CHRISTmas

Christmas Eve we attended mass{the boys are at a stage where they DO NOT like getting pictures taken}.
Kendall with her supplies to keep her busy during church service.

 After service we got coffees/hot chocolates headed home for ribs, patatoes and saurkraut and a movie. The kids set out these items for the visitor: {cookies, egg nog and carrot for the reindeer}

Santa's gifts:

 Stockings were laid under the tree for opening

 The kids left letters on the tree for Santa, so Santa wrote a letter back to them after eating the cookies and drinking the egg nog.

Christmas Morning:

Broncos fan

 New Christmas bike

Other items for Dev: Uhaul trailer-match car size, movie, almond joy candies, clothes, Angry Birds game.

Andon got Air Hockey

 Magic Set and other magic things

His favorite is the Knex roller coaster; he also got clothes, movie, DS game.

Kendall:

Pet shop toys

 Fancy boots-"cowgirl boots" as she corrects me.

She also got squinkies, clothes, movie, DS game, earing holder and earrings.
Deon got new running minnial shoes, I got a puffy coat and two scarfs  {plus little items for both}

The boys most used gift:...

 Dixie's stocking and goodies

After lunch and playing all morning{I played doll house/pet shop, learned magic, and paper basketball hoops} we headed to Horsetooth lake for some sunshine.

I had to pull teeth just to get this picture..

 Trying to get Dixie to look at the camera, but she REALLY wants his beef jerky.

 Taking a break

Us

 Climbing around

We stopped at No.1 Chinese Buffett for dinner later Deon and Andon put a roller coaster together, Devin talked to Lauren on facetime, Kendall and I watched a Zue Zue movie.

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Early Christmas and Family Time

I had the most wondeful, long, weekend! My family came out Friday, The kids had their school music concert Friday:

After the preformace, my sister come over to "move in" for the next 3 nights.  Saturday morning we had a few last minute shopping stops before we had Christmas dinner at my house.   Everyone met at Red Robin for Lunch then Sharon and I took the kids ice skating in old town.

{Auntie Sharon and Kendall}

Yes, it was warm enough to NOT wear a coat. Andon was so fast, I could barley get a good picture of him.

Devin and Lauren

Jen and Sharon

After peeling Sharon off the ice(she would not stop ice skating, even tho the kids already turned in their skates and were ready to go...she kept skating) we headed home and started/finished cooking. Cindy and Scott made homemade toritillas, beans, and tamales, I made Pollo Con Salsa Roja (soup) and Steak Chile Rellenos. Sharon made queso and chips. 

Kids table-Kendall helped set it up while the others were trying to keep busy-bugging us about opening gifts.

I went with a red and white candy cane theme-kids had a felt mouse with a candy cane tail, red cups, white plates candy cane napkins, and different candies to accent the theme(candy canes, peppermint chocolates, hershey kisses) I bought candy cane confitti for the tables and found coasters that had naughty on one side and nice on the other.

Adult table: Scott and Cindy with Deon

Our Holiday traditions

Since we alternate holidays that we go back to KS for, it is tough to have Christamas day/eve traditions.  We do have some that we do to prepare for the Holiday.
Decorating gingerbreads with frosting, candies, music, crafts, eggnog and hot chocolate. I would say Santa photos, but my boys were "afraid" {I tease them about that word} and did not want to sit on Santa's lap...Yes they still believe...they are questioning tho, maybe this weekend or Santa might not bring them gifts.. j/k!
Here are our Gingerbread house:

The candy trays,

 Frosting guns, P.S.-All he wants for Christmas is his two front teeth,

 Busy working

 also busy working,

Brothers, best Friends, peas in a pod,

 Finished house; gumdrop chimney, string of candy christmas lights on the roof lower edge, wreath over the door, trees out front and a candy cane shovel-thought of these ideas himself. Dad suggested using brown sprinkles for dog poo out back-Devin was not to keen on the idea, but put a few back there.

