Peek-a-Boo

I just adore this shot of K looking through her dollhouse door.

Enjoyable Holidays!

I need to reflect that this Christmas was so much more fun and relaxed that Christmas' past. We spent most of the holiday as a simple family of 5....by choice. We had time to enjoy the holiday, no rushing, comfy clothes (lots of pj's) and just being together.

We also cut out making Christmas cookies. This I missed, but we just didn't have the time and I didn't want to squish it in (though we did try out hand at chocolate covered pretzels). I didn't do Christmas cards. I would like to get back to doing these things, but this year I just wasn't into it.

The kids and I did go visit my family after dinner Christmas night which was nice, though we missed Tim. Tim's allergy has put many things into perspective for us and no matter how things fall out in 2009, we will be making changes to our future holiday plans. More fun, more relaxing, more friends, and playing with our Christmas toys!

Things happen for a reason.....maybe it was so we could see that while family is important at the holidays, so is change. It may just be time to change the way we do things at the holidays.....maybe bowling with the family!

Christmas part 2

Andrew hiding in the corner (to keep them safe from K) putting his lego sets together. He actually put both of them together in one day.

Playing Wii bowling!

Opening the big gift from us....the Wii! I wrapped it in Steven's paper, then put it in a bigger box and wrapped it in Andrew's paper under the tree. I did that for several presents to add some more fun to our Christmas morning, it caused quite a bit of laughs and they requested a new surprise for next year....no pressure!

Merry Christmas!

Darn blogger loaded the pictures backwards....

Here is Steven with is pile from Santa. Playmobil and Indiana Jones.

Kendyl went right to her dollhouse from HoHo.

Andrew got the lego sets he wanted (well 2 of the 125 anyway!)

Here are the kids waiting on the stairs for the ok to go see the goodies from Santa!

Our tree before Santa arrives.

Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve, we went bowling! It was so much fun, and may soon be a tradition! We played 2 games, and shut the place down. Lots of laughs and good times.
Kendyl was so good. She loved helping us bowl and next year will probably will be doing it herself. She walked/crawled around the next lane and watched us have fun.

In the morning the kids opened up the gifts from their Winn cousins. In the evening, they opened up gifts to each other.

Thanks Uncle Chuck, Aunt Rina, Kyle, Jason and Alex!

Kendyl enjoyed her gift so much, she tried to get IN it!

Sweet Lights!

We like to try different Christmas displays as much as we can, and I actually found one for this year, but it was very cold this weekend, and Tim and Kendyl were both getting over illnesses, so we decided that was not the best idea. We had to do something, so Hershey it is! We didn't do Candylane (rides and all), but went to Chocolate World (did the ride twice, Kendyl loved it!), saw Santa, went to dinner at the outlets, then the fabulous drive-though display....Sweet Lights.Kendyl was dancing along with the music with the ride. So sweet.

Steven sporting his fancy glasses which make the lights into snowflakes.

Since Kendyl is still rear-facing, I took her out of her seat and sat her on my lap (in the back seat) to see the lights).

Andrew's treat from the advent calendar was to "sleep anywhere he wanted" so he slept on the couch in the playroom, making a bed for the elves. Tweety made herself at home (she always starts the night off with Andrew).

Oh, they woke up in the morning looking for the elves, and instead, found all of our presents missing from under the tree. Yes all of our presents were gone. The elves had relocated them to the smaller tree we have in the dining room and mixed them all up! We usually have them in stacks according to each person as each child has their own wrapping paper and it looks nice. Well, we decided the elves had a good idea and have left it all messed up, but did put them back in the family room.

Gingerbread Sculptures!

Andrew's House (there is a hot tub out back!)

Steven's tree

Tim and Heather's creation!

Elfcapades

Here are some of the tricks the elves have been up to this month! Found in the oven with a new snowman shaped silicone baking dish.
Found on the couch with a new Christmas book.

Looks like all of the nutcrackers and Santas put on a parade!

