Christmas Evening

We headed to WDM to Brian’s parents Christmas afternoon.  It was just the 7 of us, because Mark and Deb were in Tahoe with her family.  We had celebrated Christmas with them at Thanksgiving.  We had a nice, relaxing evening.  We did open a few more gifts.  Jocelyn got a DS game.  She looked at grandma and says “But, how did you know?”  It was pretty funny.  Eli got the movie WallE that he has been wanting.  And Audrey got some pretty neat picture cards that have really been helping her with her speech development.  Brian and I also got a new portable DVD player for our Christmas/anniversary gift.  On Friday, we got up and sang to grandma (her bday is the 26th) and then Jocelyn, Melanie and I went shopping.  I go to Hallmark every year the day after Christmas to pick out ornaments for the kids.  My mom started that tradition, so I have kept up with it for my kids.  I also found a nativity scene that I have been wanting.  We then met Brian, Craig, Eli and Audrey at Cheddars for Melanie’s bday lunch.  It was YUMMY!  After lunch, Brian’s parents watched Audrey so we could FINALLY take the other 2 to High School Musical 3.  We all thought is was a good movie.  We played games that evening.  Jocelyn and Eli played sequence with us for the first time.  I was very impressed with how well Eli “got the game”.  he did great!!

Sitting down to eat Christmas dinner.

 

Christmas morning

We woke up Christmas morning and headed to Jami and Rexy’s.  Paul, Shelly and Zac met us there too.  We hadn’t seen them for awhile since they had moved back to Colorado.  It was hard to celebrate Christmas without grandma there, but I knew that she couldn’t have made a trip to Jami’s so soon after falling.  We ate and opened a few gifts. 

Audrey got these neat stacking blocks.  She loves to play with them.  And so do Jocelyn and Eli.

Ryder playing with one of his gifts.  Look how handsome he looks!  Don’t you just want to pinch those cheeks!!

 

Christmas Eve: Part 3

We had a very busy day!!!  After we ate dinner at moms, we all headed over to John & Sue Harmons.  They have a get together every Christmas Eve.  Lots of food, good friends, and fun games!  Audrey played with Olivia, John & Sue’s granddaughter.  They are about the same age.  Eli sat up in a chair… terrified of their dogs.  And asking if we could go home every 5 minutes.  Jocelyn sat and talked with the adults.  She likes to be part of the conversations!!  It is also a yearly tradition to play pictionary.  Guys against gals!  Gals USUALLY win!  And we kept it that way this year too!  Eli helped the guys and Jocelyn helped the gals.  They had fun playing and even got to help draw.  Audrey ate and ate and ate!  I even looked over at one point and she had picked up a piece of broccoli.  I even think she ate it!   We were there until after 11pm and the kids were full of energy the entire evening.  We hadn’t gotten more than 2 minutes down the road when all 3 were out!  We had a lot of fun!

 

 

Christmas Eve: Part 2

The 8 of us got back to moms about 3 pm.  We let Audrey sleep for a while.  When mom got home we opened gifts with just the  9 of us.  Ryder even helped open his gifts.  Audrey loved Christmas this year, she loves to unwrap presents.  She doesn’t really look at them, she just goes right on to the next gift. We helped mom pick out the gifts for the kids this year.  Jocelyn had been wanting a Nintendo DS and we were going to get her one for her birthday, but she was really REALLY wanting one.  So mom and Jami & Rexy got one for her.  Mom had wrapped it, then wrapped it, then wrapped it again.  We knew that if she just had one gift the size of a DS, she would know what it was.  They also had a few small gifts for her to open too.  She was such a good sport and was exstatic (I am sure that is not spelled right!)  when she opened it!

Eli, Jocelyn holding Ryder, and Audrey

Pretty cute picture!  I think Ryder is even starting to smile for me!

Ryder opening his presents

Crazy Grandma helping Audrey open a little toaster and play food set

Eli picked out these Superman PJ’s for Ryder.  They even have a cape!  Eli was so excited to give them to Ryder.

Eli got a Light Saber from jami, rexy and ryder.

he also got a storm trooper helmet that makes his voice sound like a storm trooper.

Jocelyn opening her first box.  Only 2 more boxes to go…

Eli opening his golf clubs from crazy grandma!  We know that my dad would have gotten them for him around this age. (Well, no, he would of had him out golfing at age 2 or 3!!)

She opened it up and I said “What is it?”  She said ” I don’t know… a computer.”  And she said this not very excited.  Then I held it up and said read what it says.  She screamed with excitement!

It was a very Merry Christmas EVE!

 

Christmas Eve: Part 1

We got up to Iowa on the 23rd.  We left KC when it was beginning to get icy.  It took a while to get out of KC, but once we got north of the metro the roads were much better.  We stayed at moms on the 23rd.  She had to work most of Christmas Eve.  Jami, Rexy, Ryder and the 5 of us went up to visit my grandma VDB at the nursing home.  She fell before about a week before christmas, so she was going to have to stay at the nursing home until she had her strength back and her bones healed.  She was happy to see all of us.  She is at a nice place.  This nursing home has pets (dogs and cats) raoming around the place.  Nice to see and the residents like it to.  I have to add this funny story… and of course it comes from Eli.  Eli was out in the hall watching the animals walk around.  He comes running in saying “That dog only has 3 feet… Who would cut off his foot?” All this was said very seriously.  He was very concerned about this dog with only 3 feet.  It had it’s leg, just missing a foot.  He made us all laugh!!  We were there for a little over an hour.  I am glad we were able to get up there to see her.  She seemed to be in good spirits.  Hopefully, she’ll be up and going soon!  Here are some pics!

