Christmas Week

We had a lovely week of Christmas. It is always nice to have a few days of no school for the children before the big day, so we have time for some festive traditions.

Sunday night we drove around the neighborhoods to look at the Christmas lights.

Monday evening we went to the duck pond to see the Christmas lights.

We found Olaf among the lights at the pond this year. Can you tell what kind of weather we are having? Everyone is wearing shorts and t-shirts!

Tuesday afternoon we had our annual Polar Express Party; this year we invited the Olsens and the Dansons, making 8 children total. We made bell necklaces, colored train pictures, watched the movie, and ate popcorn and drank hot chocolate.

Wednesday was Christmas Eve. The children finished prepping their gifts, and they were very excited. We let the children open their gifts for each other, and their gifts to Jared and I. Then we watched White Christmas.

The children handmade Jared and I each a snuggly Christmas blanket (under Anwyn's direction).

The children selected or made nice gifts for each other. You can read more about their gift giving here.

For dinner that evening we were invited to the Cricchio's home (along with the 4 missionaries in our ward and a single sister). We had a lovely dinner and a nice time playing and visiting. We brought Scotcharoos for dessert. It was almost 9 when we got home, and the children went quickly to bed.

Christmas Day the girls were awake by 6 a.m., but we waited until Zach woke up at 7 to start the festivities. Stockings were opened first, then breakfast of caramel pull aparts and bacon. Then it was time for presents. The children all got Lego sets, and the girls got Rollerblades. We got a couple new games to play as a family (Dixit and King of Tokyo), a few movies and books, and some plastic baseball bats and balls. We also tried out K-nex this year. We spent a nice day relaxing and playing, most of us in our pajamas. Dinner that evening was ham, funeral potatoes, rolls, and zucchini.

Ready for the stockings!

The first Lego build of the day: a Star Wars set for Zach.

Books for all! Even Jared and I, although we missed the picture. 

The Jungle Rescue Lego set the girls were eagerly anticipating.

Reading the hilarious new non-picture book from the Thiriots.

The K'nex helicopter with spinning blades.

Friday was a day at home together, playing games, reading books, watching movies. A nice vacation day!