Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  Norah was the first one awake and then immediately went and woke up her boys.  It didn't take long for them all to come running. We were opening presents before 6am.

Then after were were done we ate breakfast and the kids played with their toys before we started round 2.  Ma-Ma-maa, Grandpa, Ant Ant and Uncle Jeff came over for the rest of the day. 

When Angela was here we took some pictures of all the kids together.  Then we made the best picture into a canvas for mom and dad. We wrote on the tag "To Ma-Ma-Maa and Grandpa, Oma and Opa from Colin, Joel, Norah, Isaiah, and Gideon.

And now I can't wait to show them the 20+ pictures we took of all the kids

Jeff and the kids played on SnapChat

Colin got a pingpong table for his room. 

Colin spent most of the day reading.

And has spent most of Christmas break reading the Hunger Games.  He started it in school and then Ant Ant gave him her copies for Christmas.  Colin usually gets As and Bs on his school work.  Bs are even rare so one week  he came home with several C's on some papers.  The teacher had her personal copy of Hunger Games in class and would let the kids read it but they couldn't take it home with them.  Colin was at a really exciting part and rushed through his work that week so he could pick up the book.  I couldn't get upset.  There really is nothing better than getting lost in a good book. 

We ended the night watching Christmas in Connecticut.  It was a wonderful christmas and went by way too fast.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we spend with Pops.  The kids are always excited to open presents early.

We opened presents, watched the first half of the redskins game and then went out for a late lunch/early dinner.  His dad loves ynot pizza - its a local chain in this area so that's where we went.  Colin ordered this meat lovers pizza and then as Joel was ordering we asked for it to be on a gluten free crust.  They have that option on the menu but Joel didn't want gluten free.  He piped up quick and loud "I WANT GLUTEN! I LOVE GLUTEN!!!"  The waitress died laughing.  She wrote something down on her paper which calmed Joel down.  Then she brought the gluten free crust pizza for Joel. He was oblivious and enjoyed every bite. 

Then we went to a candlelight service at our church. 

The kids were so excited that night and had trouble falling asleep.  I told Joel that Santa was seen in Maine and he needed to go to bed really quick.  That worked for him.... until 1am when he woke Brent up saying it was Christmas.  Technically yes, but sorry kid you need to go back to sleep. 

Colin was so excited he had trouble falling asleep.  He asked me if we had any sleeping pills because he just couldn't fall asleep. I sang Christmas songs to him for a long time.  He finally fell asleep.  I love how excited the kids get but at the same time please go to sleep kids because Santa needs to fill your stockings!   

Christmas Lights

We have enjoyed driving around looking at Christmas lights this year.

One night we put them in their jammies and drove around looking at lights. We made hot chocolate to bring with us and drove around. 

We got to this well known house and got out of the car to look at the lights. The house is in a culdesac and people park and then walk in. It is really fun to walk around and look at all the lights.  Colin had jumped in the car without shoes on and thankfully we had a blanket in the car!  At least that night it wasn't too cold outside.  He walked around barefoot. 

We ended up going back the next weekend to the same house with our friend Stephanie.  Stephanie is a fellow Hokie and the kids think its so cool that Ant Ant and Miss Stephanie rode camels in Africa together one summer! Her husband is deployed and he had facetimed while they were over for dinner. Norah wanted in on their family Christmas picture.

This night the kids all had shoes on! They had a snow machine going since it was a weekend and the kids thought that was amazing. 

Norah was just amazed.  I dont think she really remembers it snowing last year - we only got a dusting of snow and then it melted really quick.  That night we drove around looking at lights until well past 10:00.  The kids were having such a great time and Brent and I were hoping they would fall asleep in the car but it backfired on us.  But it was a really fun night for all of us. 

One night we went to the Founders Inn with friends to walk around and look at all the lights and decorations

Playing Red light Green Light in the courtyard

Abby is moving the first week of January.  We are really going to miss them. 

Say Cheese Norah! And then I get this almost every time. 

Joel loves babies and all the kids fight over sweet Caroline

And then Norah sat there pouting for a while because her brothers were hogging the baby

Little girl - big tree.

She finally got some baby time herself

One Sunday we went to the Dickens Christmastowne.  Norah sat and watched the trains for a long time.

Colin loved talking to the talking tree. 

Its been a great Christmas season and has gone by way to fast

Signs

Joel has started posting signs on his door. 

You never know what will be taped to the door.  Its changes daily at times.

Dear Santa

Breakfast with Santa

Joels school has a breakfast with Santa every year that we've loved going to.  There are crafts, a store for kids to buy presents and of course Santa. 

While we were standing in line to see Santa, he came out and sat down then proceeded to take OFF his beard and then put it back on. Then he stands up and fluffs his pillow in his costume.  Several kids were horrified.

Norah was not sure about this Santa.  He clearly wasn't the real Santa but she almost didn't go talk to him.  She kept looking back at me like who is this because this is NOT santa. 

She did go sit on Santa's lap.  And told him she wanted a real puppy for Christmas.  I guess in her mind the more Santa's she tells the better chance she has of getting it.  (she's not this year)  But this picture make me laugh because even Joel wasn't sure about Santa and he wouldn't sit on his lap. Colin is holding him in place. 

time

 
This boy.... one morning he came in asking if it was morning and time to get up.  I told him that morning wasn't for half an hour.  It was the weekend and I wanted to sleep in a little later than normal time.

So he sat there and mumbled under his breath for a long time. It took me a while to figure out he was counting.  He counted to 60 thirty times and then proudly announced that it was morning and time to get up. 

Deck the Halls

 They all talked me into getting a real tree again this year.  I'm sure the tree guy thought it was strange that I didn't go near any of the trees and stood far away and said that one looks good enough.  But so far it hasn't been too bad and I only took allergy medicine for a week and then stopped. I did make an evergreen wreath for the front door and my hands broke out in a rash for a few days after that.  So when it came to the tree Brent and the kids were in charge and it came out looking great.

 Joel and Norah were excited to show off their ornaments they made at church

 And then when I was trying to get everyone together for a picture I glanced over and saw this. They were standing this way all on their own.

We started hanging our lights outside the Sunday before thanksgiving.  It was a nice day so I talked Brent into starting. I figured a few days wouldn't matter and we should take advantage of the nice weather.  As soon as we started  the boy across the street rode his bike up the sidewalk and started lecturing us about the importance of remembering Thanksgiving.  People overlook that holiday and then forget to be thankful.  Then he got back on his bike and rode away.  Brent was up on a ladder dying laughing. He felt justified in his arguments earlier about waiting.   It ended up taking about a week to finish.  We didn't go all out but half the strands weren't working and we had to find the timers and extension cords for the lights. So in the end we were glad we started early. But next year when I try to start early I'm sure Brent will remind me of this and the importance of remembering thanksgiving.