Today is April 18. Way too late to be posting about December and Christmas, but that's just been my life lately. However, this morning as I post this, it looks like Christmas. It's snowing and the wind is blowing. Trust me, I would much rather have this weather in December - not now!
So the week after we got back from Disney was BUSY. First, Brandon was gone again on another business trip. And the day he was supposed to come home, we got really bad weather. In addition to that was all the last minute Christmas crazies. Including making snacks for both 3rd grade and kdg classes. Yep, didn't plan that one well, but it was fun. We made these little snowman cupcakes.
Sadie's preschool program was delayed a day due to bad weather, however Brandon was able to make it.
This is her sweet buddy, Kellen, behind her.
We all love and appreciate these three wonderful teachers!
We were all excited to have Grandmom and Pops join us for Christmas this year. After a good Christmas Eve service, we went home and make pizza snowballs again.
Then it was time for pictures by the tree. I am not sure why they are holding up fingers.
Brandon then read the Christmas story while the girls acted it out with their nativity sets. Despite all the laughter, I trust the true meaning of Christmas is sticking in their hearts.
We opened a few gifts on Christmas Eve. Analise made this rug at school, so she was really excited to give it to us.
The girls had each bought gifts for their sisters from the dollar section at Target.
Look at that hug!
Christmas morning was the traditional morning. We opened stockings, ate our traditional breakfast and then finished with gifts. Here are a few highlights:
Maisie got this scooter from Santa
Analise was thrilled with her Burkhead jersey from Santa
Santa guessed at Sadie's gift, but it was a big hit.
Maisie was going through a phase where she insisted she needed glasses; it got rather humorous. So imagine her delight when she opened up a pair of glasses.
Hmmm...I wonder what this gift is...
Analise (and I) have had a lot of fun with the cakepop maker!
Post Christmas is always a sign of how blessed we are.
We did something a little different this year. Bill and Jacki were the only family in town, so we invited them over for dinner. We also invited our "older" neighbors to join us since they didn't have any family coming to town. It was a sweet, fun and stinky time. Wouldn't you know it that the one time I have company over my oven decides to stink? I couldn't figure out what in the world was burning in there that caused such a stench. (A couple of weeks later I found in the back on the top rack a burnt object. It turned out to be a missing cupcake that I had blamed the dog eating.)
Brandon grilled turkey tenderloins for dinner.
These two got their own little table.
Our crew; it was a great time!
These two are sweet buds.
First time making cake pops
This Pops trying out his cake pop of choice.
I didn't have enough holding spots, so we pulled out my strainer.
Rest of the week was filled with fun memories with Grandmom and Pops. Brandon and I got some time together, we went shopping, read books, played games, watched "Cosby" each night, etc. Here is Grandmom playing the Wii with the girls.
Once upon a time these two read books together. This week Pops introduced her to crossword puzzles. They did several together.
You will never guess what Brandon and I did for our time together. I went on my first hunting trip. He took me out to the pheasant farm so I could experience hunting firsthand. It was a cold day with gentle snow. I found it very quiet and peaceful. I enjoyed walking the field watching Caramel work and visiting with my husband. He posed me here at the end holding a bird and his gun. Truly, I just walked the entire time.
One of the highlights of the week was something new for all of us. We drove 45 minutes away to visit a hyrdo-power plant to view some bald eagles.
Pops is looking...
The girls are looking...
Sadie takes a turn...
And here is the view without the zoom
Same view with the zoom. It was amazing seeing these birds in natural habitat.
Now to the part that caused just a bit of drama. Since we had a 45 minute drive home, I took all the girls to use the bathroom. It was a big one stall bathroom, so I naturally closed the main door behind us. However, when we went to leave I couldn't get the door open. It would not budge. It didn't take long for all three girls to be in tears and for me to get cranky at them for crying. I tried all sorts of things. My mom finally realized that we should be out by now, so I yelled through the door that we were stuck inside. Brandon came to the door, pushed on it, and I was able to release the lock. We were free! Three traumatized girls, and one relieved mom immersed from the bathroom. My husband really can fix everything.
We took more of a back road home, and we saw several more eagles in the trees and fields. We loved it!
Thanks for another great visit mom and dad!
