Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas this year!  Lots of presents were requested and fortunately the kids got about everything they wanted!

 The kids bought each other gifts for the first time this year and it was so fun watching them spending a lot of time planning what to buy and then the excitement watching each other open the presents.  

Traditional cinnamon rolls are always a hit!

Laurel has been asking for about two months for a chocolate pen.  Her face shows just how excited she was to get it!!

Erika was pretty excited for an Easy Bake Oven.  Funny enough, I received an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas when I was 10 or 11!

 Levi got a lot of fun new toys, including this Build A Bear toy.

Laurel with her new gifts

Erika's new clothes and toys

And Levi and all his great new things!

 This is what her chocolate pen does....makes chocolate candy in a mold or she can write with it and then eat her creations!

It was a beautifully sunny day on Christmas so Erika got to try out her new skateboard.  I tried to show her some things since Daddy was unable to play due to his knee injury, but I am not good at all.  She will have to wait for Matt to get better!

Levi got a new hockey set, lacrosse set, and goals.  So we are ready for all sorts of sporting fun!

 These little wrestling/bumper things were so much fun!  The kids loved running into each other.  Levi's face in the first picture is awesome!

Christmas Preparation

 I love a dark room with only Christmas tree lights on!

 The Wednesday before Christmas break, Levi's kindergarten class had a graham cracker house decorating party that parents were invited to.  Luckily, we got it done before the kids had snow days for the next two days and started their Christmas break two days early!

As a 4th grader, Erika's gets to have a 'kindergarten buddy' and since her buddy's parents were not able to attend the party, Erika also got to come and help her buddy decorate the house and enjoy the party!

For the next two days, we had plenty of snow to play in and sled down our hill.  It was a fantastic snow day!

We did our annual gingerbread house making day

My three cuties ready for the Christmas party at church

Finally, decorating Christmas cookies at Aunt Sarah's house on Christmas Eve and anxiously waiting all the presents on Christmas morning!

Happy 6th Birthday

Our hilarious, sweet, expressive, kind-hearted boy is six years old today!  We could not be more proud of what a great young man Levi is turning into.  The biggest milestone this year was starting all-day kindergarten.  He was a bit hesitant about being away from home for the first week, but he now loves going to school!  His teacher appreciates what a good listener, friend, and helper he is in class.  Levi tried soccer for the first time this year.  He didn't love it, but he definitely improved over the season.  His favorite thing to do is play outside with his sisters and the neighbor boys.  As they all run through the woods, he usually comes home with a scrap or cut from falling over tree debris, but he doesn't mind the injuries as long as he is included in the fun!  He also likes riding his bike or scooter in the driveway.  Levi is the funniest kid I know with a humor that seems well above his age.  And his expressions just add to his silliness!  He is so much fun to talk to because of his expressions.  He loves Legos, games on his Kindle, cotton candy, Slip and Slides, Netflix, his sisters, and pizza.  He doesn't like casseroles, doing the dishes, music class, or getting in trouble.  He is sensitive to other people's feelings and will usually cry when someone else around him is crying.  He loves wrestling with Daddy and is getting stronger!  He likes Daddy to "trap" him and then he tries to break free.   He still likes giving hugs and kisses before bed and before dropping him off at school.  When he gets mad, he has a very angry voice that comes out and his eyebrows drop way down on his forehead.  Usually just a little time alone will cure that.  God definitely blessed us with the best little boy and we pray that He continues to guide us as we teach and love and lead Levi through life.  We love you, Buddy!

1. What is your favorite color?  Blue
2. What is your favorite toy?  Legos
3. What is your favorite fruit?  Orange
4. What is your favorite movie? Trolls

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut butter and honey sandwich
6. What is your favorite subject in school? Math
7. What is your favorite game? Tag
8. What is your favorite snack? Fruit leather
9. What is your favorite animal?  Dinosaur
10. What is your favorite song?  Hip Hip Hip Hippopotamus
11. What is your favorite book?  Arthur
12. Who is your best friend?  Cooper
13. What is your favorite cereal? Honey Bunches of Oats
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Swing
15. What is your favorite drink?  Root beer float
16. What is your favorite holiday?  Thanksgiving
17. What is your favorite restaurant?  Black Bear Diner
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?  Pancake
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?  Cheese pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Own a hot dog stand

 

Soccer Season Ends

 We had a weekend full of soccer games and soccer parties!  It was the kids' last soccer games of a rainy and cold and muddy season.  We started with Levi's party at a pizza place.  He received a trophy from his coach and told Matt he plans on polishing it every morning.  We will see if that happens!

 Next up was Erika's party at her coach's business.  We had pizza there as well and lots of games and fun.  And an adorable soccer ball cupcake cake!  Erika received soccer socks and a team photo from her coach.

 Finally, on Sunday night we went to Laurel's soccer party.....at a pizza place!  We are about pizza-ed out for a while.  Laurel received a medal and picture collage from her coach.

Even with all the miserable raining soccer games, the kids did such a great job this year and improved a ton!  I am looking forward to taking a break from driving to practices, but I am also very excited to see them all play again next year!

Halloween

 Another fun Halloween celebration this year.  We started with trunk or treat at our church which was a huge hit with everyone!

 

 Vampire, angel, and Rey from Star Wars

On Halloween, the kids were able to wear their costumes to school.  Everyone had a party in their classrooms, but I only was able to attend Levi's as I was in charge of the games and snacks.

And, we finished the holiday with trick or treating around Aunt Sarah's neighborhood.  Luckily, the rain held off and we had a perfect evening of candy collecting!