Christmas 2009

New Zums for Webkinz world.
Tears over the cheetah that Alexandra really wanted.



It's a wii!

Cool!
Desperado!
Scarlett opening her gifts.

Helpers.

Christmas Eve

Cortney had a brilliant idea for Christmas this year. As Dean had to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, trying to do things the best for everyone was a dilemma. So we had dinner about 5:30, just after Dean got home. After we ate, the girls opened their Christmas Eve packages - new pajamas. Got their pajamas on. Then the girls and I went upstairs. We had bedtime stories and songs. Then the 3 of us curled up in Riley's bed and pretended to go to sleep. It was hard to get Alexandra to be quiet, even when we heard Dean coming upstairs to get us. While we were "sleeping," Cort, Dean, and Aric were sorting gifts and stuffing stockings. So then it was "morning" and we could come back downstairs to empty stockings, and start the wrapping paper ripping. Our tradition for unwrapping gifts, is to go around in a circle, taking turns opening gifts one at a time. That way everyone can see what everyone else got. It was fun watching Riley's face when we were each opening her gift to us. She had made the cutest, pom-pom bears for everyone. This was her first year to make gifts (she's written stories and drawn pictures for us for years), but this was different in her anticipation. Cort's bear was green - her favorite color. Riley wrote and illustrated a story about her family at school. Hopefully, Cortney's blog will have the story and pictures posted. It was neat, and touching, and funny, too. After packages, the girls and I had to log-in their new webkinz. Then Dean and I had pie. Cort and Aric were too full of mashed potatoes. Riley and Alexandra had ice cream with chocolate sauce. Then the girls gave everyone hugs and kisses and went to bed. Aric and I drove home. It was about 9:30, so I just went straight to bed. Sometime later in the night, Sunil called from India and had to leave voicemail, to wish us a "Merry Christmas."

More Hats

On the 22nd of Dec., I went over to Celeste's to take presents - birthday and Christmas. The big ones asked if they could open their Christmas gifts when Kendra was finished opening her birthday present. It was okay with Celeste. And I was hoping to get pictures of them in their hats anyway. Micah wasn't sure he wanted a "girl" hat, until I explained that these hats with the earflaps and hanging strings are the hats the crazy snowboarders wear. That made it a cool hat. Their ears will stay warm, and that is the best part. Plus, these hats stay on, stocking hats have a tendency to slide up and off.

Jerran was asleep for his nap, so he opened his package later on.

We've decided that Callie looks like Morla, the turtle in Neverending Story.

Jerran telling me about Lightning McQueen, from the movie "Cars." He says it so cute.

Kendra's Birthday

Dec. 22nd was Kendra's 5th birthday. I went over in the afternoon with birthday and Christmas gifts. Kendra is such a cutie. She let me brush her hair up into a ponytail. And then I put in the fancy hair tie that I'd hoped would show in the picture.

At Church on Sunday, the 21st, the Primary children sang a Christmas Carol as part of the Sacrament Service. Kendra was the only one who was using sign language as they were singing. The whole congregation got a good chuckle out of Kendra throwing up her arms at the end.

Riley's Christmas Party

Riley's Christmas party was on Dec. 18th. They had crafts to do, as well as all the stuff to eat. Riley and Alexandra are working on Riley's snowglobe. They never could get the snowman to stick. So they decided it was like the Pixar snowman, who is trying to escape and burns his nose lighting dynamite. (Pixar Shorts DVD)

Christmas Pageant

This was Saturday morning, Dec. 13. There are only 7 kids in Alexandra's class, so the 3 wisemen had to be the inn keepers. (No one wanted to be the inn keepers.)
Alexandra telling Mary and Joseph, "No room."


Going to get her crown.






The 3 Wisemen.

Worshiping Baby Jesus, who the Angel threw down on the stage delivering Him. :)

Singing Carols.

Giving.

Ringing jingle bells with enthusiasm!

Alexandra lost her jingle bell, the string broke.

Alexandra being comforted because she lost her jingle bell.

More jingle bells.

Alexandra learned sharing.

Her sharing award.

The class made presents for parents and grandparents.