Christmas Crafting

Erin Joy got a blanket and pillow to tie from Santa. She made it quickly and is excited to add her new Christmas items to her penguin room.

Lights at Warm Beach

 We absolutely LOVE going to the lights at Warm Beach. This year was especially fun because there weren't many people. Last year, we didn't ride the train because the line was too long. This year, we rode the train twice! The girls made wooden ornaments, talked to Bruce the Spruce, ate elephant ears/donuts/hot cocoa, and had a wonderful time.

Jumping

The girls had a great time jumping and playing at Elevated Sportz the day after Christmas. I didn't have my camera with me, so I'm glad my friend had her phone and took a few pictures for me.

CHRISTMAS!!

Before....

After.....

And a few pictures of the fun in-between.....

Rachel wants to be a scientist when she grows up. She is currently fascinated with the periodic table. She has a good science teacher who is inspiring her.

LOVE this project that my littlest one made in daycare. I will treasure it always even when she has moved on to her permanent home.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Eve

Since I'm impatiently waiting for my last child to fall asleep, I thought I'd post pictures of today's adventures.

We had a really fun time at the ice rink today. They have a "snow bash" every Christmas Eve and dump snow in the middle of the rink. The kids can make snowmen and have snowball fights. It has become a tradition for us. It is a good way to pass the time while we wait for Santa Claus. This year, our neighbors went with us.

I get frustrated sometimes that I can't post pictures of my foster daughter. I realized that she was in almost all of my ice skating pictures today so I photoshopped her out. She sure is a cutie. She has never been ice skating before and had a blast. She giggled and giggled and was so cute on the ice. She had so much fun that she forgot to go to the bathroom and had an accident. I wasn't prepared with extra clothes so we made an emergency trip to Goodwill for clothes. I had to carry her kicking and screaming away from the rink because she wanted to stay and skate. It was quite the scene. Fun times. 

 I thought this was a cute picture of our neighbors.

 Let it snow!

 We came home and cleaned our house in record time because Santa doesn't come to a messy house. We then went to the neighbor's house for a yummy prime rib dinner (I didn't take pictures. Shucks.)

We made a trail of reindeer food so the reindeer will fine our house. We also put magic keys on the door so Santa can come in. We have a fireplace in this house, but we didn't in our old house so we started this tradition. It is easier for Santa to come through the door anyway.

A book and pajamas.....

 Two out of the three wanted matching pajamas and they were so cute together. Erin likes penguins and my six year old like purple so I figured purple penguin pajamas were perfect. Yep. They thought so too.

 It's a good thing Rachel is still awake because we totally forgot to put snacks out for Santa. Rachel took care of it. I feel bad the other two missed it.

We always give Santa chips and salsa because he gets tired of cookies. Usually, we make homemade salsa. Not this year. Santa is just lucky we found chips and salsa in the pantry.

 Jean, our paperwhites are in full bloom! Love it! Love the orchids too!  Thanks!!

 I guess Hermy has to answer more letters before leaving...

Good-bye Hermy

 It is time for Hermy to ride back to the North Pole with Santa and rest until next year. It is exciting that Santa will come and leave presents, but very sad that Hermy must leave. I think my children have more fun with the elf than they do with the gifts from Santa.

Today, everybody wrote him a note. The following note was written by my six-year old foster daughter. It says, "Hermy and Santa" and then she left a trail of cut paper so Hermy would find the note from his hiding place. So cute:)

Notice the paper trail leading from the train (Hermy's hiding spot) to her note. Notice all the other notes and pictures from my children. They will certainly miss him.

 Hermy leaves a family game every year on Christmas Eve for us to play. This year, he brought the game a little early because we had people over for dinner and the game was a fun Apples to Apples Disney version which was very fun to play with more than four people.

The kids made Hermy a fire out of my scrapbook supplies to make sure he was warm tonight.

  Hermy's name is really "Herman Joseph Cuckoo."

Every Christmas Eve, Hermy hides in the Christmas tree so Santa can find him. This year he is holding his favorite ornament so my children will know that Hermy understands the real meaning of Christmas. It's certainly NOT Santa, elves, presents, or even the carols that I love so much. It really is all about the Savior. Not only His birth, but His life, His teachings, His sacrifice, and His love.

I am truly grateful for Him and for this season that we have to remember Him and celebrate His birth.

 Hermy is sitting close to the branch overloaded with Erin Joy's penguins. Silly girl. She loves penguins and usually chooses a penguin ornament each year. She thought it was fun to load an entire branch with her penguins. Hermy choose the penguin spot because he loves Erin Joy and loved all her letters.

Hermy wrote his last letters to my girls. (I photoshopped the name of my foster daughter.)

Until next year.....good-bye Hermy!!