Christmas Day 2012

Christmas morning started out early with the cousins reuniting in Gramie and Poppi's room.  They have a TV in there now so this is a popular hangout with this crowd.

Then it was on to seeing what Santa brought.  The kids decided they were good since they got pretty much everything they asked for.

Marcus got a belated birthday present too...Superman...Perfect!

Gia got a baby for Christmas.  She was so sweet...lots of kisses.

Marcus stole Daddy's Christmas present...an Eastern Eagles hat!  Go Eags!

Olivia shows off one of the presents the kids got from one of the cousins...they built this big submarine already...pretty cool!

Emma models the bathrobes we bought for all of the cousins.  Fits perfectly..those were a hit!

Then the kids braved the cold and played outside for a while...there was even more snow than the few days before...it was definitely a white Christmas!

Auntie Tracy agreed to go hot tubing with the kids. 

Gramie bought matching PJs...time for the cousin pictures.  We did a few on Gramie's bed...cute!

And the traditional picture by the couch in order of age...
Sophie (9), Ceci (7), Olivia (6), Emma (6), Marcus (5), Gia (3), Elle (3), Baylor (1)
What a cute group!  We had to travel home the same day due to me having to work (I was not the most popular person among the others as a result).  But overall we had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Eve

 

Today was a relaxing day for the most part.  Marc and I went shopping and left the kids with Poppi.  Gramie had to work 1/2 a day today.  We all met for lunch then back to the house.  The girls waited patiently for the cousins to come...unfortunately they still are not here though.  Olivia and Emma did get to watch "A Christmas Story" for the first time though.  Marcus watched "Frosty" in a different room...he did catch the end of "A Christmas Story" though.  They had lots of questions about the old days after that...why no TV??? was the biggest question.

 

The hot tub was a hit again.  However Daddy taught the kids to roll in the snow when they got too hot...Emma showed us what she's got. 

 

Marc had to demonstrate too...look at Marcus...bare feet in the snow! 

 

That was Daddy's version of the Polar Bear Plunge.  The kids loved it!

 

The kids brought the gingerbread cookies from home that they made.  They put a plate of cookies and one piece of fudge together for Santa along with a glass of Milk.  The carrot is for the reindeer to share...we've been following Santa on NORAD and the kids thought by the time he makes it to Gramie and Poppi's house they will all be pretty full...we figured they could just share this one carrot.

 

Quick photo in front of the Christmas tree...Look at all those presents...Santa hasn't even come yet!

 

Stockings are hung and these three are ready!  They've already been tucked into bed.  The rest of the cousins probably won't be here until late so the kids will have to reunite tomorrow morning...should make for an exciting Christmas morning for sure!  Hope everyone is having a Very Merry Christmas Eve!

Christmas is coming

 We arrived safely at Gramie and Poppi's house yesterday afternoon.  They have lots of snow too!  The kids were restless because of the drive so we dressed them up and threw them outside to run off some energy.

 

Emma is really into posing lately..."take a picture Mom!"

 

I found Olivia rolling large snowballs.  Gramie witnessed her stepping backwards and then running toward the snowball to try to get some force behind it...the snow was heavy!

 

Marcus was determined to break through the ice on Oergel Creek.

 

He decided to take a break and lick the snow...YUCK!

 

The kids cooperated for a quick photo.

 

Sisters.

 

 

 

Then they wanted to make their own poses.  Cute!

 

 

 

Olivia recruited some help.  She really wanted to build a fort.

 

 

They got three large snowballs done before the other two bailed on Olivia...oh well, maybe when Uncle Wes gets here he'll help build a snow fort!

 

 

 

More posing from Emma. 

 

 

 

Marcus tried out the bikes.  He went as fast as he could on the asphalt then plowed into the snow.  Boys!

 

 

Gramie gave the kids a job...she wanted them to spell Merry Christmas with the blocks.  Look what they ended up with..."Merry Christmas Santa Love Olivia Emma and Marcus".

 

 

Gramie and I shopped this morning.  Gramie found this cute Christmas house craft.  The kids got busy.  (you'll notice the Merry Christmas message is no longer in the window...Marcus decided he didn't want it there anymore.).

 



 

The finished product...front side...

 

...back...they have a stocking on the back with each cousin's name on it...the cousins should all be here by Christmas...we're ready!

Winter Break

It couldn't have been more perfect...the first official day of winter break for the girls and look at all of this snow we woke up to!

It's just the kids and me this week...Daddy has to work. 

They thought it was fun to play on a play gym full of snow.

The girls started piling the snow up...they eventually moved to the side of the house and started making huge snowballs for a snow fort. I was busy trying to shovel snow then so didn't get pictures of it. I'm sure we'll be back for more though.




 
Emma Marie....

Olivia Rena....

Marcus Charles.

I needed a break from shoveling (it's hard work!)...so we brought out the sleds.  The kids took turns with Marcus's new sled.

We also brought out the trusty old blue sled.

Weeeeeee.....

It was a lot of fun...but our hill turned to dirt.  It was still fun though.

We ended with a jump for joy!

Well...two jumps for joy :-)  LOVE THE SNOW!!!!

Christmas Cookie Time

I am home this week with the kids.  Yesterday Marcus and I decided it was time for cookies.  We made Sugar cookie dough and Gingerbread dough while the girls were at school.  When they got home we all rolled out the sugar cookies, cut them and baked them.  Today was frosting day..Marcus and I started early.

He did a great job!

When the girls got home, he showed them how it was done...they got right to work!

They each picked some colors and the decorating went into full force.  Olivia picked red!

Emma picked blue.  Marcus stuck with green, we added some yellow and purple too.  They turned out great!  We baked the gingerbread men today; the kids were impressed that none of them tried to get away :-)  However, they did sample the gingerbread men and none of them really liked them.  Emma and Olivia think once we frost them they will like them though; Marcus is not too convinced...we'll see tomorrow!