Christmas Photos

2011

she didn't

want to do pictures on this day, she was being two,in a way only a two year old can be. She cried, and refused,
and yet Katie captured some truly adorable photos of that little wonder, katie is just amazing that way.
loved the one of her pouting.....it just reminded me of her at two.

Santa gifts

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Christmas day 2011

No snow on the ground this year. Temps were hovering near 50 this weekend. Found it rather hard to complain about the lack of snow with that wonderful fact. And tonight what a beautiful sunset

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We caught Santa

dropping off presents last night...

the kids thought is was clever that I left the laptop on table

last night and captured this photo of santa.

love how they think I am so tech smart

I love that I discovered this which makes me appear so smart.

Christmas book....

 The Mitten

my favorite story from when I was a little one

When browsing Amazon for a book selection for our Christmas book

I stumbled across this one, the origianl.  Jan Brett has an awesomely illustrated

story, but my pick lead to this one, the original that I fell in love with.

it seems they did too, enjoying the story that was our pick for this year.

you can go here to read about these years book 2010 2009 2008 2007

Our Christmas...

plans changed .....what we thought we would be doing didn't happen

it started with one coming home from school on tuesday...by wednesday evening

two more were sick, Rosie and Reyna

Rosie even asked to stay home on Thursday, not caring that she was missing her

christmas party.  By Friday morning one more had joined the sick ranks...

Saturday morning found kevin at urgent care with Rosie and Reyna who were still sick

Reyna had strep and Rosie just a bug

honestly I would have expected it to be the other way around

alicia returned from a home visit with no voice and a sore throat saturday morning

and so those plans were altered, I stayed home with those not feeling well, and kevin took the healthy kids to my sisters for Christmas eve.  My night was quiet, as most slept, with the occasional interruption for one child throwing up or another.

Christmas day we decided to stay home rather than travel to my aunts, no need sharing those

germs....linda and her fmily decided to brave or sick house anad joined us for lunch..

so did Betty and my dad. 

most had recovered and were feeling quite well, except for Rosie who

still is not feeling well, fever, throwing up and now tonight pink eye, she spent 

christmas day curled up in my bed, sleeping and watching movies.

even tho our plans were far different than we expected, and yes I would have rather had

healthy kids, I did find the quiet peacefulness that filled this holiday was a nice

change, nor hurry, no worry, just snuggling with some of my favorite little ones

watching movies or reading books, or just holding them as they slept.

it rather fit with our less is more thinking 

our journey to keep it simple
*after a trip to the ER this evening with Rosie
who seemed to be getting worse with each  passing hour
this doctor determined she also has strep.
she is home with her first dose of antibiotics and a Gatorade
curled up on the couch watching Hairspray...
hopefully she is on the path to feeling better

christmas day...

while all little ones slept, santa arrived

awake by 6:15

Anthony and Yahaira started the trickle of kids checking out what Santa brought...

Reyna followed and awhile later Rosie woke for a brief  bit to check out her gifts

Alicia and William followed..the morning was spent  playing and discovering those

new gifts...

family

family pictures

Christams Eve....

 beckie was home friday and returned to mankato on saturday morning she had to work this holiday weekend. the kids enjoyed having her home for awhile.

cassandra came home friday night and stayed until sunday afternoon, and josh stopped at linette and kevin's for a bit christmas eve. some of us went to linette's (the healthy ones) the rest of us stayed home, where most slept.  being sick on christmas is so not fun. 

new hats

Reindeer food

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Twas the night before Christmas

And all thru the house not a creature was stirring........

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tracking santa

we have been watching santa's progress on NORAD.....
the kids have enjoyed watching the videos of places he has already been
Rosie especially enjoyed the footage from the The Wall of China," Mrs Davidson was in China!" she said

Kindergarten

Christmas program was yesterday afternoon. A first this year usually the kindergarten kids perform with the rest of he grades. At first I was disappointed but now I think it was and awesome idea. Yes it was a bit interesting getting away during the day but how dun it was to watch just those kindergarten kids, to be able to hear them and see them. It was a wonderful performance made more special ny their excitement and energy.  Rosie was a reindeer Dasher to be exact. With jingle bells on her antlers

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Gingerbread house

I dread this .......they love it
After avoiding it for as long as I could last night we finally opened the box. What followed was laughter and complete concentration as each piece was placed just so.
This year it stayed intact. Usually that doesn't happen.
The youngest didn't enjoy this activity she thought the candy was hers and no one should touch it



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