Christmas

Christmas this year was FANTASTIC!  The kids all made their presents and they were so excited to make them and give them.  The week before Christmas John worked with the kids to help get their gifts ready.  Each day after school the kids would rush home and lock themselves in a room to work on their presents.  They were so excited.  I was so excited for Christmas because of how hard they each worked and because they were so excited to give.  That is what made Christmas special at our house this year!  We had  our traditional Christmas Eve...sloppy joes, chips, root beer floats, putting the oats out for the reindeer and leaving snacks for Santa.  The kids all memorized part of the nativity so they each gave their part and we read from the scriptures.  It was so powerful for the kids to have the nativity memorized.  It will be something we will do each year.  I am glad a friend asked us to do it.  At first I murmured thinking it was  a hard thing to help so many little kids memorize parts but it was powerful and ended up being easy.  We opened two family games to play together and the kids got new PJ's to wear to bed.  On Christmas morning we woke up early and had Grandma, Grandpa and Lindsey got on the web cam while we opened presents.  The kids were super excited and very appreciative.  They all loved the gifts from their siblings...except Karlee!!

Homemade Christmas

Zak made Makelle a blanket and matching pillow ALL by himself!  Zak also painted 4 sides of plywood to look like, mountains, zoo, stores, forest and roads for Lantz to play on.  He designed cut out, and sewed clothes for a doll for Karlee.  He also made the dolls face.

Makelle tie dyed an apron for Zak and she made a board game called Animal Land with all the pieces for Lantz.  She helped sew the hair and draw the shoes for Karlee's doll.

Lantz painted a yard sale mirror for Makelle and he tie dyed a camo shirt for Zak.  He made rattles with beads in them for Karlee.   The kids made coupons for John and I.  John stayed up all through the night and carved swords for the boys and board for Makelle.  I made nothing...but I helped give the kids their ideas so hopefully that counts for something..and I helped Santa!

Karlee liked to crawl backwards and to get into the Christmas tree!

Edward was busy every night and up to no good.  I think John had  a little too  much fun coming up with ideas and playing with Edward before bed.  The kids loved him!

Rice Crispy houses...way better than gingerbread!

The kids in their first ever new Christmas jammies!!!

Karlee attacking the tree!

I love this girl!

Presents from Santa:  Lantz and Makelle got marshmallow guns and Zak got a bow and arrow.

Makelle wanted real glasses!

Zak in his camouflage apron that Makelle made him.

Zak putting together the present he made for Lantz.

Makelle checking out her present from Lantz.

Karlee hated her homemade doll from the kids....at least at first!

Zak was so excited to give Makelle her present.

Swords that Dad made.

Zak in his camouflage shirt from Lantz and Lantz playing on his gift from Zak.

Lantz's game "Animal Land" from Makelle.

The boards that Zak made for Lantz.

The board John made for Makelle.

The Swords John made for the boys.

The pillow Zak made for John.

The mirror Lantz painted for Makelle.

Zak in the camouflage shirt that Lantz made.

Movie time with Linds!

The kids love presents for Christmas but I think having Lindsey come might be even better for them.  They always look forward to picking her up from the airport on Christmas night.  I look forward to our Christmas dinner....Cafe Rio salad...pretty traditional Christmas dinner for me! Oh, I also look forward to Lindsey coming!

The kids were SO excited to get a skiff of snow.  They made a tiny snowman and then made snow angels, it was hilarious.  We finally got some real snow a few days later.