Christmas Eve 2011

On Christmas Eve, my Dad and Heidi and her boys came over for dinner. We ate around lunch time and had brisket and potatoes and it was yummy lunch! Then the kids played for a while and then we did a treasure hunt for them to find their present (Pajamas). After that my kids wrote a note for Santa and left out cookies and carrots and celery for the reindeer. Jake and I got presents wrapped and put under the tree and then we waited until morning...

Ice Skating

We have done a lot of fun things this Christmas break and here are some pictures of our Ice Skating adventure! My awesome babysitter Sadie came with us as well as her friend Mallory. It was nice to have a couple extra hands for the kids! We got there and found out it was actually free that day which was awesome! We also found out that is because it was Skate with Santa day so that was really fun for the kids to skate around with Santa. Carson picked up where he left off last time we went and was pretty much skating around on his own. Marcus went around one time clinging onto me for dear life and didn't want to go again, so he sat in the hockey "penalty type box" for most of the time eating a candy cane that Santa gave him. Shalise was actually quite the little skater! I couldn't believe it! She held hands for about 15 minutes then I realized she wasn't really holding onto me and I let her go. After that she pretty much skated on her own just wanted me close enough to grab her if she lost her balance! The kids did great and I was so proud of them, maybe next year I will be ok to go on my own and won't need the extra hands! :)

Christmas Dinner With The Gillens

We celebrated Christmas a little early with the Gillens. They were going to Jake's sister's house for Christmas so we celebrated a week or so before. We had a yummy dinner, the kids got to perform in a talent show and then they got some Christmas presents from Nana. Carson got some Roller Blades, Marcus got a camera and Shalise got a couple barbies. Shalise also got a dress for her birthday. We had a great time with family!

Kids School Programs

The kids had their school programs all on the same morning right before the Christmas break. Carson had a sing-a-round at his school. I had a hard time getting a good place to get a picture of him so I don't have any pictures of his, but he sand "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" with his class and he did great! Marcus and Shalise had their Preschool program and they got to make a craft and then sang a few songs. It was really cute! Nana and Gramps also came to watch and the kids were so excited to have them there to see them perform! :)

New House

We just moved into the house we built and are so excited to be here! Jake worked so hard on the house and did an amazing job. Eveything turned out so good, the kids rooms turned out really cute and we love it so far! Here are some pictures:

Shalise's Dance Recital

Shalise had a little dance recital before Christmas and they did a dance to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". It was really cute, she had so much fun and we loved watching her!

Kids See Santa!

The kids went to see Santa tonight. They had a tree-lighting ceremony at City Hall and then Santa and Ms. Claus arrived on the firetruck and went inside and we all went in so the kids could tell Santa what they wanted. Shalise told me she wanted lots of Barbies and lots of pretty dresses for them and that is what she told Santa. Marcus told he wanted a pogo-stick and then I told him he should ask for something bigger like a scooter or bike or something, so he asked for a bike which is great cuz I'm pretty sure that is what he is getting... Then Carson went back and forth the whole time in line and said he wanted a 4Wheeler, or a jeep he can ride on, or a BB Gun or a new Polar Express Train. So he gets to Santa, sits on his lap and then tells him he wants a Violin! Ya that came out of nowhere... He asked me on the way home if that is really what he is going to get and I asked if that's what he really wants and he said," I don't know but I don't think so. Can you send Santa a text and tell him I want a remote control jeep?" So funny... Love that he thinks I can text Santa. I told him you bet I can. :)