It's always fun when Aunt Sandi comes!

Sandi and Dave came for a visit this year and they stayed with us for a few of the days they were here. It's always so much fun when they come! Our kids absolutely love it and count the days until they get here. It's almost like Santa is coming for a visit. Can't say as I blame them. They always play with them and entertain them while they are here. This year Aunt Sandi brought a gingerbread house to decorate with them. It didn't go as planned and eventually they just decorated and ate some of the pieces, but it was still a lot of fun.

Then there was all the playing of Wii games and tournaments going on in there. What a couple of great uncle and aunts they are! Our kids are very lucky! There would have been walks and other things going on, but this year we had rain upon rain upon rain that didn't let up for an entire week, so we were stuck inside the whole time. It didn't matter though. They were just happy to have their fun aunt and uncle here. Me too!

Christmas Get-together 2010

The weekend before Christmas was our annual family get-together and this year 2 of Sandi's kids were able to make it! It was so nice to have them there! Steven brought his girlfriend, Tahnee, with him and Devin took an instant liking to her. He wouldn't leave the poor girl alone. We all had fun playing cards and visiting. It's always a highlight of the Christmas season!

Uncle Dave, Devin, Avery, Aunt Sandi and Justin

Tahnee, Steven and Devin

Steven, Sandi, Matt

Card game!

Jill and Devin

Avery and Lexi

Pre-Christmas break

The last day of school before Christmas break the kids had pajama day and each had some fun stuffed planned and I was able to go and participate in each of their classes. I love being a stay-at-home-mom!

For Devin's special day he participated in the kindergarten's annual Polar Express Parade. Kirk decorated his train to look like a Class A Motorhome, which the kids are all really into since we got our trailer earlier this year. It was a rainy day, so they paraded around the inside of the building for most of it. He later told me loved it and had a lot of fun. He also was able to enjoy hot chocolate and got to lay on the carpet and watch the movie, The Polar Express with his classmates.

Avery's class did many crafts. She made a picture frame for the picture her teacher took of her the day before wearing a santa hat, a paper wreath, an ornament and some other really cute things. They had pizza and drinks for their lunch and had a class gift exchange. The below picture is of her with the principle, Mrs. Maxwell. She has a daughter that is one of Avery's friends and so she was helping in the class that morning too just being a mom. They also watched Santa Paws.

Justin did a gift exchange with their secret santa's, made crafts and had a Christmas feast that included ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, veggies and rolls. Yum! They also watched Toy Story 3.

Prior to all this fun was holiday school spirit week. One of the days was crazy holiday hair, which Devin opted out of, but this is what Justin and Avery looked like. Crazy!

Beware! There may be a little bragging

So, soccer was over and I got a phone call claiming Avery had been chosen to be an All-Star. I was skeptical because in the rush of information I heard something about free clinic and then you can sign up to play club soccer. Club? That costs money. So, when I asked the coach about it she said it's legit and to go and just take advantage of the free clinics. Upon going to these clinics we were told that the club scouted the games and picked out the kids they felt had the most potential. Well, that sounds good, right? I know they still want our money and all, but it still makes you feel good that your daughter was chosen. So, for 4 weeks she gets the opportunity to go get some free lessons on how to play a better game. No club for us, but we'll take the free training! Go Avery!

Awards abound

Yesterday was the kids awards ceremony where the school recognizes the students in grades 1 - 5 for different achievements. This year Avery was recognized for her "Wonderful Work Habits" and Justin for being "Perfectly Punctual and Ever Present" and he also made honor roll again (which they only recognize in grades 3 - 5). Way to go, guys! Mom and Dad are super proud of you!

Thanksgiving

We had Thanksgiving here at our house this year. My parents (and their dog, Teddy) and Kirk's mom came over and we had a nice day. Kirk's mom paid for the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy from Albertson's and we were all very happy with it! Thanks, Ann! I added to it with rolls, sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole and my mom and dad brought cole slaw and pies. Thank you for that! Ordering seemed to help with making it much more low key and I really liked that and just may do it again for Christmas dinner. We are very thankful for all that we have - for our wonderful country, our beautiful and loving family, our health, Kirk's work in this tough economy, our friends and all that we enjoy that make our every day lives that much more manageable and enjoyable. But most of all we are thankful for our savior and his example of the way we need to be living and his sacrifice for us. I hope that as we enter this Christmas season we will be sure to remember why we celebrate this time of year and can be thankful for even the smallest of our blessings.

Santa is in town!

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving I thought I had the best idea - beat the crowds and go see Santa. I mean who goes to see Santa BEFORE Thanksgiving? Evidently, lots of people do. At 10:05 am there was actually a line and we waited about 20 minutes. Really? But the kids were good and Justin humored me by having his picture taken too. And now it feels good to have that out of the way. Merry Christmas!

Can this really be considered camping?

Friday we packed up and headed to Santee Lakes down in San Diego right when the kids got home from school. A fun start to Thanksgiving break. By the time we got there and got set up we only had time to play at their park for a little while since it gets dark so early. But we were able to roast marshmallows and have smores not realizing this is the last time we'd enjoy outside for pretty much to rest of the trip.

It rained almost the entire weekend making for a lovely muddy mess outside. We did try to do a little fishing in the rain on Saturday morning and I was able to click a few pictures before it started coming down too much.

Devin wasn't thrilled with being out in the rain, so he and I headed back to the trailer. It wasn't long before the rest of them followed suit. I can't remember the order of the events of the weekend because we were shut in the trailer almost the whole time, but it was still a lot of fun.

The kids played Legos,

we watched The Polar Express while the rain came down,

drank hot chocolate, watched The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, went out to dinner and did a little shopping at Target and Walmart and also rented Toy Story 3 from Redbox for one night. Justin even ended up catching a trout in the rain. Woo hoo!

But the most impressive thing over the whole weekend was Devin's love for beading that lasted about 8 hours one of the days. He ended up making 20 necklaces and bracelets! He is now lovingly referred to as bead boy or bling boy.

It was a different way to "camp", but we still had a good time. From the looks of it from this picture on our way home, it was exhausting. :-) It's blurry because the road was pretty bumpy and I took it with my phone.

And a few random pictures taken throughout the 3 1/2 days.