Christmas - Part 1

This year Brian and I decided to do Christmas a little different then we had in the past. When the children woke up they would open stockings and play with their gifts from Santa, while we got breakfast ready and ate together.

This year Santa left Olivia an iPod Shuffle, and she can't be found without those ear buds in. She didn't ask Santa for an iPod, she asked for "a bunch of girls to keep Ethan and Kai out of her room," but she decided that this was even better then what she asked for.

Ethan got Legos

Kai got roller blades. He wanted Ice Skates but we think Santa knew that he would only get to use them a few times a year, but the roller blades he can use everyday.

Luke got Shoots and Ladders, but all he wanted was candy.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve started with the opening of the Christmas jammies, we checked Santa's location one last time on norad, put out cookies for Santa and the reindeer food, the we all headed back into the Living room to read from Luke 2 about the Birth of the Savior. It was a perfect night!

Kai was of course doing the robot in his robot PJ's, and Olivia joined in on the fun!

Luke got knocked down in the mist of all the kids doing the robot, but Olivia snuggled him up and he was magically all better!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Duncan at it Again

This morning we woke up to this surprise left by Duncan.

Kai came up to our room, where Brian and I were still sleeping, to announce that Duncan had written his name in "Purr Vanilla." We hurried downstairs to see the damage and quickly realized that it wasn't Pure Vanilla but Chocolate Syrup.

Next, we need to figure out where Duncan would be watching us from today.

They found him right away!

Of course they asked to lick up the chocolate, and of course I said yes. Olivia wanted no part of that and just kept saying "Yuck, Yuck, Yuck!"

Lukie wanted in on the action. He didn't like it though, one lick was enough for him!

Tonight Duncan will go back to the North Pole with Santa. See you next year Duncan!

Christmas Cookies

Since the kids have had school all week today was our first and only opportunity to make cookies and deliver them to our friends. We made a list of the different types of cookies we wanted to make and then the children and I headed to the store. It was a mad house of course so when we finally got home we had to get right to work. We made chocolate chip cookies, chocolate krinkle cookies, s'more cookies, and rice crispy treats.

The assembly line

Even Luke got a turn at the end to press all the cookies down.

The best part was delivering them all to our friends. We had a great time enjoying looking at the lights as we drove around. And of course we saved a few for Santa!

Our Newest Addition.....Duncan

Duncan came to our family yesterday and has been very busy noting all the naughty and nice things the children do. I really hope they make Santa's nice list! But I am worried that they may just get a personal letter from Mr. C saying "Better luck next year" accompanying their coal!

I heard through the grape vine that these "scout elves" like to cause a little mischief. However, I wasn't prepared for this type of mischief. Oh Duncan!

Here they are all pointing once they found him.

I love how we got the name Duncan. One of the children's favorite Christmas movies is Home Alone 2 Lost In New York, and Mr Duncan owns Duncan's Toy Chest in the movie.

Ohh Ollie!

Brian goes into the kids' room every night before he goes to bed to tuck them in one last time. After he saw Olivia he called me in, then when I saw her I had to get the camera!

Olivia with he glasses half on!

She looked hilarious but I think that the funniest thing was her "fancy" side table. Band-Aids, flash cards, Aquaphor, and a pencil box.

Late Night Sledding

Brian went in to work this morning and we had plans to go sledding this afternoon. Brian got home and I could tell he was worn out. The kids were excited to get going and were working hard to get their rooms clean and the main floor free of all their toys. Long end short we didn't end up going. Brian and I talked about it I expressed how much I felt like we should have gone. We both felt bad that we didn't go and decided to try and make the most of the little bit of day we had left. Here is the fun we had!

When Luke feel down he couldn't get up. It was a perfect Christmas Story moment. HA

Luke just wanted Brian to pull him around on the boogie board the whole time. He isn't the best at taking turns. We might be spoiling him just a little! HA

Since Luke was taking all the turns Olivia thought she would try a tupperware lid. She wasn't successful.

Uh oh! Kai tipped over!

Brian trying to distract Luke so the big kids can get a few turns!