New Years Eve!

Ak had the flu and an er infection the week before and missed some school.  I hadn't felt well over the weekend - so we opted to stay home for New Years Eve!

The kids learned they do NOT like sparkling apple cider!  :)   Z and Ak switched to apple juice, B to Sprite, and D switched to Egg Nog!  :)   We had a fun together playing Apples to Apples and watching fireworks online in Taiwan & Hong Kong.  :)   

Happy New Year!!

It snowed!

Yes, it didn't snow very much . . . but my kids missed playing outside in any snow last year - so they were SUPER excited to have any amount!  They really wanted to go outside and although I didn't think there was really enough to play in . . . I figured, why not?!  :)

 

 They even tried sledding!  :)  They learned they needed all 3 of them on the sled to get it go down the hill.  :)

Then they came inside to drink hot chocolate - a winter favorite!  :)  

Christmas Evening

 We ate dinner at D's mom's house and then opened more presents!  It was a gift to me to not have to cook! 

 

 

  

The gift that shocked me was that AJ gave my kids her old iPod to share and listen to music one . . . . I thought they were too young for such a new technology item  - but they love it and have figured how to use it (I just figured that out about 2 weeks before so I can listen to a few free audiobooks.)

     

Christmas Morning

 The kids eventually got me and D out of bed!  :)  Luckily they entertained themselves for a bit after they woke up.   But eventually they were excited for everyone to empty their stockings!  They each got one gift from Santa too  . . . . B got a jewelry box.  Z got a skateboard.  Ak got a LPS (littlest pet shop) house!   

 Opening presents one at a time is fun but we got hungry - so we took a break for some cinnamon rolls in the shape of a Christmas Tree!  :)  

 They got plenty of nice gifts.  :) 

Here's a picture of ME  = proof I was there.  :)   Sporting my new bag from my sister!!! 

Do you know what this picture below right is?  Z spent an hour + in his room making this for my gift.   He asked for a piece of cardboard . . . . I assume he thought up the idea on his own.  Sweet of him.   :)   

  

The kids made some homemade gifts!   B made Ak a nightgown!  Z made D a necktie . . . he spent a LOT of time hand sewing up the back of the tie!   Z and B got to sew some gifts in my class.  Then Ak wanted to make something too . . . so she got to cut out some fleece scarves!  I was impressed she didn't give up when cutting the fringe.  :)

Merry Christmas!

 

Christmas Eve

Cousin Amanda came by with presents and got to stay for a tea party!  :)  

We went Christmas Caroling to a 101 year old German lady and her family!  Got to eat some lebkuchen!  :)

 

Later we got in our p.j.'s, lite some candles and watched the video "Joy to the World"!!!     Nice video of the  birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Winter Dance Recital

                           
This fall a lady at church who used to dance started a free class at church  . . . a junior and a senior group.  My girls have been going and have enjoyed it!   We invited 2 of B's friends that live nearby to attend and they said yes!  One of those friends have 2 sisters that joined them - so we've been carpooling!  All the girls started off so well the teacher decided to plan a winter recital.   She even added a boy number for the recital - so Z got to do a few practices this past month.  I thought it might be one song each - but it was a full recital with costume changes and everything!  :) Total of 12 Songs!!  Sorry the lightening didn't help me get great pictures even though I had front row seats!!!

   

 

 

 

            My parents sang a song called "Star Bright" at the end.    And B's friend's parents got both her and Ak a bouquet of flowers!!!  Super Sweet!!!

  Thank you Ms. Isabel and dancers - it was a great show!

Click here to see B in their opening song! 

Christmas Lights!

 The kids got to view the park's lights hanging out of the sunroof of D's "new" vehicle = fun!!!  I love that the city has this set up!   Looking at lights and listening to Christmas music always helps the holiday mood!!!

It's B's Birthday!

To celebrate her birthday - we went and ate dinner at Rafferty's (using a gift card from one of D's students!) 

She got a salad for dinner and a free sundae for dessert!

B is 9 years old and is the 3rd grade.

She loves horses & Barbie.

She likes the colors blue, green, and yellow.

She loves to read and can quickly read through a chapter book on her level.

She skipped 3rd grade math this fall because she scored high enough on a test not because she had any multiplication facts memorized . . . but has since memorized them and is doing okay in 4th grade math! 

B skipped a whole shoe size this summer - going from a 2 to a 4 (so she missed out on 4 pairs of shoe's her mom had bought in advance to be prepared).

She hates onions, gym class, and going to the dentist.

She has a good singing voice and wanted to sing with the church's Christmas choir - but couldn't because of other obligations (like the Nutcracker).  Hopefully another year.

She chose to follow Jesus Christ's example and was baptized this year!!!

We love you B and we are glad you are in our family!!!

Happy Birthday

B's Birthday Party!

She wanted a clown party!  So we had a clown gingerbread house decorating party! 

 

  We played pin the nose on the clown.

 

 She got lots of nice gifts and cards!!!

 It was such a nice day that after cake and ice cream people started to migrate outside and ended up playing out there for awhile!!!  (the next day it rained - so this was perfect!)

Visitors!

Grandpa Paul & Grandma Debbie came for a visit! And we put them right to work with some game playing!

 

  They brought stockings and Christmas presents!  And birthday presents for the girls!  Lots of presents!

  

 Played lots of cards!

 They got to see the girls and D in the Nutcracker and they got the girls these snow globes of dancers inside - which they love!

Thanks for coming to visit!