Do You Want To Build A Snow Fort?

Shaylyn loves the winter and the snow and the cold. But especially the snow. She was really kind of bummed that we weren't getting any snow that would really stick. Until Christmas morning when we got a wonderful storm and there was snow to last for a few days. 

On one such day, her and her best friend decided to go out and start building a snow fort. They didn't get too far and pretty much just build two rows of what would be a wall and they also built a couch.

Shaylyn begged me to let her sleep outside on her couch. She said she'd take all of her blankets out and she'd do all she could to stay super warm. I told her it wouldn't matter, and she'd never be warm enough, and so no, she couldn't sleep outside in the dead of winter. I give her props for trying though.

Either way, she was super happy to be outside playing in her element.

What Happens Next...

Christmas Time Is Here!!!

It was Christmas morning and we woke up to this:

Okay, so the kids and Eric woke up earlier than I did. Eric does a really good job of keeping the kids quiet so I can sleep on mornings he doesn't have to work. I really appreciate it and by the time I woke up, Jace still hadn't woke up - but the kids were tired of waiting so we kind of had to wake Jace up and he wasn't completely thrilled.

We started off the morning by taking the kids picture in front of the tree in their new jammies.

...Funny story about her missing pj pants. I asked her where her pants were and she said she had to go to the bathroom early in the morning. So she took off her pj pants, put a pair of undies on and a new pair of pants. I was thrilled thinking she had decided to do this potty training thing FINALLY. Well she went all day without an accident, but by the next day decided she was done with undies....

We then got everyone set up in different 'corners' and Santa Eric got ready to hand out the gifts.

And, as always, in an effort to save us all from picture overload, I just take a picture of the kids opening their first gifts and then all their gifts at the end.

...His first gift was a stuffed Curious George...

 

 

...He got all the robot action figures from Real Steel...

 

 

...She kept it all rolled up for the picture, but it was a tiger vinyl print that goes on the wall...

 

And here's a look at everyone's haul from the Santa. These kids got a bit spoiled methinks.

JACE

AILEY

NATE

LEX

SHAYLYN

TANIS

After gifts were all opened, we spent the morning putting things together and getting ready to head to my parents house.

We had a lot of fun hanging out with my family and the kids enjoyed being with their cousins. I didn't take any pictures, though I don't really know why.

What Happens Next...

Christmas Eve 2014

This year Christmas Eve was an interesting sort of day.

Prior to Christmas my family had discussed the possibility of all 7 of us siblings and our families being at my parents house at the same time all of Christmas. Which meant that we had to make plans to do Christmas with the other side of the family however you could work it out.

After talking with Eric's mom and brother, we decided that Christmas Eve would be a good time to do things. Eric was going to take the day off and so we'd have just that extra bit of time to spend with Eric's family.

Normally, we'd have a big Christmas Eve party at my Grandma's house, but earlier this year she moved into a senior center place and doesn't have room to fit everyone - so everyone kind of figured that there wouldn't be a party.

Well a couple days before Christmas Eve I get a message from my cousin letting me know that with my aunts help, my Grandma had reserved a meeting room for a family party. So we worked a plan out with Eric's mom that would work out so that we could spend the day with her, hit my Grandma's party on the way home and get home at a decent time.

Well Christmas Eve came and Eric's brother got called into work. Eric's mom didn't feel like we should celebrate without Greg there and we agreed. So we decided we'd just go to my Grandma's party. But, as the day wore on Eric was having an emotionally difficult day and I was just too stressed out from the back and forth of plans, that I didn't want to go anyway.

So we decided we'd spent Christmas Eve at home with just our kids.

We really had a nice night. We spent the day playing games and after dinner we did something the kids have always wanted to do - but since we were also so busy on Christmas Eve, it never happened - and that was making cookies for Santa. Which I totally forgot to take pictures of.

After cleaning up the cookies, we gave the kids their Christmas Eve present (pajamas).

...Harry Potter Forever...

...A Tee Made Just For Her...

...Everything is....AWESOME...

...Does Anyone Else Suddenly Want Pizza?....

...My Little Pony, My Little Pony...

...He's My Curious, Spunky Little Monkey...

After everyone unwrapped their jammies, we all got comfortable and sat down and watched Maze Runner. I think the kids all enjoyed it and were ready to go to bed and wait for Christmas morning to arrive.

And because it takes me so long to fall asleep, I heard Santa and knew that he came at exactly MIDNIGHT! What are the chances?

What Happens Next...