Christmas Day

 

We had a great Christmas.  The kids woke up about 4:45.  We put them off until about 6 am.  They are allowed to look in their stocking and their Santa gift that is left by their stocking.  Santa does not wrap his gift.  So they were tied over doing that for a bit. 

 

 

 

Here they are.  Patiently waiting for Dad to hand out presents.

 

Savanna is smelling her spray.

 

Savanna drew Jase's name in the family exchange.  He was being extra huggy today.  I had to get it on camera because it is a rare moment for these two to hug. 

She is happy with her sweatshirt even tho she doesn't look it.  She is not happy that I was taking her picture before she was all dressed up pretty.

 

Grama D sent some packages.  The 3 littles got theirs but the older two had to wait because theirs got delayed in the mail. 

 

Hallie is helping Livee build her Legos.

New outfit

Hallie sewed a new pair of jammie bottoms and a scripture bag before the day was over.  She is a natural. 

Hallie's new outfit.

Jase's new outfit.  Him and Leen got pogo's.  He is crazy on his.

Such a silly bug.

After helping Livee with her Legos, Hallie helped Aleena.  Should have got Hallie some Legos :)

Livee is digging for treats.

 

We are truely blessed.  We had a wonderful Christmas.  We later had turkey dinner.  It was super Yummy.  I really just enjoyed spending the day helping my kids with their projects, watching them play, cooking them a delicious warm meal and snuggling with my honey.  Thanks Gramma L for the money.  The kids can't wait to go spend it on something fun.  Thanks Grama D for the gifts.  Oh-and thanks Aunt K for the marshmallow shooters.  Other than the marshmallows everywhere, the kids really had fun with them.  Even the adults got in on the action. 

Merry Christmas.

Aleena's Bumble Bee Hip Hop

Hallie's Cowgirl

Hallie's Hip Hop

Hallie's Hip Hop Dance.  We had to put her hair in a bun for Ballet and let it down for the rest.  It worked great to curl it first, then a sock bun, and then it came out of the bun really great.  This girl has some hair. 

Aleena's Ballet

Aleena loves her ballet dress.  She feels like a princess. 

 

 

 

Hallie's Ballet

I had to do a major surgery on Hallie's Ballet dress.  It was huge on her.  She really loved her Ballet dance.  It was the first time I saw her in ballet.  She did awesome.

 

 

I found that I can see the video better if I click on the youtube button and watch it in youtube. Not sure how the quality is on your computers.

Livee Rock Star

Livee LOVES to get her hair done, makeup on, and her pretty dress. 

 

Jase Recital

Jase's Gymnastics class. 

His big accomplishments this fall is his Arial and front flip.

He is the second boy that comes out.  He is in the tank top.  He does a funny when he does his front flip off the trampoline.  He just laughs now when he sees it.  He is just so strong.

 

Aleena and Livee Recital

The kids had their big Recital this last weekend.  It is what they have been learning their routines for.  The first half is for gymnastics and the second half is dance.  Some of the routines they already performed but I am going to post every dance.  I know there are 2 grama's out there that will love watching them. 
This is of Aleena and Livee's gymnastics class.  They are really get quite flexible.  Let me try and help you find them since there are so many kids.  Aleena starts on the back row right about the time the first boy starts.  She has a bun in her hair.  Livee is right behind the boy with her hair down in curls. 

Christmas Eve

 

It was just our household for Christmas Eve. Jase and I ran into town in the morning to an appt. I had to grab a couple things at Walmart. I did not realize that the whole valley was going to be there. Note to self for next year. Do not go shopping on Christmas Eve. We then spent the afternoon baking cookies. In the past, I am usually locked away wrapping presents, but I actually had it all done before. It is amazing what those 2 1/2 hours of alone time that preschool gives me. I had Jase take some pictures while we made cookies.  He did pretty good.

This is our Mr. Peepers.  He keeps a special eye on our family during December.

Aleena was my spatula helper.  She scooped the cookies off of the pans onto the cooling rack.

Livee was the sprinkles girl. 

 

For Dinner we just had lots of little snackies.  The kids picked some of their favorites.  Chips and cheese, little smokies, carrots and dip, cheese and crackers, pizza rolls, soda pop with juice.  Pretty much all junk.

 

We opened our traditional Christmas Eve pj's.  Hallie was very unhappy with hers.

They were a one piece zipper up the front.  I thought she would love to snuggle in them, but Savanna was laughing at her and she was too embarrassed to show us.  They were a total bust. Sorry Hal.

I gave up a few years on the matching pj's and the homemade ones.  I don't mind homemade ones if I can find fabric that is cheaper than the boughten ones.  I go for comfort now.  Some years it works out that they are christmas fabric. 

