoration. Not my kids. 

Here are the houses before we started decorating. 

And the kids table all set up and ready to go. 

That's a lot of candy!

Danielle's 4th Grade Play

Danielle has been working hard getting ready for the school 4th grade play. She even got the speaking part as a reindeer. She did a great job, knew right when it was her turn to speak, and was beaming with excitement. 

I just wish she had been willing to sing a solo part. Danielle has got the singing talent that I hope she one day is willing to share. She's good. Really, really good

Music at the Nursing Home

Camie's friend from school had this great idea of playing Christmas music at the retirement home where her grandpa used to stay. 

So Camie and her friend got together and practiced for hours. Taneal joined in a few times on the practice. And Friday night they played for the old folks. They did great. And they will only get better as they learn to play their instruments better. 

The best part about the whole experience was in the car afterwards. I don't know if it was the adrenaline or what, but they wanted to go find another home to play at. I told them this year wasn't realistic, but next year we should defiantly make plans to play at several. My girls loved playing and how it made them feel to share their talents with others. 

Danielle at School

I guess I didn't do this project justice by not getting a picture of Danielle holding it. Seriously, where had my brain gone? This having 6 kids, working part time, etc is killing me. Amazingly. I am getting things done and my children are feeling loved, so something must be going right.

Danielle had to do an Indian report at school. She had to create a diorama (which I like to refer to as a closely related word that makes my kids cringe each time). We got a shoe box, cut one end open, and away we went. We colored glue for the water, sand from the sand box for the beach. We used a paper bowl and tooth picks along with green tissue paper to create the hut. Camie helped carve and shave arm men and then we painted to make the Indians. I can't imagine what these Indians would think if they realized we were using army men to make them. Thankfully they are fake. And then we used more tissue paper to make the shrubs. I thought the project turned out really good. She got an A. And we had a good time creating it. 

Since I didn't have a picture of her with her project, I thought I needed a picture of her to go with it. This is a picture of her performing in the 4th grade play. She got to be a reindeer. Danielle loves to sing and act and she loves the percussion class she takes before school.