Christmas Day!

Our kids rock! They let us sleep in until 7:45, and then it was our idea to get up and get moving :) As usual, we opened Christmas stockings first. This year, I let the boys wrap for the girls and the girls wrap for the boys. Normally we wouldn't wrap stocking stuffers, but they wanted to help. Brennen decided if he wrapped it, then it was from him, so he carefully wrote: To: Caelan From: Brennen, and To: Gabby From: Brennen on all his packages :) The kids also spent weeks ahead of time making gifts for each other and for us . . . I love that! Caelan sewed me two throw pillows to go with my new bedspread and made Buck a poster with Yoda dressed as a Denver Broncos fan :) Gabby made the boys a Cars and a Cars two poster. Caelan made Brennen a garage for all the Lego vehicles he builds and she made Graysen a jet pack that doubles as a backpack to carry stuff in :) She also sewed Chauncey his own Christmas stocking out of one of Buck's old shirts. Gabby made me a poster of a computer with a special message written on it, so creative! Love my kids :)

We ate breakfast  . . . French toast made with Costco's raisin bread. Then went back to the dining room to finish opening gifts. This year, many family members sent gift cards and money for us to do the kids' shopping (which really makes a lot of sense when you think about how much shipping everything costs!) So as I was wrapping, I decided to try to wrap all the gifts from Aunt Shannon in one paper, and all the gifts from Grandma Judi in another paper, etc. That way, the kids could all grab a gift with the same wrapping paper and they could open their gifts from the same family members at the same time. It worked really well! And they were given so many nice things, thank you family thank you!! You always make Christmas morning more fun and special!

With the gifts unwrapped (and Lego sets half built :), it was time to get ready for church . . . but what would everyone wear? Their new Christmas dresses made a Christmas Eve appearance so . . . Momiddy Bobbidy Momiddy Bobbidy Boo hee hee :) Grandma Judi sent each kiddo a spiffy outfit, but I didn't wrap them. I hung them up in MY closet underneath my robe, so when the time came for church and they thought all the gifts were over . . . a brand new outfit appeared. The boys were thrilled with their pin stripes, vests, and ties, and the girls looked lovely. Buck thought he better step it up a notch to keep up with the rest of the crew and he wore a SUIT to church! Now, our preacher teaches in jeans and an Under Armor shirt most of the time, he teased Buck about being so decked out :)

We came back home, threw our Christmas dinner contributions in the oven and let the kids explore their newest toys and books and games. When 1:30 rolled around, we packed everyone up and went to dinner at our friends' (and violin teacher) house for the second year in a row! Yumminess all over the place! It was good to sit and talk while the kids played, and did I mention it was nearly 50 degrees and sunny!! If you can't have a white Christmas, you might as well have an awesome one!

As the warm winter sun set, we returned home for pizza and cereal :) The kids again enjoyed their gifts and settled in to their rooms to dream Christmassy dreams. Thanks God for another good year!

Christmas Eve

For the first time in years, Buck had Christmas Eve off from work! Yay! We packed up the van and headed to Grandma and Grandpa's house. For extra fun, this year they grandma-napped Great Grandma! It was fun to have her at our celebrations :)

First we ate a yummmmmmmmy meal (nice work on the cooking!) Caelan was able to try her first family noodles, an honor usually bestowed upon babies who've just received their teeth . . . but with her ongoing gluten sensitivity, she was unable to participate . . . until now! :) She liked them way more than her face in the picture says she did :)

Maga provided a chocolate fudge cake and nine birthday candles, so we sang to our growing up girl! Then it was time to open presents, such fun things (like a Barbie with wings from Aunt J and a glittery cupcake shirt from Maga)!

And lest you think that was the end of the festivities . . . we busted out the Christmas gifts for ALL the kids and they unwrapped special items in a frenzy of colorful flying paper! When the last shreds of gift wrap settled to the floor . . . there were gumball machines, and legos, and puzzles, and mittens and gloves, and coloring books, and Kindle Fires! (one per family, not per kid, ha!) What fun!

