Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve might be my all time favorite day of the year.  I love it.  This year we got smart and had dinner a little earlier so that later when we played Bingo we wouldn't make ourselves ill with all the snacks.  It didn't help a ton, we still ate until we were sick but it was so good!  A Christmas miracle occurred and Mitch actually had a winning Bingo card! 

 Amy made everyone Christmas crackers and everyone got a mustache! 

Ringing of the bells

The Nativity participants

Lucy wanted to dress up but only as a princess and absolutely refused to wear anything else.  

Cameron was a Seahawk donkey

 Julia was a wiseman and Natalie-Joseph.  They all looked very sophisticated with their mustaches!

The reverent re-enactment...hmmm...

Mary and Joseph were so cute!

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam!

On Lucy's last day of Nursery!

Lucy's 1st Sunday as a Sunbeam!!

At the start  of this year I got  a new calling as the CTR4 teacher.  I am going to like the break from Cub Scouts but I love the fact that I get to go into Junior Primary with Lucy.  She is so cute.  She has been such a good girl in Primary, she sits in her seat the whole time and just watches wide eyed at everything going on around her.  Last week her teacher brought a construction paper egg that the Sunbeams were supposed to sit on during Primary to keep warm and then in class they got a pom pom chick that hatched.  The other day I caught her singing I am a Child of God while she was playing with her toys.  Seriously, so cute.

Two of a kind

These two are two peas in a pod.  Cameron got a matching Husky tie for Christmas to match his dad. They literally bleed purple and gold. In one night the Huskies lost their bowl game in football and had their first loss of the year in basketball.  Cam had to go to his room to have a good cry.  Being a super fan does come with its downfalls.

Cameron is six month away from being a Deacon... Hoot Hoot!!

This just in....

I have ONE child who will eat a tortilla! 

Merry Christmas!

Santa

 Santa came to visit

Cameron was excited to see Santa and tell him want he wanted for Christmas which included an I-Pod and anything that isn't girlish. 

Julia wants a Seahawk sweatshirt and anything that isn't boyish!

 Natters was so cute with Santa.  As you can see the smile says it all.  She has a long list of everything her heart desires, everything from a hula hoop to a camera.

Lucy was not scared of Santa at ALL.  In fact he came in and she walked right up to him.  She was very excited to see him and tell him that she wants a "kitty purse" for Christmas. 

A tradition like no other

Natalie's artwork never fails to make me smile

This is a good thing because the same day this was drawn our Christmas tree fell over.  You might say, "Didn't your tree fall over a couple of years ago? Didn't you learn your lesson?"  You might think that we would but this is not the case. We are apparently not quick learners around here.  Cam said, "Maybe we should just tie the tree to the wall every year, just in case." Nothing makes me crankier than decorating a tree for the 2nd time, lights and all.  Lots of ornaments broke this time, but I am learning to go with it and am trying  to remember what is most important.  Besides now I can look back at the sad state of the ornaments and laugh one day about it. Right?  Hopefully this little tradition we have started will end. Our tree is now safety bungeed to the wall.  It is a nice look...

Our camera is of the highest quality. :(

Volleyball

 Julia just finished up her season of volleyball.  Can I tell you how much I love this sport.  It is inside, the matches are short, and it is fun to watch.  It was pretty painless!!  Julia was a Wildcat in the 9/10 age division.  She is becoming a pretty good player.  She was one of the very few on her team that was consistent in serving and to be counted on when it mattered.  Way to go seven!

My one and only picture I took of her all season.....

New family pics

We had our family picture taken the other week.  Why is it that so stressful?  Mitch's boss was gracious enough to take our picture.  He takes wildlife photos that are amazing.  I told him, taking our picture wasn't too far off of wildlife other than wildlife would probably cooperate better.

Christmas Recital

Monday was our annual Christmas recital at Grandmas.  Both Cameron and Julia are getting better and better. Natalie is waiting some what impatiently for next year when she will be old enough to start piano.  After the recital we decorated gingerbread houses and Lucy loved her "candy house."  The kids have pretty much polished them off and it is only Wednesday.  Gross!

                                         

                                         

It's good to be an Englishman...

I was uploading Cameron and Julia's Christmas piano recital videos when I found this.  Where have the years gone?  I want to give this little boy a hug!

Mother-Daughter Activity

Julia and I attend a Mother/Daughter activity that was put on by the Achievement Day leaders.  It was an 80s themed mix up dinner.  Julia was so darling.  She loved every minute of it.  I loved being with her but have to say was a little bit tired.  We had the Turkey Trot and Natalie's birthday party earlier that day and I was running a little low on energy. 

The mixed up mystery dinner was fun.  Everyone got a menu with lots of funny saying and you had to choose one for each course of the dinner. Julia's dinner ended up being noodles, jello, and a roll eaten out of a cup, with a toothpick.  I didn't fair much better.  I got a bowl but got 3 types of bread for my main course.

At the end of the night they played a 80s trivia game and Julia was so proud that I got my question right.  She also loved that I was one of the 80s mom's that was featured in "Name that 80s mom"

Turkey Trot

This year our annual Turkey Trot landed on Natalie's birthday.  It was a super busy fun day!  Cameron and Julia ran the 5k and Natalie and Lucy ran the 1k.  I originally didn't sign Lucy up to run the event.  I didn't think she would make it 25 m before she wanted to stop.  Boy, was I wrong.  She insisted that she run "her race" and she ran the entire way.  She was so cute!

 Natalie ran the 1k and thinks she is ready for the 5k next year.  Hopefully Dad will be able to run it with her as I think I am a perfect cheerleader/spectator.

 Lucy with her medal

Cameron at the beginning of the 5k.  

Cam placed 1st in his age division ( boys age 9-11) with a time of 20:44.  That is an average of 6:41 a mile.  Next year he is in for some tough competition when he has to run in the 12-14 age group.

 Julia placed 3rd in her age group (girls age 9-11) with a time of 28:02.  She really improved from last year and even though running long distance isn't her favorite, she rocked it!

Of course we finished the morning off at Krispy Kreme for a little celebration.

Natalie's Birthday

Natalie turned 7!  I would say I can't believe it but Nat is 7 going on 17 so seven doesn't seem so far fetched.  Nat wanted to have a penguin themed party this year with very specific ideas of how the cake was to look.  I hope I came close to making her visions a reality. She had a friend party with 9 friends that showed up.  That is a lot for our little house.  The party consisted of crafts, dance party, more crafts and eating cake.  I have to say when it was over I was relieved!  

 This was pretty much the only picture I took of the party while it was going on.  Hope our mental pictures of the party last.

I decided to spice her decorations up a bit and make a balloon arch.  It turned out awesome!