Christmas

We started our Christmas celebration with a dinner and nativity on Christmas Eve.  This is my favorite thing that we do in the Christmas season. I'm not sure the kids like it as well as I do.  We had all of the kids do a "talent" first.  Nate did a somersault, Ellie did a perfect backbend into a bridge then a walkover.  Michael played "Oh, Christmas Tree on the Piano," and Adam, after being upset about it all evening and thinking he had no talents, did a dive roll.  It was rainy outside, otherwise there were different talents that the boys wanted to show that involved the trampoline.

Then we did our nativity reenactment.  Nathan was Joseph and Kate was Mary and we had 5 angels (Ellie was one) and 3 shepards and one wise man (Nate).  The kids begrudgingly got in their "costumes."  Nate was really cute, but as soon as we started the program he kept taking his costume off. Silly boy.

 That night, the kids all got to open one present.  Turns out they got matching pjs.  I got some that matched Ellie's too!

 The next morning, we told the kids that they could get up at 6, but no earlier.  Joe told the boys that if they wanted to, they could get up earlier and look but then they had to go back to bed...they got up at 2:30 and peeked.

The kids loved all their gifts. Michael was a little sad that Santa didn't get him an I-pod touch even though we told him that Santa wouldn't.  Adam was super excited because I finally relented and said that we could get a dog.  We will definitely post more about this, but we are getting a mini Australian shepard.  We have one picked out, but it is too small to bring home, we can bring it home in a few weeks.  The boys get to go see it today and Adam is VERY excited.

 I got a new SLR camera, now I have to figure out how to use it. I also got a basic kindle, Joe knows about my constant reading.  Adam gave me this turtle ring I am showing.

 The boys got the funniest thing from their Nana and Bampy.  They are called bubble bellies.  They look like this:

 They played on the trampoline with them and Michael hit the ground- look:  Nate was just unhappy because I told him to get off the trampoline so the boys could play. 

Merry Christmas!

Family Photos 2011

This one below is my favorite.

I am the luckiest girl alive.

SANTA!

 Our Santa visit was pretty quick this year.  Ellie asked Santa for an Ipod- the old kind that just plays music.

 Nate told Santa he didn't know what he wanted (I don't know what he wants either, the kid has everything and then some more).  On the way home he said he wanted Santa's hat.

 Michael was so excited to see santa that he was jumping up and down on the way in.  We asked him if he was excited and tried to say he wasn't really.  He decided to ask Santa for an Ipod touch.  We explained that Adam tried that last year and it didn't work, and Michael said he was still going to try it. 

Adam didn't want to sit on Santa's lap.  The mystery is gone for him this year.  He did concede to take a group picture so that he could get one of the lollipops that Santa was handing out.

Hmmm, based on the requests, the kids may actually get some of the things that they asked Santa for.  I wonder if Adam didn't ask for anything if Santa isn't going to bring him anything.... ;)

Ellie's Christmas Dance Recital

On the same day that the boys had their piano recital, Ellie had a dance recital. Luckily it was a little later in the day.  This was an informal recital, to show what they have learned for the first few months of this school year.  They got to get all dressed up in cute Christmas tights and tutus, it was fun.

 Ellie started the year with 3 other friends in her dance class, but now only her friend Bella is left.  Its still great that she has friends in her class.

Here's the video of the ballet dance they did.  Obviously, Ellie is really shy being in front of everyone, I hope that as she gets older and has more practice being in front of people that she will become more confident, because when she isn't shy, she dances really well.

The Boys Piano Recital

The boys just had their annual piano recital. They have been practicing these songs for months- so long that they forgot to pay attention to the details a long time ago.  Each boy had two songs, one they played by themselves and another that they did a duet with their piano teacher.  This past little while they have really fought me a lot on practicing.  It wasn't always this way, so I don't know why all of a sudden it has started for them.  Regardless, they are really getting good at playing the piano, and I am really proud of them.

If you watch this next video, please note that Nate was on my lap and kept trying to stick things in front of the camera, he finally succeeded at the end.

Thanks Kelli- for putting up with my boys!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

This is how decorating the Christmas tree works in our house.  First I put up the pre-lit, synthetic tree.  Until last year it wasn't prelit.  That was a nice change.  The kids helped me put up the tree, it took 10 minutes.  Then I usually lay all of the ornaments out on the couch like this:

 This year, the kids were so anxious I let them lay them out on the couch while I cooked dinner.  (Maybe one of these years they can cook dinner while I lay out the decorations.)  I put a few red bows on the tree, then we set them loose to decorate.

There was a mad dash to be able to put as many ornaments on as possible, Michael figured out he could hold one ornament per finger, thus having 10 ornaments to put up per trip.

 At the end, Joe attempted to put the star on.  He claimed it wouldn't go on, so I had to do it for him, but he did pose for the picture. (We used the same star last year, why wouldn't it work this year?)

 The kids did such a good job, I didn't have to redecorate for them.

 Another day, we did the gingerbread house.  Usually I do the frosting and they  stick the candy on.  I got wise this year and "let" Adam do most of the frosting.

 Close up.  My favorite part is the candy-cane fence.

Merry Christmas!