MERRY CHRISTMAS 2012

The kids were up and moving before 5am, but were told that they were NOT allowed to wake us up or go downstairs until 6:15.  Well......their giggling and playing around of course woke us up so Jeff went downstairs and got us all ready with a fire and coffee and then we called the kids down.  They ran down the stairs and were ready to check out what Santa left.......

Skylanders and The Avengers for Cameron......

Lots of goodies for the girls including new cups, mad libs and candy.......

This was Cameron's gift from Rena -- she got him a Skylander, but didn't want him to know it was a Skylander so she wrapped it and then put it in a bigger box and wrapped it again.  She thought she was so funny.......and Cameron had fun opening it.......

A new hat for Rena......

Maleah......

Cameron loved his new car/helicopter from Grandma and Grandpa Keyes......

The BIG presents and excitement at our house was with the girls and their new Ipod Touches.  The kids have all been saving their own money to buy themselves an Ipod so I really shouldn't say that it was their favorite present -- because they had to buy them themselves -- but I did wrap them up and put them under the tree for Christmas morning.  Rena knew hers was ordered and on its way, but Maleah was about $30 short so she didn't think she had one coming.  We kicked in the extra 30 bucks as a present for Maleah and then got them each a case and an Itunes card to buy some apps.  (I don't have any good pics of Maleah opening hers because I video'd the excitement and forgot I could take pictures while I was videoing).  Rena was still excited about getting hers and happy about the extras......
     

Another big hit was the "flying shark".  It's filled with helium and has a remote.......

Jeff and Cameron now like to fly it over my head and have it hoover there and tell me that it's pooping on my head......nice, huh???  :) ......

Jeff and Cameron spent a little bit of time outside flying the new helicopter also.  It had a little more power than Jeff thought and he actually got it stuck in the gutter at one point.......

Like Jeff's holiday sweater?  That was his sweater bought especially for the "ugly sweater party" that we went to.  He apparently likes it, tho.......

We spent the whole day at home (Cameron never got out of his pj's) and had a great day celebrating Christmas. 

THANK YOU to everyone in Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Illinois that sent us so many great things!!!!  

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE

We celebrated Christmas Eve by going to a church service at 2 o'clock, making a quick visit over to our friends house, The McCullough's, and then out to dinner at Chin's Chinesse food.

At dinner........

Have to be silly......

After dinner we drove around and looked at some Christmas lights then headed home to get ready for Santa.  He got the standard carrots, cookies and milk from the kids.......

The girls are ready for bed in their new nightgowns from Grandma Lynne.......

We all ended the night with "The night before Christmas" in Maleah's room.......

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION #1

Our Christmas celebrations started the weekend before Christmas when Jeff's mom and her husband came to visit.  They brought along a lot of nice things for all of us!

Cameron was happy to get this Skylander Giant (that he is throwing up in the air in excitement.)  He also got new pj's and a handmade quilt by Grandma Lynne.......

Both of the girls got these nightgowns that Grandma Lynne made and one of these beautiful quilts, that she also made!  They also got fun pillows that light up and change colors -- they are set-up comfy at bed time!......

Thanks Grandma Lynne and Grandpa Joel for all of the nice things and for celebrating with us!

RENA'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

Party #3 - the last one - was on Friday morning in Rena's classroom........

We started out the fun by making snowmen out of soap and toilet paper.  It was messy, but a lot of FUN and they turned out really cute!.......



Ashlyn, Rena and Makayla......

Rena and her teacher, Mrs. Moreau........

 

After we made the snowmen it was time for a book exchange.  Everyone brought one wrapped book to exchange.  They all put their books in the middle of the circle and then chose one book that they didn't bring.  They opened their books and then the fun began..........they each got one turn to take someone elses book that they wanted.  Each of the kids is either a 1, 2, 3 or 4 in class so the 1's were first -- they were allowed to trade books one time with someone else if they wanted to.  The person whose book they were taking didn't have a choice they HAD to trade if someone wanted their book.  Once the 1's were done it was time for the 2's then 3's and finally the 4's (which is what Rena was).  Rena really wanted one book that was there -- Mallory's Sleepover -- the bad part of this was that one of her good friends had the book.  She went over to trade books with Hadley and Hadley was so sad to be losing the book that Rena felt sad for taking the book.  In the end they played the game how they were suppose to and Rena ended up with the book (hard lesson for both of them, I guess).  Rena promised Hadley that she would pass the book on to her after she read it and now Rena also wants to get Hadley a different Mallory book of her own as a Christmas present!

After the book exchange it was time for food.  More yummy snacks........

Another successful party.  I was very lucky that I got to go to all 3 parties and celebrate the holidays in all 3 classrooms!  I had a great time (and got to eat a lot of delicious holiday treats!)

CAMERON'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

Party #2 was also on Thursday so I went straight from Maleah's classroom over to Cameron's classroom.  His was an all-day "Minute To Win It" party.  They did a lot of fun challenges, ate some good snacks (including root beer floats!), made some Christmas cards and just hung out with their friends.......



 

Cameron, Max, Michael and Liam were "The Minecrafters" team......

 

The Minecrafters didn't win, but they had a FUN time trying!

MALEAH'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

Maleah's class was the 1st of 3 classroom Holiday parties that I got to go to.  The fun started on Thursday morning with some art, games, holiday stories and lots of yummy food.

Maleah and her friends at the art center......

Story time.......

Some outdoor fun.........

Back indoors for some face painting......

.....and games.......

Maleah and her teacher, Mrs. Breitbarth.......

Cameron got to join in on Maleah's fun because he reads with a little boy in Maleah's class during his recess on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  So, instead of reading he got to celebrate the holidays with his little buddy!......

AND Rena got to celebrate with Maleah's class also because her best friend is Ashlyn, who is Mrs. Breitbarth's daughter, so at their recess they came in for snacks and fun!

First holiday party was a success!

CAMERON'S PERFORMANCE

Last weekend the kids school had a fund raiser at Barnes & Noble and Cameron's class did a little performance during it.  Each kid in his class (that was willing to participate) wrote a poem/story about "Winter" and read it when it was their time to perform.  Cameron was less than excited to join in on the fun (and was NOT happy with me for strongly suggesting that he be part of the fun - I actually told his teacher he would do it and then told him he was doing it!).

There he is behind the girls on the right.......

Almost his turn -- not looking very happy to be there!......

He did tell me after it was all over that he did have fun and was glad that he did it - whew - no longer mad at me!  :)

Here was his poem:

Winter

By:  Cameron Keyes

 

Winter is as fun as snow.

Winter is fun because we celebrate the most thoughtful holiday of the year.

Winter smells like hot chocolate.

During winter it is fun to drive around and look at Christmas lights.

Winter snow feels like ice cream.

During winter it is fun to listen to Christmas music.

Winter is the most fun and thoughtful time of the year.