Christmas 2012

We celebrated family Christmas early this year again.  My kids kind of expect it and love it. I didn't take many pictures, partly because Princess got a Kindle Fire, and pictures of a kid staring at a pad are not exciting.   Buddy got a new bow, so stay tuned for pictures if him at the range.

 

  We got Scout a tent and a table and chairs.  His tent is a little bigger than I planned, but he loves it.   It is set up permanently in his room and he hides in there a lot.

 

Of course every toddlers favorite part... the wrapping paper.

He loves his little table and chairs.  They are set up in the dining room and he loves it.

 

 Plus there is room for a brother to eat breakfast.

 

 Munchkin got Lincoln logs so now with 2 sets they build lots. - Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.

Munchkin turns 5!!

How is it that Munchkin is 5?  She was just a little baby when I started this blog.  The day of her little family party she (and some siblings) were sick so we cancelled it, but she still had cupcakes and ice cream at home.

 This guy was making us laugh.  He didn't want to use his hands and ate his entire cupcake without them.

 Munchkin's creative side is coming through.  I know this picture is fuzzy, but she took it and it is of the signs she made for her store/restaurant.  It had pictures of the stuff she sold and she spent a few hours playing store.  It was fun.

 

Gingerbread houses

Sometimes we make gingerbread houses at home. This year one of the familys at school had a huge party and decorated houses.  There was lots of people and every kid got to decorate their own house.  Buddy had a scout event, but the girls and I had lots of fun and ate lots of sugar.

 

There were about 80 houses decorated that day.  Lots of fun for the kids and parents. The host family used it as a fundraiser for a charity that I completely can't remember the name of right now.  I thought it was a great idea.

Teacher Gifts 2012

This year the teacher (and neighbor)  gifts were bags filled with 6 different types of cookies.  I had fun making little bags.  The day spent making cookies was fun too, but not as much fun for me. The teachers loved them, I think partially because I gave them out a full week before the last day of school, so they were not overwhelmed with stuff on the last day of school before break.

 Each is different and they are fully lined, usually with the accent fabric. They can be folded over to stand up. 

 

This is the only Christmas themed bag, the print says NOEL.

Achery is for girls too

It is cold enough that we have moved to shooting at the indoor range.  It is heated and we can go anytime.  The girls like to shoot too. Princess needs to work on her form a little. 

 Buddy has better form and usually has better results. He uses the kids bow and my bow. (he got his own for Christmas)

 Munchkin is doing better, but is not quite strong enough to pull the bow by herself.  We try to spend time with her and let her shoot a little too.

Reading the Paper

Someone was trying to read the comics like the big people in the house when he got tackled by a big brother.

The big brother just wanted the Nook to play games.

Cub Scouts Hike

Buddy is a Tiger Scout this year, and of course Daddy is the den leader, so the family has been to a lot of scouting events.  We even went hiking on a very chilly rainy day. The boys and siblings still had lots of fun. 

My cool Cub Scout in his uniform for a picture.  He does not usually like his picture taken, this was no exception.

 

Hiking in the fall/winter can still be lots of fun and pretty in its own way.

 Once in a while we let him out of the carrier and he gets to walk.  Don't be fooled, it didn't last long.

 It is even tough to see the other side of the river.

 Then the kids did some leaf rubbings, because with scouts you can never just do one thing. 

Aprons

I really think aprons are cute.  However I rarely wear one. I typically cookwith a dishcloth on my shoulder, but no apron.  The kids however wear their aprons most of the time when we bake.  I have a collection of kids aprons. This is only some of them (The ones without kids names)

This is my first apron from when I was little, I believe my aunt made it for me.  It is threadbare but still cool. My sister copied this pattern and Princes has one similar with her name on it.
 (yes, I still keep it even though my name is spelled wrong.)

This is mine from when I was a little older, my mom made it for me when I outgrew the 1st one.  Princess wears this one lately.

 

 

 This is Buddy's apron that my mom made for him.  Of course it had to be camo.

 This is one my mom made for Munchkin. 

 This is one I made for my niece.  Actually I made 2 of these, one for my gift closet and one I added my nieces name on it and it was part of her Christmas present.  I was temped to make one with ruffles, but eventually decided simple was better and easier.

Christmas baking 2012

It wouldn't be Christmas without lots of baking and cooking and little helpers licking the fork.

He climbed up by himself and picked up this fork when I was in the other room.  He is a smart little guy.

Christmas Tree 2012

The drama of finding a Christmas tree.

You must go out on the coldest day of the year.  (2 days after Thanksgiving)

 Drag the whole family through SEVERAL fields of trees, and across little bridges in valleys.

 Carry a little one on your back and try to keep him as warm as possible.

 Finally pick a few trees that will be "good enough"

 Make children stand next to the few trees we like to mark their spot se we can compare them.
Letting one child curl up on the ground under a tree in an attempt to stay warm.

 Then cut, drag, load, unload and finally DECORATE...

Not too bad in the end.

Just Because I'm cute

 

Princess' Native American Project

School projects get more challenging as the kids get older.  Princess had a Native American project before Thanksgiving and she had to do a long report on the Iriquois, and then build a long house with people. 

This is the project that taught her how to use spray paint and  a glue gun.  It was all made from stuff we had in the house. Leather, sticks, stones, paper, beads, PlayMobile people, paper bags, cardboard, felt, paint, markers and tape.  She got a good grade and loved her project.  FYI.. the people in the following picture are holding her version of a lacrosse stick. Apparently the Iriquios were the first to play lacrosse.

Craft Fail-Felt Christmas Tree

I usually like most of the stuff I create, but once in a while it just doesn't work out.  I saw a cute felt Christmas tree on Pinterest, but it didn't have a tutorial or any sort of directions, but I thought, I could easily make it on my own.

Well I made it, but it just didn't turn out like I planned.  My version just didn't have the right dimensions and didn't work out.  I saved it, but now I don't know what to do with it.  All the ornaments are felt pieces from an old toy. So I just had to add string to them.  It needs a star, but I still don't like it.  After all the time I spent on it I don't want to just trash it. 

Thanksgiving cuteness

Sometimes the kids programs at school are pretty boring, sometimes they are great.  The Thanksgiving program was great.  Munchkins was a cute Pilgrim and her preschool class sang.  Princess' class sang and Buddy's class recited a Bible verse.  Of course I didn't get good pictures, the only one of Princess is really blurry.   Buddy is not smiling in his picture, but he is the one with no hair 3rd from left.

 

 

 

New Year of 2013

It has been a busy end of 2012 and we got lots of things done and lots of stuff just didn't happen. For those that ususally get Christmas cards, I appologize.  Merry Christmas!!

Christmas cards were never even bought or mailed. Maybe we will attempt Valentines day cards.  I will slowly update the blog with our events, but it is really for me to remember and take some time to write down all the fun stuff we have been doing.

Be prepared for breaks again though. My blogging time is normally interrupted like just now by a little boy needing his diaper changed and a little girl wanting a snack.  Or little boys getting into tight spots like this one.