Winter has hit us and the kids have had fun playing in the snow, especially "helping" us shovel
The Sunday before Christmas I got some pictures of the little boys in front of the tree
We also managed to get a family picture
Then the bubbles came out
Kim and the big kids started reading a new Harry Potter book now that the kids are out of school for Christmas break
Figgy spent a day with the nativity scene
He also spent a day having a bath in cotton balls?
The kids were itching to do some sledding so they started in the front yard
Later that day they went down to our park
This is Henry with one of his favorite older girls (Remi)
It was a beautiful winter day down at the river
Lyza looked picture perfect out in the snow
Henry got a little snow spray going down the hill
Lyza and Remi
Look at those colors
Here is Henry telling Kim to go slow
The kids helped make some sugar cookie dough
We also got some new ski gear so everyone but Henry is ready to ski
For family home evening we made gingerbread houses
Nixon made Santa's legs going down the chimney
Henry was very proud of this pose
Here is the process from start to finish
And the finished houses
The next day the weather was just right for some sledding. Mason had lots of fun with the big snow men there
Nixon spent lots of time trying to hit the jumps
Here is a video of the sledding fun
After sledding the kids helped cut out the sugar cookie dough
Mason devoured his gingerbread house in short order
We iced the cookies
And we made sure they tasted good as we went
We have been enjoying this Christmas advent candle from Auntie Terry
The kids had a Lego advent this year where they build a new piece each day and here they are with most of them
We made snowmen on Christmas Eve day
Kim set up a candy cane hunt for the kids
For Christmas Eve dinner we did fondue
Corn dogs make this child happy
Good bye candle
On Christmas Eve the kids did a gift exchange with each other
It was a really good experience and we could see how giving a present made each of them happy
Mason put some reindeer food out for Santa's Reindeer
Santa came!
Nixon was up bright and early to check out his boot (stocking)
Then Lyza
New necklace
And Pegasuses
Mason was happy to see his boot
There were LOTS of sword fights
We eventually got a shirt on Mason
I love her
We let the kids start opening their Santa gifts before breakfast (Henry was still sleeping!)
How did Santa know this boy loves Lego?
When Henry did wake up he was loving his light saber/sword
He also found some other fun things in his boot
And then he decided it was time for a three-year-old meltdown!
He eventually perked up and was back in business
We had a delicious breakfast casserole and fruit for breakfast
And back to presents
Lyza's gifts had a wolf theme
Mason got even more Lego
Nixon got an adjustable arm for stop motion videos
Lyza gave Kim the most thoughtful and sweet card and gift
Picture this rotated 180 degrees, it is a robin sitting on a branch
Mason got a sweater that I wish I had
More car track
This was my favorite
Check out these PJs
A weighted blanket
We are going to look so cool on the ski slopes together
She can never get enough books
What's in the box?
A new DRONE!
This little artist will love these new tools
Minecraft Dungeons! (Ultimate Edition because apparently the Hero Edition isn't good enough)
A new cozy wolf blanket
Lyza also took a minute to explain to us all the criminal charges she would bring against Santa if she were a prosecutor
A metal detector. Just imagine the treasures he will find...
Anytime Kim got a present it was just a flurry of tissue and wrapping paper
After the flurry of gifts there was some game playing
This is the aftermath of Christmas morning (even with us cleaning up wrapping paper as we went)
And I got to play with my new drone (like the tote container landing pad?)
We barely heard from Mason for the rest of the day because he was so busy creating
Lyza got to practice painting. Her first painting? A wolf...
Nixon and I went to the river to try out his metal detector
What was his first discovery? A very old penny
This was his ultimate haul
While we were there I also got to play with the drone some more
I definitely have lots of room for improvement. I am excited for many more flights. Here is some footage from my first two flights.
Mason got his ice cream truck built
We had a great Christmas and we hope you did too. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
