Decking the Halls

On the 6th of December, I had told the kids that we would put the Christmas tree up- a lot better than last year when I got it up on Christmas Eve. Heh. As it turned out, I didn't have quite enough lights to go around the tree, so I told the kids I would go to the store and get more lights, and we would decorate the next day. On Saturdays, I usually do the Wal-Mart shopping and then go scrapbook at a friend's house. I arrived home late that night to find a note on the table:


I put the lights on before going to bed, and tried my hand at taking pictures in the dark. Results:



Have I mentioned that I am a big fan of Christmas lights?

Anyway, at church the next day, Kyrie is occupying herself during the message by writing a card for Daddy. It says,"I love you Daddy. Tell Mommy to decorate the tree today!"

So we didn't have much of a choice, but to decorate the tree when we got home that day.


Tada!

Christmas Photo Shoot Favorites

So today, I decided it was about time I take some pictures for Christmas. I don't think I'll get them in a Christmas card this year. Well, I'm not sure I'll really get any Christmas cards out this year, but anyway...

The only picture I could get of Jayden. The boy will not sit still for a picture. I would have liked to get one of him and his brother in their coordinated outfits, but no deal. I haven't been able to get a picture of the three kids altogether in quite a while:


Nice one of the older two together:


And, of course, one of the many silly ones of them:


I can rarely get Isaiah to give me a nice smile. It either turns out with his eyes half closed, or looking like a deer caught in the headlights with cheesy grin:


I like this picture a lot:


And my princess:


Merry Christmas, everyone! If you want a Christmas card from us this year, print this page out and put it on your mantle, or your door, or wherever you hang your Christmas cards. ;)

Ice Skating and Gingerbread Houses

Washington Virtual Academy holds an annual event with free ice-skating and a gingerbread house-making contest. We decided to make the drive to Spokane to participate.

Kyrie and Isaiah had a blast making their gingerbread house.







Then it was time to pack it up carefully for the 1 1/2 hour drive to Spokane. The kids got to try ice skating for the first time. Since I had Jayden with me, I wasn't about to get out on the ice. I was carrying him around in the J-pack, but I was concerned about what would happen if I fell. I've been ice skating before, but even the Pros can fall. Fortunately, Kyrie's teacher* was there. He was a great help at getting Isaiah around the rink a few times.


Kyrie was immediately adopted by two older girls who helped her around with the bar at first, and then decided that she had "graduated" to go around with their sole help. She did fairly well, and was really good at getting up when she fell to try again(I get knocked down, but I get up again!). She was really proud of herself! Another cool thing was that they played her song-"Kyrie Eleison" by Mr. Mister.










After skating, we decorated cookies, and collected our $10 Wal-Mart gift card that we won in the drawing for entering our gingerbread house!







*In WAVA, the teachers are the people who oversee the students' progress. The parents are called "Learning Coaches."

Thanksgiving Dinner

Menu:

• turkey
• mashed potatoes and gravy
• green beans and corn
• potato rolls
• sparkling cider
• cranberry sauce
• cheesecake and apple pie

Friends:

Sherley
This picture didn't turn out too bad for being one where I am holding the camera!

Ike watching the movie

Entertainment:

Wall-E

Other pictures:



Yes, we had a kids' table this year. They seemed to enjoy it, though.

Too much tryptophan:




Even Padme was out:


Jayden was both entertained and entertaining:



All-in-all, a pretty good Thanksgiving in our humble abode