Post Christmas Visit North- 2017

Our annual post Christmas trip up north was so much fun and we packed so much in, but, per usual, we didn't take many pictures. We started our trip at Grammy and Grampy's house where we tried to be outside enjoying snowmobiling and other activities, but it was so cold nothing would start and no one could stay outside for more than a few minutes.  That just meant that we got to spend lots of time playing games, reading books and visiting with everyone!  

Our next stop was going to be Nanny and Harold's, but a stomach bug took over their house, so we improvised.  We ended up spending the night at my brother's house and enjoyed an afternoon snowmobiling and visiting his camp. We spent the evening relaxing and visiting with everyone.  

The next morning we headed back towards Bangor to spend the night in a hotel with Nanny, Harold, Aunt Amy, Uncle Dennis, Trey and Lily. The kids got to jump at the trampoline park, swim in the pool and go bowling.  Thanks everyone for making time to visit with us!

Christmas 2017

We had a lovely Christmas this year, complete with a snowstorm!  We had electricity this year, so it was already off to a better start than last year;)  The kids were all excited by their gifts from Santa- Noah got a rock tumbler, James got a 3-D printing pen, Ben got the last of the Magic Tree House books that were missing from his collection, and Audrey got the Frozen DVD that everyone has wanted since our first copy was left in Seattle.  James was also beyond thrilled when Santa left a sweater for Kitty. After showing all of their gifts to Grandpa's tree and having breakfast we headed to the front room to open the rest of the gifts.  The kids couldn't wait to give Gabe his juggling clubs and they were all thrilled to have their own ski boot bags.  The reality is that this was really a gift for Gabe and I given that now we won't have to haul everyone's boots, helmets, etc. to the ski lodge;)  We   really enjoyed ourselves and took advantage of spending the day together and relaxing.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2017

Christmas Eve this year was wonderful given that it was on a Sunday and Gabe didn't have to work! So, we spent the day relaxing, making soup and getting the last few things ready for Christmas. The Christmas Eve service found the kids singing beautifully and they all ended up singing with Gabe in the "Not Quite Ready of Primetime Choir".  We came home, said Merry Christmas to Grandpa's tree and the kids opened up their Christmas Eve gift.  We left milk and cookies for Santa and the kids all feel asleep with their Santa hats:)

Christmas Preparations: Part 2

To check so more Christmas things off the list, we had the annual pageant Sunday at church this week.  Ben was Joseph this year, Noah was a narrator, James a shepherd, and Audrey was some type of shepherd too although it was still unclear at pageant time what she actually wanted to be. Noah played Away in a Manger on his violin by himself at the beginning of the service.  He was nervous and hadn't practiced as much as he should have, but he did an amazing job!

This week we also got to attend a school time (read: inexpensive) performance of the Nutcracker by the Portland Ballet.  We were a big "homeschool" group and we had amazing seats in the front of the balcony to see everything.  After we enjoyed more time with friends for pizza, throwing caution to the wind, and ignoring the snowstorm that was happening outside.  We still need to eat before we drive home in a snow storm, right?!?!?!?!?

Christmas Preparations: Part 1

We got the tree up and mostly decorated this week.  I don't have a picture, but the smaller tree is in our living room and as been named "the Grandpa tree".  The kids put all of Grandpa's ornaments on it as well as things they think he would like to see or know about in their lives... I don't want to cry every time I look at it... 

This weekend we hosted our annual Christmas party complete with sugar cookies, ice skating and a visit from Santa.  Ben received an early Christmas gift from a friend who saw this sweatband set and thought it would be perfect for him... can you believe someone was giving it away as a donation?!?!? Obviously the sweatband is still a thing, it only comes off for swimming and showering... I hope he doesn't start to lose the hair under it;)  Audrey is very ready for ski season to start and wears her helmet often, just in case.