Christmas

We had a low key good Christmas this year. The Huntsmans, Berrys and Grandma and Papa came over for Christmas Eve. We had a little Christmas program with the family, dinner and played games. The next morning the kids woke up bright and early, so we took our time playing and opening gifts, but then Andy and I got a glorious nap while they played with all their treasures. We started a new tradition this year, the first is that we had the kids write letters to each other to put in their stockings. Andy's sister Kim told me about how her family does that and how it really starts off their Christmas day right with appreciating and lifting each other up. I really admire the relationship her children have with each other. I hope this tradition helps bring us closer together and make our Christmas' more meaning full too.  We had dinner at the Shinsels and tried out some of our new games. It was a good day.

Final days

In the last few days before Christmas we squeezed in a few more things. The kids all had their Christmas programs at school, and we had a night out with the girls to go to the live nativity. It was the second time that day we got to see the Clyde camel and he was super nice. Abby said he was like Sven since she got to feed him carrots. Sydney wanted to make sure we didn't miss any stop on our way around the recreated Bethlehem and we had a good time. The boys had fun staying home watching a movie for their boys night too:).

Holidays are here

This year a friend told me about a local Christmas tree farm where we could go to choose and our own tree. We tried it out and I'm super glad we did. I think the kids had fun and Andy was a sport about getting us a huge tree! Later that day the kids and I went to the Festival of Trees where they did holiday crafts and got to meet Santa! It was a fun start to this cold, windy winter in La Grande :)

Nutcracker Recital 2018

Its almost time for the annual Nutcracker ballet recital so they had dance pictures a few weeks ago. This is Sydney's fourth year at the La Grande School of Ballet where she gets to participate in the Nutcracker every year and it's become a family tradition :).

Halloween in Texas

While Andy and I were on our cruise, the kids had a great time staying with Grandma and Grandpa Pack in Texas. They got to do lots of fun things and even celebrate Halloween. They loved playing with their Turano cousins too and were sad when it was time to meet us at the airport and fly home again.