We spent most of our Christmas Break at Dad's. We haven't taken actual Christmas somewhere else since I had only one kid, and I wasn't sure we were going to be able to fit everything. We packed up on Thursday. We were packed so tight and full that I thought the bottom of our van was going to hit the ground. We didn't hit much weather. It was a bit yucky from Burley into Oakley, but it is always the worst there.
Greg (my brother) and Jean and their kids had been there since Tuesday night. Chris and Amylee came in on Friday. Amy stopped by and visited for an evening, but then headed out of town. Kell came with her kids off and on.
Tate was not about to be in this picture. Livee is missing. She had fallen asleep just before the picture. She plays hard there. So from left to right:
Jase, Savanna, Sage, Aleena, Alexey, Analise, Hallie, Gillian, Macey, Mackabe, Garrett.
He is such a cheese ball.
On Christmas Eve, we did a little talent show with the kids. We did this as kids, and thought it would be fun to do it again this year. I stoped taking pictures after a few numbers, so sorry to those that I didn't capture. Alexey was our announcer. She fizzled out after a few numbers. I think it was a little embarrassing for her to be up there.
Aleena played Jingle Bells. She did so good.
Macey played a song. Her mom said she has no idea where she learned it=).
Analise did a clogging dance, Sage played clarinet, Savanna and I played a piano duet, Jase showed everyone how to make a paper airplane, Garrett showed us some roping tricks, then Mackabe got the nerve to show us his lasso-ing (not sure the correct word for twirling ropes is), Gillian and Analise sang a christmas carol, Greg tricked his wife and had the kids put her on the list and they announced her as playing the piano. She was madder then a hen, but she did it. She was even madder when he wouldn't come up and sing it with her. I am sure pay back wasn't fun on that one, but we all got a good laugh out of it. Jean, you were a great sport. We played some games. We played, "Do you love your neighbor". The kids loved that one. If you aren't familiar, it is sort of like musical chairs where you race to get the empty chairs. Only one tragedy-the piano bench. Kell and Brad both landed on the piano bench and it just crashed. Brad owes dad an I owe you for that fix. Luckily it was adults that broke it because if it was a kid, Dad my not have taken it so well. We love you Dad. We also played out the Christmas carol, 12 days of Christmas and came up with actions. Amylee always comes up with such fun and entertaining games to play, and thank you for taking on that role. It helps keep the kids from battling.
Christmas morning was nice. We warned the kids, nothing before 6 am. I heard some giggling and whispering around 5 ish, and they did good to not go upstairs until 6. All the kids slept downstairs on the floor. Before we opened, we read a few verses out of the Bible about the birth of Jesus. That was nice. Dad handed out presents to everyone. It worked out perfect.
Boomer was really trying to be on his best behavior so he could stay in by us.
Hallie went to bed not feeling the greatest and woke up with a bit of a fever. She had a little sore throat. Some Tylenol perked her right up for a bit.
Soft new blankie.
Playing pet shops on my new blankie with sissy.
Savanna and Hallie got new quilts, (pictures to come later).
Trying out our new art supplies.
Hallie setting up her new Webkinz. She loves those things.
Everyone was a bit stir crazy on Christmas evening, so we all packed up and headed to the gym by Kell's house. They played basketball. The boys were more into it then the girls.
Lucy playing with her new toy.
Savanna taking charge of filling up the wood pile. She sometimes can wine about these sort of tasks, but she just stepped up and took charge. I was really proud of her and how she just got it done.
Over all it was a great week. Brad didn't stay the whole time. I took him to Twin Falls on Sunday morning, and Deano met us and picked him up. He had some work to get done, and I wasn't ready to go home yet. We stayed and played, and chilled, and I did some closet cleaning out to get ready for my stuff. One night, the neighbor friends came over and we watched Despicable Me. Another night, Lexey brought her wii over and the kids danced the night away. We played games. Flippin' Frogs is a great game, even for adults. My kids love Apples to Apples. They are all getting old enough they have a pretty big group that can read and play. Thanks Dad for letting us be a part of your holiday.