 

Great Grandma with Eli and Jocelyn.  Audrey wouldn’t get in the picture.  It took a while for her to warm up.

Great Grandma and her Great Grandkids.

Jocelyn, Audrey, Ryder, and Eli.

Ryder was upset, but we got one without him crying and all 5 all looking at one of the cameras!

 

Audrey…she is so cute!

I couldn’t resist taking these pictures of Audrey.  She loves the camera and will smile as soon as we turn it on. 

 

PEEK A BOO!

Our Christmas here in Kansas City

We were going to be in Iowa with family for Christmas so I emailed Santa to let him know that we would be out of town.  The kids wanted to make sure he knew of our plans, so they asked me to email him!  🙂   So Santa made an unexpected delivery on Friday the 19th.  We woke up Saturday morning to Jocelyn coming into our room saying ” I think I just heard Santa’s bells outside!”  We asked her if she had checked downstairs to see if he had been here and she said that she wanted to wait for Eli and Audrey.  So Brian and I got out of bed and Jocelyn went to wake up Audrey and Eli.  The kids all walked downstairs and were pleasantly surprised!!  We had a great morning together.  The kids all opened the gifts and had fun seeing what Santa had filled their stockings with.  The kids had also gotten gifts for each other, so they were all excited to see what their siblings thought of what they got them.

The kids pulling things out of their stockings.

The kids seeing what Santa brought them in his big gift bag. 

 

Showing us some of the games from Santa.  They got a bunch of board games, a Wii game,  a movie , and more games to play!!

Jocelyn holding up the HSM lipgloss that Eli got her. 

Audrey giving Jocelyn a hug to thank her for that cool pen her big sis got her!

Audrey holding up the BIG pencil that Eli got her and the pen that Jocelyn got her.

Eli holding up the Chiefs playing cards tha Audrey got him and the Chiefs ball that Jocelyn got him.

Jocelyn holding up the BLING BLING ring that Audrey got her and the lip gloss from Eli.

Ebony with her new toy from the kids!

I have never seen them so excited to watch others open gifts!  Very neat to see!

Jocelyn petting Ebony!  Poor Ebony… look how gray she is!  She is showing her age!  She will be 10 in a few days!

Eli got a nerf gun with a target.

Jocelyn got a fashion studio where she can design and make barbie clothes (or other designs!).  Pretty cool.  She has already designed some pretty creative dresses.

Jocelyn and Eli making a ferris wheel with the tinker toys.  They also put little lego and polly pocket people in it when they were done.  Let the imaginations run wild!!

After the kids opened their gifts, we made a big breakfast.  Then we all stayed in our PJ’s most of the day and played games!  It was a family fun DAY!!

 

Eli…

Eli had his Christmas program a few weeks ago and he still continues to sing those songs in the car, in the bathroom, in the shower… you get the idea! Well last week, one of the songs that his class sang was on the radio. Eli said “That is my song!” And I said “yes, that is the song that your class sang for your program.” And that was the end of that topic. Well, later in the week, Jocelyn was in the car with us and the song came on again. Eli said “Jocelyn, do you hear me singing on the radio?” Jocelyn being that big sister that she is says “THIS IS NOT YOU singing, it is someone else!” They argued for a while. I had to try to explain to Eli that they just sang the song that someone else wrote. And that a lot of different people sing that same song every christmas. He is just too cute! To be so innocent and young again!

Every child needs a present on Christmas!

Brian called me Wednesday afternoon to see if I would be interested in helping wrap some presents.  Brian’s office volunteered to help wrap gifts for children from one of the local charter schools here in Kansas City.  What a good way to help.  Wrapping presents I can do!!   After the kids’ program last night, we stayed up to wrap gifts together… with Audrey’s help!  (She is our little night owl!)  We wrapped a big box full of baby dolls for some litte girls to get this holiday season!  It feels so good to help others.  We had a good time doing it and I think we have another big box coming home tonight to wrap.

Me wrapping one of the many babydolls!

Brian wrapping presents

Audrey helping us.  Look at those dimples!

 

 

Jocelyn was Mary

Wednesday night we had our Children’s service at church.  The kids have been practicing for the last few weeks at Sunday School.  Jocelyn was asked to be Mary this year.  She was very excited.  And Eli and Audrey both sang too.  We aren’t supposed to take pictures during the service, but I did take a few.  They are a little blurry because I was trying to hurry and I had turned to flash off.  On the way home, we talked more about why we celebrate Christmas.  I am so proud of our kids that they understand the true meaning of Christmas.  I know they love getting presents, what child doesn’t!  But when you ask them (Jocelyn and Eli that is) why we celebrate Christmas, they will tell you because of Jesus!  It is so important to instill these values in our children at this young age.  And our children are not scared to share their beliefs with others!

Jocelyn sitting up with Joseph and baby Jesus is in the manger.  Doesn’t she look cute.  She makes a very good Mary!

Some of the children singing.  Eli is in the front row with the orange striped shirt.

(Sorry it is so blurry!)

Audrey’s class got to participate in the program this year.  They only sang one song with them.  Most of them just stood there, but some sang and some did the actions.   So Cute!!!