 Toothless made a mint chimney, gum drop shingles, mint wreath with berries around it, side windows, a beautiful walk way, and colored sprinkles as snow.

 Kendall made candy cane icicles hanging from the roof, frosting snowman, LOTS of reindeer poo, used candy canes to cover the gaps{when we opened the box, the house was broken, with my little helpers, we hot glued it back together like a puzzle}, tree out front, and lots of candy decorations!

The house are stored on top of the kitchen counters... I think this is a new tradition.

 They look so festive up there!



Catch up time Again...

Weeks ago{just before Thanksgiving break} we went to an Eagles Hockey game. It was scout night so the tickets were discounted for scouts in uniform. All three of my kids put on their uniforms and we headed to the ice rink. Scouts got a 'behind' the scenses tour then we grabbed dinner and found out seats.

{my wolf and my bear}

 We watched the players warm up on the rink...Andon's eyes were glued to the rink, watching and learning their every move. Dad showed up just as the puck dropped on the ice{he had to work late}. He brought ear plugs for Devin since the buzzer bothers him.

{my daisy, with her short, short hair cut}

 

 The kids got Mega phones and Kendall asked me if it was ok to shout "go Bronco"...Yum...NO! We are at an Eagles game NOT a Broncos game. So she shouted "go Eagles, go Eagles, go Eagles"

Eagles won again 6-3!!

Dec. 2 I took Kendall to Nutcraker with a Twist, it is preformed by Mountain Center gymnastics, my parents were in town so afterwards we stopped by their Hotel. Since it was snowing, we just stayed overnight. 

December 3 I woke up early, drove in the snow to put up signs around town for the Craft Fair, picked up coffees, changed clothes and headed to Andon's Reconciliation {peaceful...Kendall stayed with my mom and dad} After, we meet them at Red Robin, the boys went home and the girls did a little shopping. Ran into Liza at Old Navy and made plans for the Parade of Lights that evening...

{Deon let her boys climb on the rock wall in my living room}

 The decorated tree, the kids oranments are taking over my tree...but I love it that way! We even have three santa letters on the tree...I hope Santa remembers to take them, read them and leave a message in return for those three kids while he drops off gifts...

Stockings are hung on the staircase

I made the 4 before Kendall was born and still have not made one for her, I am sure she does not mind since her's is more girlie then ours

 Pinterest is consuming my time...AHHHHH!! I found this idea on there and it only took 5 minutes to make, the longest time was waiting for the paint to dry. I since added silver glitter to the clothes pins to add some sparkle to the line.

 Preschool project

 Parent gifts, I sewed the top under, inserted a wooden dowel and tied a ribbon on the dowel for hanging.

Just two of the many crafts we have been doing...gingerbread house with graham crackers, candy cane bead patterns, paper gingerbreads, cotton ball stocking, mint measuring-used mints to measure objects, count down to Christmas number practice page...on and on...I love this time of year, I have so many fun kids crafts, we hardly put a dent in them :(

Following weekend-December 10- Kendall had a self defence class with Girl Scouts

RIGHT after class, I met Kendall and dad at Subway and we swapped kids {I hung out with the boys during the morning doing crafts, they made a mini art easel out of wooden dowels then we went to lunch at Camachos-I was on a double date with two boys ;)..}

Kendall and I headed to the Loveland Event Center for a Girl Scout Holiday Tea! We sang Christmas songs, talked, had finger foods and hot tea then ended the afternoon with a few oranment crafts. The camera was left with Deon so I got NO pictures :( 

I fed the kids a quick dinner and we were off AGAIN...this time the kids went to Xtreme gym while Deon and I headed to the Mall, had dinner and did a little shopping....Let's just say we needed some alone adult time....

We had a scout pack Christmas meeting last night, boys got some awards, played games and exchanged neck tie slides...I was in charge of the cake walk..it was a fun time! Dad took K  shopping..

Seems like there are lots of shopping outings in the post.. hmmm....

My family is heading out to visit us this weekend, ice skating, Santa visit, early Christamas dinner and gifts then skiing on Sunday!