Christmas 2010

I hope you all had a meaningful Christmas. We had 6 family get togethers but only made it to 5. We are so grateful for family, well aware that there are people who really don't have get togethers at all due to family living far away or not having a functional family or not having family at all. And while it's nice to have the get togethers over, i'm so thankful for the opportunity for fellowship with family. And was thinking the other day how blessed Rod and i are to have been brought up with a strong christian heritage.

So w/out further adieu, here's some of our Christmas photos, in rather random order.

Christmas slippers!

I talked my grandma into getting Adam Hungry Hungry Hippos. Love that game!

My cousins organized a snowman craft for the kids. Christmas fell on "pancake day" this year. Daddy got creative. Don't they look scrumptious?

Clay w/ 2nd cousin Lexi.

Clay liked knocking over the manger scene, chewing on the pieces, and throwing them around.

Updated photo w/ Rod's family.
Ben talking w/ Great Grandma Smoker

The Clay collage

I've been accused by multiple people that I probably don't take many vidoes of Clay. I'm here to tell you that you are correct, but i've taken several lately because he's doing so many new things. As you'll see below Clay can stand, walk, and crawl now!

Tea anyone?

Our church ladies had a Christmas tea last week, which was so nice.

But my favorite tea party is w/ the boys (and neighbor girl, in this case), using their very fancy Curious George tea set!

Isn't it adorable?!? This could only come from a Grandma.

Come on over for some tea!

True story:

The twins keep their room looking like this. They pick up after themselves and keep it neat...

Adam keeps his room looking like this....He doesn't clean up after himself. Adam looked at this picture and said 'i usually have more toys out then that!'

When i was little i used to love when my mom would rearrange the furniture in my room. i told Adam yesterday we will clean his room and rearrange it. It was fun. Now to keep it looking like this!

Christmas program

Last year just Adam was involved with the play, this year the twins were also old enough to participate. It was the cutest little program with mostly singing and a couple solos and lines. It was done during worship on Sunday with preschool thru grade 5 involved. The boy's preschool class dressed up for the manger scene. Too cute. Their class sang "Away in a Manger" together. Krista and Donna did a wonderful job coodinating the whole thing.

The boys all wanted to be different things; Brad was a sheep.

Adam his shepherd:

And Ben a Wiseman:

In line, ready to get up on stage. Everyone fit their part so well. The kids were so cooperative as some of us moms had to "wing" it the day before, with who was going to be which part.The manger scene/ just the sheep and shepherds first:

Then, everyone....Good job Frogs! (the name of their sunday school class)

decorating and such...

The day after Thanksgiving, the boys were asking to get Christmas decorations out. So for the first year EVER we've had the place decorated before Dec. 1st!

Christmas is so fun w/ little ones. their excitment, questions, involvement has been a delight. We're excited to do some things that we did last year, starting up some traditions.

Today my mom came over and i took the morning to get things for some Christmas projects we have going. up until today i was a bit stressed by all that needed done. But now that the supplies are gotten and in the house, i feel better. The fun can begin :)

Last year after Christmas i got the boys each a Christmas tree for their room, like 80% off! it's very small, but they love it. The lights added a nice touch.

Some other 80% off items. ( i was surprised how quickly places like target and walmart totally get rid of all christmas stuff and get out valentines things. some of these things came from Michaels, they kept their clearance christmas items out longer).
i simply could not resist this Goodwill bargin for Clay.. Aside from the Christmas buzz around here, i'm still doing homeschool with Adam. He's learning how to read some words. Actually he does better spelling words then reading. If i tell him to write the word bus, sad, nut, cat etc..he can. But to ask him to read a word is harder for him but when he wants to, he sometimes can do that too. i knew it would be a process so i have no expectations on his reading. In other 'school' news, Brad wrote his name for the first time today! use your imagination, the first couple letters are sideways! i was proud of him, he picked up on it on his own.