I think this is my new favorite family picture! Everyone was so happy to have the day after Thanksgiving off from school and work and our house was filled with Christmas music and movies all day! It was so much fun!
This was leading up to Thanksgiving, but I thought the "little ones" Thankful Turkey pictures were so them...
"I am thankful for...God gave me dancing in my life, Chloe, starting to make friends, turkey, Thanksgiving, and my next birthday is in America."
"I am thankful for...God, that God made the world, that God made us, toys, food, animals, and books."
"I am thankful for...Bunny, Ducky, Charlie, Gracie, Purple Zebra, and my fish: Blue, Bluey, Blue-O, Stripy, Cleary, Gilly, Gill-O, Sucky, Small, and Big.
And yes. We were ALL very thankful for this TURKEY cooked in out toaster oven served on Thanksgiving paper plates and napkins. It just seemed so festive :)
Now, back to the decorating of the tree :)
Everyone helped.
Lauren and Gracie
The BEST photo bomb ever :) haha!
And the cutest little elf :)
Benjamin would wear the hat, but his Santa had no problem with it ;)
Benjamin is so excited about his burn mark. He is REALLY hoping it leaves a scar. He thinks it looks so cool. Boys. He burned it on the rack in the toaster oven when he was making toast.
My boys...the lights are always the hardest, but these two had in done in record time!
Hanging his ornaments
Katherine wanted her ornament near the top
Benjamin hanging whist the bottom
I had to stand on my tiptoes and have my arms in the air to try to get Regan's picture placing her ornament.
This girl.
She decided to hang all of her ornaments while she had ornaments hanging on her ears.
Beautiful young lady.
It was her turn to put the star on the top. Jonathan has always had to pick the kids up to place the star on the top....so why stop the tradition this year ;)
Now...getting it to stay on top...much easier when you are standing on your own two feet.
The best leftovers ever. We don't get to eat this kind of food often, so even the leftovers were a real treat. I would still be eating them today if they were any left and if they would still be good :) oh well.
Christmas movie night! The kids asked to have movie night in our room. I wasn't sure if they would all fit, but the girls claimed the bed, Benjamin claimed the window, Hudson claimed the chair, and Jonathan brought in another chair for the other side of the room...The Nativity Story and then Arthur Christmas.
Lauren and Regan had a taekwondo competition.
Even on the competition floor, the pictures continue :)
Lauren did a great job!
She got 3rd place in her group.
Regan also did awesome! She was competing against red and black belts.
She came in 3rd in her group also!!
Regan and one of her coaches.
Love the expression on Katherine's face when she saw the medal.
Oh dear. This girl and all the freebies.
This was near the competition. I guess that means there is a bowling lane nearby?!? WE might have to go exploring.
My two bronze medal winners under the Olympic rings.
Katherine continues to enjoy soccer, although shorter days makes it difficult to take pictures at practice. I don't know how they can see the ball. By the time practice is over, it is completely dark.
I told Hudson that Lincoln Logs was part of his school this day. He said, "You mean I HAVE to play?" He wasn't kidding. This boy doesn't play with toys unless he is told he has to. He did such a good job building a house and had a great time, too!!!
Next, on the "school play" agenda...blocks. He built the Great Wall of China :)
Little Big Sister wanted to have some play time, too. So, she built Bethlehem. :)
Regan is already preparing for her Star Wars birthday! These are going to be her Chewbacca goodie bags :) Love it!
Freeze Tag.
I guess Katherine was hot...rolled up pants, pushed up sleeves, and a purse with a seaweed snack inside.
Katherine and Benjamin coming up with a plan.
Wow. Benjamin is fast! I guess that growth spurt helped his speed...that long stride!
Lauren. She just had to spend her chore money on this Christmas hat. I couldn't help but smile. She wore this hat all the way home.
The younger three got invited to go to an art class (for free) YEAH! They got to paint umbrellas.
Hudson liked his tiny umbrella :)
The girls were concentrating on all he details. The teacher said that since Lauren and Katherine were a little older and good at art, that they could mix their own colors to make new ones.
The younger kids and the ones just starting to learn about art had this array of paints down the middle of the table.
The finished products.
Bubbles are always fun.
I love the serious expression on Hudson's face as he studies his big sister...
...and then full of wonder as her bubbles float away.
He had so much fun!
Oh. And he's getting fast, too! Look at him run! It's hard to believe that less than 2 years ago he was not able to run at all and got tired so quickly. This boy has built up his muscles and endurance. Oh, and he has decided that he likes when Mommy places freeze tag because "she's old and I can catch her sometimes" HAHA! Too funny.
