Holidays!

Gingerbread Houses
The evening before we left for Ohio some friends invited us over to make gingerbread houses with them. It's been years since I've worked on a gingerbread house and I was excited to introduce this activity to the kids. They sure enjoyed the candy part! As to the actual building and decorating... that was more of a mom thing at this age I found out. We'll try again next year. Thanks Poultons!

The Page family joined in with festivities

The results

We all enjoyed our time in Ohio immensely. The kids had more room to run, new toys to play with, constant adult attention if they desired, cousins to play with. We wish it could be like this more often. 

My brother Cory was able to come out so we were all able to spend time together. Cayla and Sean were also able to come out from Idaho and... their pregnant! Hooray! Cayla will be having a girl or boy in August of next year. 

One day the girls watched the kids and the boys went to see the new Star Wars together and then switched. Another day we had family pictures and played a pickup game of basketball afterwards. 

Christmas Eve we read the Nativity story with our traditional puppets and my mom accompanied the music after many hours of practice with her new piano.

In the morning all the boys received drones from my parents so they showed off their prowess after presents were unwrapped. Rob is nearly impossible to shop for since most things he wants are several thousand dollars. I was able to come up with a couple of inspired ideas and purchased him a discovery flight experience (he co-piloted a small plane) and had a tune up completed on his bike. He loved them!

Swinging on Grandma's swing 

Opening presents

Sean, (Cayla) Cory, and Curtis with their new drones.

Grandma reading stories, just like she did when I was little

Jacqueline Turns 3

My "little" girl turned 3! She does not liked to be called little though, she is a big girl in her mind. She still loves princess, glitz and pink and LOVES her brother Asher. Along with most kids in the U.S. she loves the movie Frozen so I planned a birthday party for her with that theme. Yup, I used my Christmas present to make many of the decorations and such. It was my Dad's birthday as well so were able to celebrate it at the same time.

The hostess and some treats

Party Favor Boxes and Bags

Decorations

Asher is Sven Reindeer Glasses with Elsa Cupcakes

Cory, Anna, Asher, Jacqueline, Mom, Me

Cory, Molly, Curtis, Rob, James, Asher, Dad, Leah, Mom, Jacqueline, Chelsea, Anna

We played wrap a snowman:

 Pin the nose on Olaf:

 And of course sang Happy Birthday to Jacqueline and my Dad

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!