Lots of posts ... again!

I seem to only have a block of time to get all my posts done, but hey they are getting done I guess. So scroll down and check out what's been going on!

Nathaniel's First Grade Program

Each year the first graders put on a Christmas Program. It is such a cute program with fun songs, the teachers do a great job getting the kids ready. I love that my kids like to sing and perform, hopefully it will last as the get older! Nathaniel would come home each day singing the new song they learned. He was very excited to be picked to hold up one of the hippos during a song. All the kids get a chance to do something during the program. It was a fun and cute Christmas program, one that I will remember!

Gingerbread House

The kids had a lot of fun doing the gingerbread house this year. Kyler and Nathaniel were really into and pretty creative as to what they wanted to do. Logan was content to just eat the candy. McKayla was napping which turned out to be a good thing because she definitely likes to be right in the middle of what's going on, not much fun for the boys when they are trying to do something!

Christmas PJ's

Here are this years Christmas pajama's I made for everyone. I even made some for me but I was taking the pictures.
Each year I tell myself to start early so I am not stressed about making them in time for everyone to open them on Christmas Eve. I bought the material a couple of months before but because I prioritized other things, the pjs once again got put off until days before. Nothing like having a deadline to force you to get things done. Each year while I am making them I wonder why am I doing this, I should just buy them. But when I see the kids faces as they open them looking forward to what I did for them this year, I realize in that moment why I continue with the tradition. This year everyone had the same bottoms and as an extra special treat, each child has their initial on their pj tops!

Christmas 2010

Christmas was different this year at our house. We really wanted to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, celebrating the birth of Christ. I was amazed at the love the kids showed toward one another and inturn showing love for Christ. We set up a manager under our Christmas tree. The idea was to make a soft bed for baby Jesus for Christmas morning, each good thing the kids did they got to put a straw into the manger. They were all very excited to be adding straw, in fact we ran out and had to get some more! I wish I would have taken a picture of the manager all soft and ready, filled with good deeds and love shared in our home. We were able to share several moments of Christ throughout the season. The boys really impressed me how much they understood about why we celebrate this special time of year.

I decided this year to cut back on what we bought for presents to not let it get in the way of what we were trying to accomplish. Also I want my kids to learn to respect what they are given. In the past because they have been given so much that things get tossed aside and not taken care of.

All in all we had a great Christmas and loved spending time together as a family!



The stockings, never mind that I haven't put McKayla's name on hers yet (someday)


Santa did come!


Our Christmas Tree!


The kids favorite presents this year:
Kyler: Basketball Hoop
Nathaniel: Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii game)
Logan: Art Easel
McKayla: Roll Along Musical Pony

What's been going on?

It has been a busy couple of months celebrating birthdays, holidays, and family activities. I'm finally getting my pictures uploaded and back to blogging. So check out what we've been doing with all the posts below! Hopefully soon I will get Christmas up!

She is a girl afterall ...

Many times I have found McKayla looking so pretty with her own lipstick on. She finds markers and colors her lips with them as her lipstick, I'm amazed at her skill level at such a young age!

Zoo Trip

During the winter months, Hogle Zoo offers free zoo day the last wednesday of the month. We decided to take advantage of a free trip to the zoo so off we headed out, in the rain and cold. It was fun and not very crowded, we even saw some animals that have not been out before.

The kids thought it was funny that the giraffes were eating Christmas trees


McKayla's new smile, she loved being out of the Kelty backpack


Yes, it was rainy and cold, but still fun!


My crew blends right in with the animals!


How do you measure up? A kid favorite to stand next the silhouettes and see how they compare.

Birthdays!

Kyler's birthday was on December 23rd, he is now 9 years old. He loves having his birthday so close to Christmas, he gets presents three days in a row! We went to Boondocks to celebrate his day and had lots of fun playing the arcades and bowling. Here are some pictures of what Kyler got...

A science experiment, Kyler is really into science


Not so excited to get underwear, but so needed


What could it be, what got this reaction?


New Basketball Shoes!!!


Kyler with his requested volcano cake



Logan turned 4 back in November on the 16th. He loves being four and is instantly grown up. He is in a preschool that some neighborhood moms take turns teaching and loves going to his friends homes.

Can't go wrong with playdo!


Toy Story 3 Yahtzee, a fun easy game


Cars are always a big hit, this one tows a little jeep behind it.


Logan and his alligator cake!