Week 1 - Winter Break

Well, we have officially made it - almost - through week one of our Christmas break. With no snow yet, BOOOO, we will not be including any sledding or snowman building pictures. We have managed to fill our time just the same, though. Here are a few pictures and a rundown of our family activities:
Haircuts for the whole family
Trips to Culvers for lunch and additional trips for milkshakes
Nightly Games
Making and delivery of neighbor treats
Shopping with dad
Oral sedation and dentist for Alex and Mom
Wrapping for mom and dad
Studying for mom
Zombies, Kung Fu Panda, and Angry Birds online
Viewing of Chipwrecked - Chipmunks movie, chosen by Alex
Christmas Parties
Grizzlies Hockey Games

We sure know how to pack it in...

Here are some pictures of Twister on one of our game nights.
Daddy is usually pretty good and can beat most of us -
So funny, when we were lining up on our sides of the mat to get ready for a game, Roxy came up and sat patiently on her side of the mat - I think she wanted to play too!
Alex's newly installed "Pirate Teeth". This was an ordeal I don't want to go through again - 5 cavities and two crowns - I just want to insert that we are good brushers and flossers. He has weak, really tight teeth, which apparently lends itself to little cavities! He underwent oral sedation and the first part of the dental work went smoothly and he slept through it all, then...Exactly halfway through he woke up and went crazy! It was rough on both of us - but hopefully we have seen the last of that for awhile!

Preschool Christmas Program

We were really excited to be able to attend Alex's Preschool program this year. We have been thrilled with the learning tools that this school has utilized, and in just a few short months, Alex is sounding out words, reading short books and writing! It is so exciting to see his little mind working. I am not sure what expectations we had for the program, but they were far surpassed by what we saw performed last Friday. The children learned about six songs, parts, and hand motions for each song in the program - it was really great to see our littlest joyfully singing all the songs and participating in all of the parts!


Sitting with his class all ready for the performance!Singing his little heart out!
Happily saying his part in the program..."the sleigh bells are shined."
Alex loves music, he knew all of the words to all of the songs, he is one of the loudest singers in primary, and loves all types of music, from Lincoln Park (one of his faves) to the RIO soundtrack he picks up the words and music so easily...it is so fun to listen to him enjoy music so very much!

So, we had some family pictures taken this past weekend of our family up at Wheeler Farm. Here is a little taste, and i'll be posting more later!

Date Day

Yesterday all of the kids had a "date day" with Grandma Deb and Grandpa Rod, which in turn allowed for a "date day" for mom and dad! (Thanks a bunch grandma and grandpa)!

Grandma Deb had an afternoon of fun all planned out for all of the cousins at her home yesterday. The day began when we dropped the kiddos off for lunch, which consisted of all of their favorites (mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, and hot dogs). Then, grandma saved the day when she rented The Smurfs Movie (which I just could not bring myself to take the kids to - or even spend $1.00 on at the Redbox for). After all of that fun, she had a frosting station all set up with cookies, sprinkles, frosting and other magical decorations all ready to go. The kids said that they frosted around 80 cookies - and boy were there some creative ones! When we got back to pick the kids up, grandpa was playing an exciting game of Sorry with the boys on the floor!

All of that fun allowed for Brett and I to have a really tasty lunch at Market Street (where we were the youngest people in the place), do some shopping together, alone, and see a movie. We had so many movie choices that I just could not pick, so I allowed him to make the movie choice. He chose Breaking Dawn, because he knew I wanted to see it. See, this is the man I am so lucky to be married to - he put himself through 2 hours of Edward, Jacob and Bella - willingly, without being bribed or dragged! I love my husband and our time together!

It was a really nice weekend for everyone and their dates - Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Gingerbread House Night

Every year on December 1st, Grandma Deb brings us all a "December gift." Almost every year we can count on her to supply us with a gingerbread kit, something that the kids really enjoy! This year it took the kids ALL NIGHT to create their own mini houses, an activity that is supervised by our wonderful dad...He gets extra points for heading up this activity because it is one that mommy cannot bear- mainly due to the messiness of the frosting, candy, and the time it takes the kids to make their houses. I like to just get in and get out - if mom was in charge of the gingerbreads, it would be a 15-20 minute endeavor!
Here is dad getting the houses all glued together.
Dad helping Alex decided where to put his initial candies.
Everyone watching how the houses are built and choosing their candies...thank goodness that Halloween came a few months ago, because it gave us all kind of extra candy to create with!
This is as creative as mommy got with the houses...Roxy was watching the kids so intently that I just had to make her a little something too.
The finished houses...the kids used old chocolate bars, marshmallows, lollypops, gumballs, nerds etc...
Mom wrapped Christmas presents, dad and the kids created and at the end of the night everyone had a great time!