Christmas

I didn't take as many pictures this year . . . not sure why . . . so either "sorry" or "your welcome!"
My Mom and Dad got to be here for Christmas this year.   It was so fun!  Probably the best "present" they gave to us and could have given was all the time they spent playing with the kids.  Jumping on the trampoline, games, games and more games, puzzles, reading books--the kids were spoiled with their attention!! Thanks again Mom and Dad!! 

Christmas Eve Festivities

Making Graham Cracker Nativities

 The finished products

 Nicole's church teacher brought a whole bunch of craft supplies to her class on Sunday and just let the kids go crazy with them.  Nicole made a pipe cleaner Holy Family.

Ryan is ready for dinner 

 Christmas eve jammies

 Sweet Christmas Eve Sugarplum dreams

Christmas Day

 Brett woke up before a few other people and went straight into the living room and found his puppy dog that was in his stocking and pulled it out.  Good thing it was in his own stocking because he would have taken it regardless of whose stocking it was in.

 Everyone is awake!

 Isaac made this container with holes for Brett to stuff pom poms in.

 Nicole made this letter and number match up game for Heidi

 Dad opening gift from Sally and Aric

 Mom opening gift from Sally and Aric

 Brett and his trucks

 Nicole (to Curt's surprise) was really happy to get this Giselle doll.  I'm just happy she still wanted a doll and not an I-phone or some other electronic device.

 Doodling together in their doodle books

 Brett's presents all had a theme this year . . .

December happenings . . .

I got to go with Isaac on a class field trip to the Nutcracker.

 Kitchen Elves

 Heidi has been painting a lot lately, what I think is funny is she draws and paints pretty detailed pictures for her age upside down.  What does that mean?

 Up until about a week or so ago, we were having very abnormally warm weather.  We tried to take advantage of it and played outside, visited the park and zoo etc. as much as possible!!

 Heidi and her joy school friends at the zoo

                              The elephant gave us a good show this day and was drinking and spraying water.

 LOTS and LOTS of nativity play

 Kids' favorite Christmas activity, sleeping "under" the tree.  Nicole read Christmas books to them for a while.

Enjoying the sun as much as possible

 Thanks to Heidi's persistence we FINALLY got a few Christmas lights for the house.  She was pretty happy.  All the hooks were already attached to the house, so Curt just had to attach the lights.  (I make it sound like it was easy--he still had to climb on the roof and hang over the edge to hook the lights on, but it was easy for me!!)