NYE: Frozen & the Park

Lane was off work on New Year's Eve, so we all went out to breakfast at IHOP.  From there we split up:  Lane and Rhett went to PetSmart, Home Depot and the Apple store while I took Alexee and Crosby to Hobby Lobby and the indoor play area at the church.  Then Lane dropped Rhett off at the movie theater so I could take the kids to see Frozen.  I'd heard several people say that they liked it, and we did too!  The kids sat so still and never got bored, and I thought it was super cute!  We all enjoyed it!  We ran home for just a few minutes after the movie then the kids went to the dentist with me to get my permanent crown put on (for the tooth that I had to have a root canal on back in mid-November...it's been a long process but I think my tooth is finally fine).  From there we went to the park to meet Alexee's friend Morgan and her family.  It was chilly, but it was good to see friends and get some fresh air!

Fun at the park:

We had no plans for NYE night, which was fine with us.  We're always happy with a quiet night at home.  I picked up a pizza for the kids, and Lane and I had our usual popcorn and Sonic drinks.  I was only able to stay awake until 10:30, but I think L was still on a different schedule because of his string of night shifts, so he woke me up a few minutes before midnight.

B loves popcorn!

Happy New Year!

(great photography, huh!) :)

Welcome 2014!!!

Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas Day!  It started at 6:45.  The kids waited upstairs while Lane and I turned on the lights and got the cameras ready.  And as an additional test of their patience, we had them pause for pictures at the top of the stairs.  This is always one of my favorite moments every year...excited, smiling, bed-headed kids in soft Christmas pajamas...anxious to see what the morning holds!

Merry Christmas!

Santa leaves gifts and stockings by the fireplace, and they always go there first.  They got sleds for the next time it snows.  Rhett got a guitar stand and a 3DS game, Alexee got a pink outfit and a Ken doll and Crosby got a bike helmet and a Power Ranger costume.  

Bogart and Joey also got a few pet treats.  Rhett helped Bogart open his.  :)

Next they moved to the Christmas tree to open gifts from us.  They all three look so big to me here!  I'm thankful every day for these blessings!

Crosby got books, headphones, a Tummy Stuffer and a basketball (and Lane told the kids he'd get them a basketball goal when we move--we'll have a great place for one in our new driveway).  And I finally (only nine months late) finished Crosby's Shutterfly photo book that I meant to have done for his 4th birthday.  He sat there and looked through all the pages--I think he liked it!  Now that I have that one done I guess I'm already behind on their 2013 books!

Lex also got headphones and a Tummy Stuffer, a Bauble LuLu charm bracelet with an "A" and a birthstone, books and a rainbow loom storage box and extra bands.

Rhett got Battleship, a new coat and a rainbow loom storage box.  I was surprised that he was interested in the loom bracelets, but he asked me to buy him the kit a few weeks ago with a gift card he'd won to the toy store.  Then he requested extra bands and the box for Christmas.  He and Alexee have both been busy making lots of bracelets already.

We also gave the kids The Jesus Storybook Bible to share.  We read the Christmas story from it before breakfast.

Lane had to work night shift the 25th-27th, so the kids and I packed up and drove to my parents' house that afternoon.  I hated that L couldn't go with us, but we were looking forward to spending a few days in Flippin.

Annual Christmas picture by the tree:

*****

We got to Mom and Dad's house at 4:00, and Micaela and her family arrived shortly after.  Dad's side of the family always comes over around 5:00 on Christmas night, so the kids had time to open their presents from Mo and Grandad.

C got a Wolverine costume!

Loved visiting with my Grandparents:

Mo, Grandad and the Grandkids:

(Rhett & Jaiden- 9 1/2; Alexee & Jeryn- 6 1/2; Crosby 4 1/2)

After dinner, Jerry played the piano for us which is always great!  (Middle photo:  my cousin Mack lives in NY but joined us via FaceTime on the iPad.)

This picture of Alexee and her Great-Uncle Greg is extra special to me this year because early in 2013 Greg had a serious health scare with a kidney tumor.  We're all so very grateful that he was healed and is doing great.

Listening to the Christmas music with my Grandad

Frozen fog the morning of the 26th...

