Christmas with Grandma Tammy and Grandpa Paul

My mom hosted our Christmas get-together this year, which was nice. We first ate a yummy dinner and then we opened gifts. The kids could hardly stand the wait. In fact, they organized all the presents while we were eating and cleaning up because they were so impatient. So, naturally we let the kids open first.  Carter got a set of  kid drums, a fun little flash light and a new remote control car that he HAD to have.  (In fact, when Grandma called earlier in the week Carter told her to take one of his presents back and get the car because he HAD to have a remote control car again!)  Cute boy.  Alex got a remote control car, a flashlight, and a robot. 

The girls LOVE their boots!

Checking out the fun new earnings and necklaces.  

They are such girly, girls!

The girls wanted Make-Up and unfortunately my mom listened.  But, we do have a rule.  Make up is not allowed at School or Church until they are 14. (And would you look at Nadya's arms!!!!!  Move over Michelle Obama!!)   Misty got a sewing machine and was very excited.  She wants to learn how to sew.  I got a new point and shoot camera.  A nice, small compact one for my purse for those occasions when my big camera doesn't really need to tag along.  (But, don't get me wrong, I still love my canon.)  And as for Doug.... Well, he got something to help finish Hallie's room!  An air compressor!  Just in time as Hallie is very ready for her own room again!! Doug was excited too!  He no longer has to borrow one from my parents!

 

 Proof- that I was there.....  And the first Christmas spent

with my Uncle David and his sweet dog, Jackie.  

Great Memories for us all!

 

One last picture to document a new Carter Phase....  It's called---I can count past one hundred. Do you wanna hear?"  Uncle Aaron was the poor victim in this picture!  (And when he got to 92, he paused and said, "I am REALLY close!"  so cute.... ) 

Christmas with the Cousins- Danish Style

We celebrated Christmas with the Cousins on the 23rd because Christmas Eve can be rather hectic.  The kids had a great time.  We had a traditional Danish dinner- frikadeller, potatoes, gravy, veggies, crescent rolls and "baby rats." They are a danish dish that are actually known better as boneless birds, but once my grandpa served them to a few missionaries and teased them about being baby rats (because they are rolled up and kind of look like a rat or birds body).  Anyways, my grandpa tells a great story about how worried his guests looked and he still laughs to this day when he shares the story.    The same missionaries would return on a regular basis for "baby rats" and well, the name just stuck and that is what we have always called them.  The name is not very appetizing, but they are delicious!  The recipe for the link says to simmer them for about 2-3 hours but we always use a pressure cooker and cook them at pressure for twenty minutes.  (we also grate the onion)  So the kids ate dinner and then we had dessert.  Traditional Rice pudding with Strawberry sauce. (recipe is for cherry sauce, but we always had strawberry)  Traditionally one whole almond is placed in the pudding and who ever finds it is suppose to have good luck for the next year and usually receives an extra gift.  The kids love looking for the almond and most of them enjoy the pudding as well.  I love it!

The kids were frantically eating their dessert, hoping to find the almond. Chris found his first, but it turned out they all had an almond. Not usually the case, but they were excited about it.  Below is Chris holding the almond and Nadya showing off the prizes.  Smencils and candy cane M&M's. (Thanks for supplying the gifts Heather!)  I decided they would all get an almond because I remember my Grandpa doing the same thing when I was a kid and how surprised we all were! We received m&m candy canes too!

All The Cousins With Their Prizes-

Next we exchanged gifts.  We draw names so we each get one gift and give one gift.  It works out well.

 We had a great night!  One to be remembered!  I love, love making these kinds of memories!

Girls Christmas Program

Nadya, being in 4th grade performed first.  She sang a song about how her family goes caroling each Christmas Eve and how horrible they sound.  It was a cute song.

Hallie's class went next and sang a very creative song about Santa's name having No "L" and many other funny lines about No "L".  (Such as Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pale of water, but there was no well.) It was  a fun song and  she did a fantastic Job!

In which Nadya ages three years.......

Nadya has been asking BEGGING for layers and side bangs for quite some time. I really hated the idea of layers because they require a lot of upkeep and the idea of getting all of her hair back for gymnastics 4 times a week was haunting. So, I caved and let her get bangs instead. This first picture was taken right after we got home, which also happened to be right after her dentist appointment in which she completely freaked out and didn't want to get a shot. We were all shocked as she has been so good about it in the past. All I can think of is last summer she injured her toe and received a shot in her big toe that was excruciatingly painful and I believe she was relating all shots to that one. Luckily, after about 45 minutes of laughing gas and the promise of bangs, she came around and had no problem opening her mouth and keeping it open. She was a little apprehensive still for the first shot, but after the initial prick she was fine and the second one was warmly welcomed. Silly girl! So, this first picture she is a little numb and can't quite smile right. It is adorable. Well, atleast I get a good laugh out of it! I am pretty certain she aged about three years.

This second photo was taken a couple hours later after the numbing wore off. I struggle with how quickly she is growing up already, but I do like her bangs. She has a longer face and I think they are really flattering for her face shape. I just hate how much she has changed in the past 3 years. We missed out on the first 7 years so it seems like time goes twice as fast with her!

I do believe this is the youngest picture we have of her. Sad that it's her Russian passport, but it shows how much she has changed in 3 short years.
I would LOVE to have a baby picture or even a toddler picture.

Gingerbread Village

Last year we decorated a Gingerbread house and the girls decorated one side while the boys worked on the other side.  It worked out well, but there was a little bit of moaning on the girls' part about the boys' side not being everything they had imagined.  So when I saw a gingerbread village for the same price as the house at target, I was sold, sold, sold!  Everyone had their own house, building or church to decorate and everyone was able to decorate the piece they wanted.  I have no clue how that worked out, but it did! (insert smiley face).  The kids were all so independent this year.  I just assembled the houses beforehand and they entertained themselves for quite a while.  I probably should have taken a picture of the after math.  It was a bit messy, but they had a blast making it!

Carter and Hallie decorating away!

Alex's building had a flat roof and he kept stacking the candy on.  We were concerned it wouldn't look good, but it turned out great.  Nadya decorated the church and did a fantastic job!

We were so impressed with how independent Carter was and how well his house turned out.  He put a lot of thought into his house and overall it looked just as good as the rest of them.  

Not bad for a four year old!

Daddy is finished with his Chalet and 

Hallie is hard at work on her house!

Ta Da!!!

Christmas Card Picture

Well, If I could figure out how to save the

actual card as a jpeg, I'd share the entire card.....

But, I can't so the picture will have to do..........

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Programs- The Boys

The boys had their Christmas Programs. Super, super cute. I had a horrible seat for Alex's performance so I didn't take many pics.... But, I did get a pretty funny one. His friend, Pierce looks like he is angry in the background. Funny........ Alex's class  sang 4 or 5 songs and they did a fantastic job.  I just love the way Alex moves his little mouth when he is singing.  Too cute!

 I learned my lesson and arrived early to secure a good seat for Carter's performance.  Carter was a shepherd and was absolutely adorable!  He did a great job and sang his little heart out.

and for your viewing pleasure 

the adorable Carter again

It's on days like this, that I could just eat him up!