Anyways, after we were all snug in our jammies we read out of the Bible the story of Baby Jesus being born.  I then read a Christmas story that Jase had brought home from school.  We tried to play a few games but nobody really wanted to cooperate so we just hung out and trickled to bed.  They all wanted to go to bed at 8 o'clock but I held them off til about 10. 

 

Livee's preschool had a fun Polar Express Christmas Party.  They drew names a while back for a small gift exchange.  Mrs. Jones had special Polar Express tickets and a bell and they got to wear their pajamas.  They read the book during school.  The parents were able to come for the last 15 minutes and watch them sing their December songs and have a small treat. 

 

 

 

Livee received these cute paintable bears as her gift from Curtis.  She loved them.  Mrs. J gave her some candy cane playdough.  She had Taylin as her name.  I made her a bow and Livee made her a bracelet that matched.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Livee came straight home and wanted to paint her bears.  She just really had a great party.  Love Love Love her school time.

Christmas break...

I am so excited Christmas break is here.  It has been a busy week and I am ready to just be at home with my kids.  This week we had counseling in Burley, dance class, dance at Bball game, wrap presents, Ward Christmas party, Savanna sing, gymnastics, more dance, violin practice for me, School Christmas program, I was in charge of games at Aleena's party, post office run, sewing pj's for Kell, finished up 10 lap blankets for service project, dance recital, make bow for Livee's Christmas party.  Some days I feel like I don't get much done but seeing this helps me remember that I am getting a lot done. I just don't see it. We are truely blessed to be able to be involved in so much and I am even more blessed that I am able to go and see it all. Anyways, we don't have tons of plans for the break.  Can't wait...

Ward Christmas Party

Last night was the ward Christmas Party. It was a great event. They fed us breakfast, had some entertainment and then a special visitor. Savanna was one of the numbers.

Livee is in front in the pink, and Aleena in the sparkles.

Livee is still unsure of Santa but she was brave.

Jase just wanted a candy cane. 
Aleena didn't want to go up there.

 

Improvement

Jase has really been working hard on improving his grades.  Last year was such a struggle between him and I in that department.  He got passing grades but it was a fight.  He was smart but didn't want to put forth much effort.  He just brought home his progress report yesterday and he has straight A's.  He was so proud and so was I.  We took a minute to talk about how that feels to see those grades and how now he can maintain those A's pretty easily with minimal effort.  He also has really made incredible strides in his responsibilities.  Last night he put his blanket and favorite pj's in the laundry so that they would be nice and clean for school today.  He asked me to rotate them before I went to bed.  It takes some effort to think ahead like that.  Our counselor Andy has really helped Jase and me come a long ways. 

Hallie Hip Hop

Hallie's dance group performed at the BBall game last night.  She has been so excited for this dance because she got to order some fun DC's.  It was kind of a battle getting them, but they are here finally.  One thing I am learning is that I have to get creative in my shopping because we are a bit limited.  Aleena danced at the JV game.  She did her same number that she did at festival- black and yellow song.  They both did awesome. 
You will know which one is Hallie.  She has all the hair.  She is so proud of how long her hair is. 

Holiday Puzzles

I love to get out puzzles at Christmas time.  So after spending most of the day helping Kell sew some pj's I pulled out the puzzles.The kids are so excited for the holidays, it is cold outside and the kids tend to get bored quite often.  I just set it up in the living room so we can enjoy the fireplace and the Christmas tree while we work on it.  I got a new set of puzzles this year.  We finished up #1 today.  Livee fell asleep before we were done.  She will be so excited to see it in the morning.  She helped the most out of all the kids.  She Loves puzzles.  How I love family traditions. 

Rough Week

 

It has been a bit of a rough week at our house this week.  I came home Saturday and started feeling like crap.  Jase and Livee were sick the same time I was.  Well, my Dad started it Thursday and Friday.  After my turn Savanna and Aleena have it.  It isn't terrible but it just makes you very tired and headache-y.  I actually got dressed and combed my hair.  Hate to admit this out loud but it has been since Saturday since I got dressed.  Yes, I have showered multiple times inbetween there. 

 

Jase was feeling better and has been dying to use my white chocolate bark and melt it on pretzels so I finally let him go to town.  I melted the chocolate and he did the rest.  He dipped and then sprinkled them with candy canes.  They were quite yummy. 

 

School catch-up

A couple things I have learned from this post.  My pictures need to be clearer and I missed a handful of projects.  I will be better.  Today she came home from school so excited.  I can not look in her back pack.  She has a special secret in there.  As soon as we got home she ran her secret thing to her room and put it in her dresser.  She is all giddy about this secret thing.  I am guessing it is a something for christmas?