...but it warmed up and turned out to be a nice day!

Mo & Crosby

Love this picture--Rhett and Jeryn helped Dad and his brothers cut wood on the 26th.

Alexee has been interested in learning to sew, and she got a little sewing machine for Christmas.  It's light-weight, just her size and so cute.  I know she will enjoy--she loves doing crafty things.  All five kids were actually interested in it, so Mom and I helped everyone have a turn making a gingerbread man doll.  We went to Hobby Lobby this week to buy felt so she can start on some cute projects we've seen on Pinterest. 

Jaiden also got knitting supplies for Christmas, so she added some knitted accessories!

And Jaiden also wanted to make a pillow for her Papa who recently had heart surgery--she's so sweet!  Love these girls!

And I can't skip documenting this moment...when we learned that the bean bag had somehow torn and the styrofoam "beans" had mysteriously spread ALL over the attic!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve morning was kind of different for me this year--I think it might have been the first one ever that I woke up to an empty house.  My sister had invited the kids to spend the night with her the night before (which they were SO excited about), and Lane had to leave for work really early.  I tried to take advantage of the unusual situation and sleep in, but I was wide awake by 7:00.  So I started some Christmas music and enjoyed having coffee before starting the cooking for Christmas Eve dinner.  I was able to get a lot done around the house, then I left around 10:45 to go to my sister's house to visit and pick up the kids.  This is the only picture I have from their sleepover, but they had a really really fun time with their cousins.  Crosby was trying on the new Stompeez that my parents sent him (via Micaela when she was home recently--they sent each of the grandkids one gift to open early.  This was something C had wished for!  Aren't they cute?)

Our menu for that night:
Honeybaked Ham
Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Green Beans
Cranberry Fluff
Rolls
Red Velvet Cake

When the kids got home from Mic's they found a note from Cookie the elf.  It was his last morning here, so he let them know that he would be sure to find them at our new house next December.

I wanted the kids to have a chance to give a Christmas gift to someone else, so we delivered a plate of  Red Velvet Cookies to our district fire station.  There were three fire fighters on duty, and they invited us in to look at the fire truck and tour the station.  It was really fun and interesting.  The fire fighters were impressed that a 4 year old knew exactly what type of truck they had!

RED velvet seemed appropriate not only for Christmas but for a fire station (and we saved a few for Santa's plate that night).

RECIPE:

1 red velvet cake mix

1/2 cup oil

2 T water

2 eggs

12 oz. pkg. white chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients; mix well.  Drip by tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheets (or parchment paper--my favorite kitchen item)  Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  Let cool slightly before removing from baking sheets.  Makes 3 dozen.  These are easy and yummy!

The driver on duty was so nice and welcoming and answered lots of questions from the kids.

We came home to finish up a few things for dinner and change clothes for the 4:30 candlelight service at church.  We had plans to meet Kyle, Jillian and Jack there.  The service was FULL--standing room only--it was great!  Kyle and Jillian were so sweet to save us seats.  Sadly, Lane had to work that day.  We missed having him there with us.  I always love a candlelight service though.  Such a beautiful reminder of the Light of Christ in our lives.  

Kyle took this one of Alexee, which I loved:

Afterward the Boyingtons came over for dinner--I'm so glad they did!  It was great to have holiday guests.  The kids LOVE Jack and just could not stay away from him.  They loved his tiny sweater and tiny socks and his mustache paci.  They wanted to help feed and burp him and hold him.  Poor guy--he probably had more attention than he actually wanted!

Kyle shared these next few photos with us, which I thought were super cute!  He captured Jack's puzzled look when the kids put toy firetrucks and motorcycles in his lap.

So thankful for these dear friends!

C trying a baby sock on A's toe.

That night the kids left carrots and cookies for Santa, and Rhett wrote a letter from our family.  Crosby and Alexee also wrapped up a few gifts for Santa (the Santa-beard Christmas countdown from C and clay ornaments from A). 

Soon they were all snuggled in their beds.  I love Christmas Eve!  They were so excited, and could not wait for morning to arrive!  I requested they hang out upstairs until at least 6:45 a.m., which they did, but I got a text from Rhett at 6:41 a.m. that said "It's time in 4 min."  :)