Here are the elves watching the parade.

Outside on the Santa and Reindeer.

In the washer with candy cane pens for the boys, and tree garland for Kendyl's new tree.

Jenny on the dalmation....

While Jingle and Jangle were hanging on the necks of the big elves.

On my office chair with a fun cup for Kendyl, and Candy Cane crazy straws.

Mornings are fun at our house!!! If we can find them.............

Christmas Concert

Tonight Andrew had his Christmas Concert for the District Senior Band, French Creek Chorus, and FC Handbell Choir. Great music by many talented kids. It really stinks that you can never see the sax players due to their seating position. So I took this picture of Andrew playing at home tonight after the concert (and if you scroll down, there will be video too!).
Kendyl was such a good girl! She loved dancing to the music (of course she stopped everytime I tried to start the camera). She looked so pretty in her dress.

Santa and the Elves

Today Steven found the elves in the dining room. They made a blanket tent and were hanging out in the tent, each with a elf or santa who "grows" in water.
We decided to take to kids to see Santa at the mall today. We got there just as he was leaving for his break. Kendyl loved watching him, and was ok when he came up to her to say hi. We hung out at the mall for a bit, and when we went back to get in line.....oh my! The line was at least a hour long. No thanks. So we agreed to go to our next stop (Waterloo Gardens) and see if Santa was there.

Santa in a sleigh...no lines...no waiting. No evil elves who make you pay for a picture!!!

Kendyl wasn't getting anywhere near him, but I was able to get a picture. Then the boys got to talk to Santa. Steven asked for a Wii. Santa told him he didn't have enough room as so many children wanted Wii's this year (and how they are hard to get). He said it was Mom and Dad's responsibility to get the Wii. Smart guy!

Steven then asked for Playmobil, and Andrew for Legos. Santa asked if he wanted the cool Star Wars Legos (yup!). Great visit.

Sadly they didn't set up the Dickens Village this year, and the dinosaur display was not there either. Kendyl did find 2 snowman she loved! And Andrew got to drool over the Nutcrackers (he collects them).

Tim had to leave the building early, as we didn't realize they had live trees inside. Tim is highly allergic to Christmas trees and eventhough we were only there for about 1/2 hour, he is paying the price tonight. Poor guy! It's an allergy that only causes him trouble 1 month out of the year, but sadly is a huge inconvenince. We are not able to go to many friends/family houses over the holidays due to their live trees. Due to his allergy, we are starting new traditions this Christmas (as we can't spend time with our loved ones who value a tree more than us). Stayed tuned to find our new Christmas Eve traditions....we are very excited about it!

MOM!!! Turn around.....FLOOR IT!!!!

Tonight Andrew had a fun scout night at the bowling alley. Tim dropped him off, I picked him up. Shortly after we left, I hear "Mom! Turn around, go back......I still have my bowling shoes on! Floor it!"

So not only was he a thief, but he wanted to take me down with him by speeding!

I quickly turned around, and somehow drove safely back to the bowling alley in between my laughter and some tears (from laughter).

Andrew quickly went back in to get his shoes and turn in the stylish bowling shoes (darn....I was going to make him wear them to school!). Then we stopped at WaWa for Kendyl's milk, and there they were waiting for him.....3 local cops! We were still laughing on our way into WaWa.

The Elves are Back!

Jingle, Jangle and Jennie made themselves comfortable in our Christmas tree (no lights or decorations yet) Sunday morning. The boys were sooooooooo happy! Kendyl just keeps hugging and rocking Jennie - too cute.
This morning Andrew found them in the scrapbook cabinet, each with a pack of glowsticks. They will be fun to wear when we go on our Christmas light trip.

Andrew has been a huge help with the decorations this year. He is taking over some of Tim's duties (electrical, climbing the ladder, etc.) Well, Kendyl wanted in on the action too. She climbed up the ladder without hesitation, and even tried to remove Tim's hands.

Kendyl's New Hat