Christmas is always a busy time. Lots of fun things to do together- some traditions, some new things.
This year Grandma Debbi and Grandpa Ed came for a visit in the middle of the month.
They helped us decorate our gingerbread houses.
Kai's house (TNT beanie), Kellen's house (rainbow road)
Emily's house- she ate most of it in the first 24 hours
Owen's house
Emily and Grandma play with Bunny (gingerbread houses in the back)
We went out to eat at Fujiyama Japanese Steak House- we had the dinner with the show. Everyone had a good time
We had a gift exchange with Grandma and Grandpa while they were with us
Emily made sure everyone got their gifts
Kai and Kellen are both pleased with their game set
Grandpa and Grandma open their gifts from us
Emily loves her new fuzzy dress
Saying goodbye to grandparents at home and ant the airport
(Kellen in black, Kai in brown)
Emily found a reindeer in a bag as a gift from Grandma after they had left.
During the month, our neighbors across the street had 2 trees come down in wind storms.
We helped them chop and cleaned up.
Emily loves on the gymnastic Coach Nadine's dog Juniper
Sleeping under the Christmas tree is definitely a tradition that noone seems to outgrow
(Owen on the couch, Kellen, Kai, Emily on the floor)
Our Christmas display by the front door
Kellen helped make the Cherry Cheese sweet bread
Our annual Trip to the "North Pole" on the Coeur d'Alene Cruise lines
It wasn't terribly cold outside that night, but cold enough to dress warm
Emily was so excited to hear her name called out by Santa
Kellen was relieved to hear his name called, too.
Gathering inside the ship at a table to ride back to CDA after the North Pole;
The family at the dock
(Dad, Mom, Kellen, Emily, Owen, Kai)
We had Giving Machines this year at the Spokane Valley Mall.
So we made the trip down and contributed some meals, clothes, and water treatment.
We did something new this year on Christmas Eve:
We tried out a Shepherd's Dinner.
Eating on pillows on the ground at a low table with simple foods from 2000 years ago: (unleavened) bread crackers, cheese, meat cubes (not often found at the time long ago, but protein for us now), olives, tomatoes, grapes, grape juice (instead of wine), cooked chickpeas. It was pretty simple, but everyone was filled and requested that we do it again.
Leaving food and notes for Santa.
Puzzles done (mostly by Mom) during the holiday season
We finally got some snow in the middle of December so Emily played out on the trampoline and Owen got caught with some friends from seminary making a snowman just outside the seminary building
Decorating cut-out cookies (with Emily's friend, Cora Olsen).
Dad, Kellen, and Emily (with Owen over on the far couch) watch a movie together
Maggie finds warm laps in different places with different people
Homemade Hot Chocolate On A Stick!
We shared some with friends and had some ourselves.
Owen, Emily, and Kai enjoy the Hot chocolate on a stick
in a steamy glass of whole milk
Emily made signs for everyone around the house- how much she loves her brothers
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