Catching Up By Consolidating: Winter 2015-2016

Winter!  I don't dread winter at all, now that we live in a place where the climate is much milder.  We can play and enjoy ourselves all season long, indoors and out!

Music

Elise had a speaking part in her class's school musical, participated in district chorus and started playing guitar.

Fifth grade musical, Elise is on the left with the microphone.

Singing in the choir, center back.

District Chorus

She loves playing the guitar!

December Fun
Star Wars & Christmas

Going to see the new Star Wars movie, we loved it!

Christmas Cookies

Christmas cookies!

Baked and ready to decorate!

We had some friends over for a cookie decorating party

Hmmm, is there enough icing on that cookie?

The best way to take care of those sprinkles
that fall off the cookies.

This crew did a good job!

Breakfast With Santa

Each year, a local restaurant named Eileen's does a Breakfast With Santa.  This year we had the oldest kids there, so we may have aged out of this tradition.

Christmas:  The Main Event
Christmas was a wonderful family time at home, one of my favorite times of the year.

Grandpa, trying out his headlamp.

Showing off some bracelets.

Conspiring about something

Trying out the Christmas presents

Relaxing and playing with some Christmas presents.

Christmas!

It's been several years since we traveled for the holidays, and I have come to love the lower stress and more enjoyment that comes from just staying at home at Christmas.  We just hang out, enjoy each other and don't have to worry about being anywhere at a particular time (except church on Christmas Eve).  After church on Christmas Eve, mom, dad, the girls, Jason and I came back and opened gifts.  Of course, it was most fun to watch the girls.  They get so excited about everything.

Awww...giving Grandpa some love.

Christmas chaos.  As usual, Dutch eventually just
gave up and sacked out in the middle of everything.

Jason helps Elise with the Origami kit she got for Christmas.

Christmas morning:  big, soft blankets and fairies from Santa.

Gingerbread Houses

In the week leading up to Christmas we have been having fun with some traditions.  One of those was making gingerbread houses!  I cheat and buy the houses pre-made, then the kids add their decorations.  Each year as they get older, their decorating becomes more involved and they do more of the process all by themselves.  It is still a little tough for them to squeeze the packages of icing onto the house, but with a little help they do a great job!

Elise gets started on the roof.



Little sisters sometimes try to photo bomb!



Mmmmmm, that icing is GOOD!



Grandpa Joe was pretty helpful with putting on the icing,
then Elise and Anja added the decorations.

These girls get more and more creative every year.

I helped Anja put some icing on her house.

Ta-da!

Great job, girls!