Back To Reality

Happy New Year!

I had the best intentions to keep up with the Blog during the most wonderful time of the year, but that did not happen.  Today is the first day that all three kids are back in school.  We had a wonderful break and not all of us were ready for it to end.  Getting the big kids up for school yesterday was a struggle……things were a little easier today and Nora was super excited to go back to school this morning.  We had a great Christmas, a trip to New York and then the flu hit our house and we spend a lot of time at home playing  and trying hard to keep everybody else healthy.

We did lots of Christmas activities such as baking cookies and decorating Gingerbread houses……

Both of the older kids were at friends houses one afternoon, so Nora got to decorate her own Gingerbread house with just mom and dad

We spent a night with the Marrs crew at their lake house and had so much fun…….we made enough treats for an entire Army.

Playing in the dirt the next morning.....

 

Our Elf was busy as well. Some of the kids favorite Elf shenanigans were the hidden candy canes……

 

The Activity Sheet (copied the idea from momfessionals.com)

 

The Elf used wrapping paper rolls as stilts to TP our tree

 

I thought the Pokemon was pretty funny, but Evan actually got really upset, because it was one of his favorite cards that the Elf cut up……..I am pretty sure every single one of them is his favorite.

 

Buddy the Elf Spaghetti dinner was also a hit with the kids…..

 

Nora helped serve hot chocolate to the teachers at Hannah and Evan’s school and deliver their Christmas gifts.

 

Hannah had to present her Chinese New Year project in class.....she did a great job!

All three had fun class parties on the last day of school.

 

We played some fun minute to win it games in Hannah's class.

It was fun helping with a class party for Evan for the first time.....

 

Look at this Pie goodness we had delivered to us from our Banker…….

 

Scott’s parents came to visit for a couple of days and we had fun playing some Reindeer games and eating way too many appetizers…..

 

These two have been friends for a long time......

On Christmas Eve we went to Barn Church and it was the most wonderful service.  We love this little community.  Jeannie sang a solo and it was beautiful.  

 

Evan was drawing his own Pokemon creations during the church service……apparently he was really into it, because on the way home from church he asked Grandma Jeannie why she didn’t sing her song at church.  She did sing, Buddy!!!!

Christmas Family picture

The kids opened their gift from Oma on Christmas Eve....soccer goals for Evan, Peppa Pig toys for Nora and Ice Skates for Hannah.  Lots of excitement.

We spent Christmas morning at home and then headed to the airport in the afternoon for our New York City adventure.

We all had a great Christmas, but I am pretty sure mine was the best.  I had this piece of paper in my stocking, which was the start of a little scavenger hunt through the house……..

 

It ended in the garage .....

 The scavenger hunt spelled Bike :)

And there was this Beauty....

This bike is amazing and I had no clue.  I have to say I am usually pretty good at figuring out any surprises (not intentionally), but I was clueless on this one.