But lest you think THAT was all, Uncle C popped in with two GIANT, battery-powered Nerf machine guns for BOTH of the boys! He added to the gift my friend Rebecca gave me (Ticket to Ride Europe) by giving Caelan the Asia expansion (sweet!), and Doodles can now doodle with her own set of professional grade watercolors (which she started working on this morning).

Grandma, the girls, and I made a quick run to Kohls to swap some Christmas shoes because, the day wasn't done yet! We still had Christmas Eve services at church to attend! So after my sis and I did our annual "homemade" gift exchange (yeah, we've been kind of more buying the last few years than making :) I'm still waiting for pics of her inflatable boxing set, while Buck found the Broncos sweatshirt she gave me enormous even on him :) . . . we loaded up the van and headed for home. But first stopped at Jimmy Johns to grab supper, mmmmmm.

Quickly donning the dresses and tights and shoes that Maga decked them out with (in?) the girls looked super fancy in no time! Graysen had to be bribed with the threat of no gifts to put on a red Christmas sweater (amazing how quickly he became compliant :), while Brennen was ready for any chance to wear the red tie Maga found for him. By 5:55 they were all looking good . . . but already there was standing room only at church (what a fantastic problem to have!) The kids sang along with the Christmas songs, and there may have been some dancing from the boys :)

Back home, a few last presents to wrap, stockings to stuff, and we were ready for Christmas Day!

Birthday and Christmas!

If only it were that quick and simple to blog about :) I'm going to do mostly pictures and only a few words, but Caelan had a nice birthday (this would be the 2nd celebration of 3 :) We had much bigger plans for the day, but Graysen and I had a second round of food poisoning or something that left us kind of wobbly tummy, so we rested at home instead of going out and about. And instead of birthday cake, we made stovetop smores (she didn't mind a bit :) Of course, opening gifts is always lots of fun . . . Caelan is forever trying to invent her own perfume with soap and apple juice and candle wax, creative, but sticky! So Buck and I ordered her this perfume making kit. She's already made the slime and the crystals, but isn't so sure about the included fragrances. We also gave her an outfit purchased (for 80% off :) at the Mall of America during our recent expedition. Grandma Judi sent a Ken doll with three outfits! You can see from their expressions, they all thought this was cool :) From everyone else, birthday cards with gifts of money . . . you should hear the plan she has for all that! But, at least half goes in the bank, so she will have to dream just a smidge smaller for now anyway :)

First Performance!

They started rehearsing in October, and Sunday was the grand finale of all their work! Gabby got a shepherd role, and as the shepherds were the narrators of the story, she had quite a number of lines to learn! Caelan instantly memorized the entire play and all the songs, which helped when they gave the angels try-outs for a brief solo. Caelan was so excited to be chosen! Wow, a lead actress and a soloist, amazing! And they handled it like there weren't 300 people sitting there watching them :)

The ladies at church did a great job with all the kids, getting them prepared, getting the sets ready, teaching the songs . . . and after watching the final rehearsal, I'll admit, I was a little nervous :) But the event was bathed in prayer and the kids pulled it together and gave a lovely little performance. Proud of them all!

Even the boys got in on the act, singing "Away in a Manger" to open the show :)

Videos from Dress Rehearsal (I knew the night of would be too busy!)

Caelan's solo :)




Gabby is the little shepherd with the really long sleeves :)



Dance break, ha!  When a different song started, the boys just had to boogie :)




Here's the good stuff :)

First "Friend" Party

For months, she's been scouring library books, writing down ideas for games, recipes, and party favors. She made a guest list, she wrote out an invitation, and finally after all this planning . . . she asked if she could have a party, ha! Who could I be talking about? Caelan of course :)

She chose the colors, pink, purple, and teal. She decided on the attire--fancy. She asked for hair, make-up, and nails to be done (and two older girls came to help, along with my friend Melissa!). She designed a cake only the Cake Boss could pull off (but she was happy with the three-flavor ordeal I came up with :) She planned a fashion show (which all the moms and dads attended). And the boys enjoyed a fun and manly time playing with Jake at my friend Jenny's house--hooray for mom friends! and hooray for little girl friends :)