Winter Break

There was no slowing down after all the presents were opened.  We took the kids to see a movie and then little by little got all their gifts out of boxes and put together. 

 Taryn got a little trampoline that all the kids enjoy.

 Camrie got a new tumbling mat that has not only been very helpful but fun too. It is hard to catch on camera but here she is doing a cartwheel.

 Taryn likes to roll to her own kind of tumbling.

 The after math of Christmas. Playing with all our new stuff.

 Taryn got a new car.

 She can even get in and out all by herself.

 She loves to be pushed around and around the house.

 Then it snowed and snowed and snowed.

 It was really nice because we were all snowed in.  Even Kyle was off most the week and we were able to just play and relax.

 

Being pulled around in the snow.  The next day Kyle took Dayton and Camrie out sledding for real.  They had so much fun and were so brave they even went down head first.

 Eating the new fresh snow.

There is nothing like playing in a bunch of snow with Dad at Christmas time.

Christmas Morning

Late on Christmas Eve we came home to be here when Santa came.  We left out cookies, carrots, milk, and went to bed.  When we woke up Santa had come.  

 Here are the kids opening their gifts from Santa.

 Grandma sent the girls beautiful Christmas dolls.

 As we opened presents we talked to Garndma Jody and Uncle Jared on the computer.

 This was all Camrie wanted for Christmas... A mermaid Barbie who's hair changes color in water.

 No big boy toys for this guy this year.  New golf clubs, new baseball glove, and new basketball shoes.

 Taryn wearing her much needed new coat and new pj's.

 Pillow Pets.

 Kyle got a few new things too.  Now he is officially on the team.

Another great gift, among many, the kids got was a kindle fire from Grandpa Bill.  They love to play games.

We had a Very Merry Christmas.

The Nights Before Christmas

The few days and nights before Christmas were almost as exciting as Christmas itself.  

We started the weekend off with a Christmas chorus concert from Dayton and the 2nd grade.  Dayton checked out of school early so we could go pack and head to Papa and Nana Decker's for the weekend.

One of the activities we did while we were there was we went and saw one of the local Universities basketball game. My brother's company is a donor and gave us all shirts and the head coach goes to church with my parents, so we had connections.

Three of the 5 girls.  They are getting so big, but we missed the other 2. ( Camrie, Emery, and McKell)

We waited and waited for the Wolverine to come see us, and then we all got sprayed with silly sting.

Every night there were games and activities. This night we played a dollar store bingo game.  Everyone was into it, but in the end everyone got a gift.

Cool aunt Jenny has a projector and put on a movie for the kids to fall asleep to.

Went to the church for a Christmas Eve breakfast and got to see Santa.  We also woke up to snow.  It was a magical day.

A yummy Christmas feast put on by Papa and Nana. We were all stuffed with turkey, ham, stuffing, potato's,  gravy, and homemade orange rolls.

There is no Christmas eve without a few traditions. One of them is Papa reading The Night Before Christmas.  This has been going on for as long as I can remember, and it was a treat to hear my dad read it again.

Next was the reenactment of the night baby Jesus was born.   Here is one of our "wise-men."

And here is one of our Angels.

And here is one of our Sheppard's.

Joseph and Mary with the others around baby Jesus, (played by Dax).

The whole stable.

Time for new pj's from Papa and Nana. Cute matching girls, Camrie, Emery and Gracy.

All snug in their new pj's.

Kyle's Birthday

Kyle is getting harder and harder to surprise for his birthday, but I think the kids and I pulled off a pretty good day. It started off with Camrie, Taryn and I going to the store in our pj's to get daddy a donut for his breakfast.  The night before we had made him a candy card and blew up balloons. 

Kyle and I went to lunch and a movie. Then we came home and had cake and presents with the kids. 

 In our house you have to work for your presents. The kids hid them all and made Kyle find them.

 He found one of Camrie's.

 The kids get so excited.

 Taryn just wanted the paper.

 That is a lot of candles.

Lots of helpers blowing out the candles and eating the cake.  Not pictured is the ice cream cake he got a few days later and a new bike.