Christmas Program in July

Pike's 4th Grade Program

Pike was a 'gangster'. No, a "rapper".

He really got into his song and he was super cool in his sunglasses. He is in the very light brown shirt in the front.

When asked to tell us about the program Pike says and I quote " I liked the rap part".

Christmas Day in July

Turns out this would be Buster's last Christmas. He got a nice new bed and a new toy to snuggle and drag around.

The wonderful chaos in action.

Are we blowing a kiss or a wish?

Deep concentration and hard work is involved in opening presents.

Dad gets presents too.

More opening of presents. This year the kids got books, Legos, clothes and other miscellaneous items. Santa and Mom and Dad go all out every year for such good little children.

Stocking stuffers are a huge hit. I love how Santa used different wrapping paper for each child.

Finally presents need to be organized into piles and looked over again. I love how the kids are always dazed afterwards. It is so sweet, they are never spoiled like this. Mom and Dad usually egg them on because they try to take their time and we are so excited. We always went crazy when we were kids. Our kids seem to be systematic for once in their lives. So funny!

Answered messages from Santa Claus. Santa always has time to answer a letter from the kids or make some comment or observation. We will always remember the year that the kids decided to experiment and put orange juice out for the big guy. He responded with a note that said "What's with the orange juice?!?!" He obviously doesn't like change.

Chore Jar

So here is my new idea for chores. Instead of a chore chart - a chore jar. My kids love games of chance so instead of me telling them what chores to do they will pick it out of a jar. We'll see how it goes.

Crochet

So last night I ACTUALLY FELT LIKE I COULDN'T READ ANOTHER BOOK! Crazy, I know. I think I have read like 80 books since I finished the Spring semester at TNCC. Well what else do I do besides reading? Elementary crochet projects of course! Here is what I worked on last night. I put together a little fun bag I had already crocheted the pieces for. Very bright and cheery I think.

And this pot holder I pulled together after I realized that I actually have forgotten how to crochet. but never fear I got online to refrersh my memory. This site is a good 'how to': http://crochet.about.com/od/learnbasics/ss/stchain.htm

Christmas in July

Santa's Been Here

Tree with presents.

Eaten cookies, celery and milk. Don't ask about the celery.

Proof Santa comes to good little boys and girls. We love Santa at our house and we all believe because if you don't believe he doesn't come. We truly believe that all things testify of Christ even the sweet magical world of children. M and I take great care to keep the magic alive and give our kids memories that will last a lifetime. So we have no problem opening our home to that elf on Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve in July

Christmas Eve 2011

A piano and musical recital has become a part of our family Christmas Eve celebration. Here Tink and her cousin get ready to perform. We had piano, sax and clarinet numbers performed.

One of the great things about living so close to family and having such a big (but not too big) and close knit family is the traditions that arise. One of the Compound traditions that has arisen is the Christmas Eve Nativity put on by the children. The kids are not always the most willing participants and usually there are some roles that are less or more desirable and those fluctuate from year to year. Last year it was Joseph and the angel were the despised parts. The adults were able to talk a Joseph into participation and an angel was strong armed into the part of the angel. Ha Ha.

I am not sure what is happening in these two pictures but they are Christmas Eve and my kids have nice clothes on so I am pleased.

The masterminds

The cast getting ready to go out.

Happy Mary and reluctant Joseph.

Angel during her Christmas duty.

The Nativity is of the most important things we do together Christmas Eve because it reminds us why we have Christmas at all. It is so hard to remember that at Christmas it seems. Everything Christmas is so exciting and by the 24th the kids (and parents) are so worked up in anticipation of a certain elf visitor. It is nice to take a little to to be reverent and read the scriptural passage of the birth of Christ and sing hymns together. I think as the kids grow up they will be really grateful that we started this tradition and their own kids will have the privilege to fight over who gets to be the sheppards and the three kings.

Christmas in July

December 24th 2011

Lanster's Birthday

Happy 7th Lanster!