Christmas Fun!

We had a MOPS Christmas playdate here a week before Christmas.  The kids played around a bit and then went right to lunch.  See Jackson?

 

 He was pouting big time because he was the only one who had a different chair.  We had a big talk about being a host and giving guests the best of everything.  But still, he looked like this.  Funny boy:)

 I made the moms take a picture, I love being the one behind the camera! 

 We tried out a few of the games that I made for Cooper's kinder class party.  So we first played fill the snowman with snowballs.

 That turned into a "snowball" fight.

 Then we tried to get the kids to pose for a picture.  Here are the majority of them.  This is as good as it was going to get!

 Then we played pin the nose on the snowman.

 Last we decorated cookies to look like snowmen!

 It was a fun party! 

THEN, that night, I got the kids in their pjs early and we heard jingle bells at the door?!?  (I knew what it was but the kids didn't know).  I said "I wonder who's at the door?"  Cooper was like "Do you know?  Do you know?"  I really think he thought it was Santa.  It was so cute.  Then he opened it and found Grandma and Grandpa there!  They surprised the kids and took them to dinner and then out to look at Christmas lights.  They were thrilled!

 

More December Activities

One of our friends from Kindergarten asked us over to make gingerbread houses.  Jackson's broke almost immediately.  He was quite upset.

 

 Cooper had fun building it for awhile...

 then his broke too.

 They weren't upset for too long. They really enjoyed eating it!

I had to share my birthday present from my mom and dad (mostly dad).  He built this mud room type thing for our entry way.

 See where it is?  I LOVE it, it's so beautiful!

 We also recently went to see a play:  "Snow White's Christmas"

 We're all the people in the front row and most of the second row. 

 It was really cute-very intimate.  Then afterward they let the kids come out and dance.  See Cooper in the plaid shirt in the middle? 

 The kids after the show.

 They were very wild.

 Jackson played simon says with them!

 Excuse the blurry picture but Cooper is playing basketball this winter and I wanted to post a pic of him playing.  He's number 13.

 Last but not least, a photo of dinner out with friends.  (Jackson, Emily, Holly, Cooper)

Some Christmas Activities

My sweet boys admiring the tree.  (and no, I did not pose them like this and take 20 pictures to get a good one) (yes I did! :))

 

 We went to our church's annual Christmas festival.  They have so many fun activities there!  A favorite is this snow slide. 

 Cooper thought it was so fun.  They have a smaller one for little kids but Jackson wouldn't go on it. 

 The boys were waiting in line for a ride and this is how they were standing.  Isn't this adorable?

 They loved this ride!

 I took these three to the bathroom (for which I deserve a reward :)) and we stopped to pose for a picture afterward.

 Another fun ride!

 After the rides Cooper, Ben, and Eliz had their faces painted.  Jackson didn't want to do that either?!?  We also got cotton candy and popcorn for a little snack to keep us going!

 Here's Jackson talking to Laura while waiting for the face painters.

 Last we watched the live nativity.  They even have a real live baby!  The kids watch it so intently, I think they really enjoy it.

We can't wait to go again next year!

Still Waiting.

I wanted to post a quick adoption update.  We're still waiting on our LOA (Letter of Acceptance) from China saying we can officially adopt Claire. We're on day 53 ( I believe).  It could come any day now, but it could also be another month or even longer!  SO SO hard to wait but we just keep praying for our precious girl.  I'm hoping for an early Christmas present!

December Activities!

 We were able to see a few friends while up in KS- Maya, Cooper, Nolan, Cole, Jackson, Max, and Piper :)  I forgot to add this to the previous post, oops!

I've been trying to do a FEW crafts from the million I've pinned on Pinterest... so Holly and Jackson did one while I was watching her.  But first Jackson noticed the TV cabinet was dusty and wanted to dust it.  (Seriously.  He notices that it is dusty (it looks dusty after about 2 days since it's black!) and says "mom!!  We need to dust!" Then I go get the swiffer duster and he dusts for me!  It's awesome :).  Holly decided to join in.  There's just something about the fun duster!

 After they slaved away we made Santa hats.

 We put up a mini-tree in the boys' playroom with all of their non-breakable ornaments.  We had a tradition growing up that we put up the ornaments in order while saying where/who we got them from.  We also listened to Christmas music and drank hot cocoa.  The boys enjoy the hot cocoa part for sure!

 We found "Rudy" the reindeer in our Christmas boxes and he's slept with Jackson ever since!

 Elizabeth and Ben came over and we made gingerbread nativity scenes.

 Jackson's favorite part...eating it!

 Here's the manger with baby Jesus :)

 Elizabeth's part-way through.  See Mary and Joseph with their cloaks outside of the manger?

 Jackson is adding hay ( I was too lazy to dye it yellow!) to the nativity.

 See the sheep outside the manger?

 Cooper with his finished nativity.

 Ben with his!

 We read the story of Jesus' birth while they ate their nativity.  This is the first time we did this and I think it's going to become a yearly tradition!

 

Another random pic from our KS trip- I didn't organize that very well!  Justin and Ryan with their kiddos!