Christmas Morning

We had a very fun and successful Christmas morning with the kids getting everything they asked for!

 

 

Santa brought the girls Palace Pets, as requested

And Levi got his boat

 

Wyatt got a bone

Tootbrushes, gum, candy, cookies, and little toys showed up in their stocking

Traditional cinnamon rolls

Our sweet Laurel...the most grateful girl I know!

Our pre-pre-teen got a new iPod, headphones, and speaker to listen to music when and wherever she wants.  It seemed like a taste of things to come, with less toys and more adult wants.  Erika was much too mature to join the dance party and preferred to sing along with the song. She has had the headphones on quite often since receiving them!

 

Grandma Parnell and Aunt Sarah came over at 10:30 and more presents were opened.

Levi scored with three different PlayMobil sets.  We have had a lot of fun with them!

The kids also got three new games.  One of which is called Headbandz.  We wear cards on our heads and, using twenty question type clues, we try and figure out what the picture is that is on our head!  It was a lot of fun!

Christmas Prep

We were super busy the past week getting ready for Christmas!

 

Erika hosted a party for some of her girlfriends from school.  The girls had fun making crafts, baking cookies, watching Frosty the Snowman, and playing.  It was super fun for them to get together during the break!

 

Beads and pipe cleaners.....easiest crafts ever!

Levi got to join the party and watch a movie too.

 

While Erika hosted her party, Laurel and Matt went to a Christmas party hosted by a friend of hers from preschool.  The party was at the Newberg Fire Station!  Laurel had a great time decorating cookies, making crafts, watching Polar Express, and seeing Santa!

 

 

 

Then, we had a party at church complete with reindeer crafts, coloring, singing, and seeing Santa!

 

 

The first day of no school, we spent the day baking.

 

Christmas Eve, we had our traditional dinner, games, and jammies at Aunt Sarah's house.

 

We were pretty tired by Christmas morning!  But it is so much fun to see the holiday the way the kids see it....full of fun and laughs and friends and love!

Laurel the Angel

Laurel performed as an angel in her preschool Christmas program.  She was a perfect performer!  She knew all the words to her speaking part and her songs.  It was so much fun watching her!  Her little face was so determined....part of her furrowed brow was due to the bright lights, but most of it was due to her concentration on getting her part just right!  It was a really fun night!

 

Our angel amongst the other angels waiting to go on stage.

Star performer!

Laurel the angel

Laurel with her teacher, Mrs. McAdams, who was also Erika's preschool teacher!

 

 

 

 

Gymnastics

Our spunky little girl tried gymnastics lessons for the past month.  She did great!  Her tiny little body seems just right for the sport.  Possibly her favorite part was wearing the leotards.  During the lessons, she and the two other girls in her class would do obstacle courses with somersaults, cartwheels, balance beams, jumping, and other skills.  Laurel also got to try out the big apparatuses: beam, vault, and bars.  She caught on right away!  I loved watching her have fun and run like crazy around the gym.  Maybe she will be a great gymnast when she is older! 

 

 

 

Gingerbread Houses

This past week, our advent calendar told us to make gingerbread houses.  This is the second year for the kids to do so and they really love it!  Mostly due to the amount of frosting they get to lick.  This year, everyone got their own small house to decorate.  Bit by bit, the houses are now coming apart and being eaten!

 

Erika kept getting "too much" frosting and had to lick it off.

I've never seen more gummy bears on a gingerbread house then Laurel's.

Levi was much more interested in eating the candy than putting it on his house.

 

Their finished products!

 

Levi's 3rd Birthday

Levi requested a superhero birthday this year.  So that's what he got!  His favorite heroes are the Hulk, Captain America and Thor.  We got him a set of action figures that decorated his cake and now save the girls princesses from harm during play time.

 

 

Grandpa and Grandma Hammar, Grandma Parnell, and Aunt Sarah came over to help celebrate.  As soon as everyone got there, and put their presents down, Levi asked if it was time for his party.  We opened presents right away!  He loves the Batman jail and his guitar.  Although his guitar already needs some wood glue because he accidently fell on it!

 

He also got a scooter so he can ride with his sisters!

 

 

 

All this kid wanted for his birthday dinner was cake and Cheetos.  I added corn dogs, taquitos and soft pretzels to the menu!

 

 

My mom and sisters helped me make super hero masks out of felt. 

 

Happy 3rd Birthday little buddy!