Chrismas Day 2008

We had a nice Christmas this year. It was quiet, with John's dad coming over and staying most of the day with us. As you can see, the kids had a fun time. The girls gifts consisted of American Girls accessories, fairies, doll house accessories, books, activity books, games, scarves and hats, etc. and Christopher got mostly cars and trucks - what more could a boy want, right? My boy is in love with all things wheel related. We concluded the day with a trip to Tilles Park to see the light display that they have there. It was great! There was no line and the lights were beautiful!

Those are little fairy figures that the girls are holding...

A puppy set for the dollhouse....

The girls had a fun time with this magnetic mosaic set

Again, what more can a boy want than trucks?? Christopher had the best time running his car up and down

Grandpa Bauer's leg!!

John's mom was missed - I made her famous mashed potatoes for lunch and they turned out pretty good! I hope that it was a way to have her with us, even in her absence.

We hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Duds

Here's pictures of the kids in their Christmas Eve outfits. John got some good ones of the girls, but I couldn't get Christopher to stand still - imagine that. They all looked so cute in their outfits and they even smiled for me! On Christmas Eve morning, we went to a local hardware store to see a train display that they have - AWESOME!! We stood and watched it for at least a half hour - all of the little houses and scenes and at least 4 or 5 little trains going through the display. Very fun. Then, in the evening, we went to church, came home, set out food for Santa and the reindeer, and went to bed. The kids all went to sleep pretty quickly, which is not a given, and got a good night's sleep.

Christmas at the Emerys

We celebrated Christmas with Julie's family the weekend before Christmas and here are a few of the favorite pictures from the day.

Grandma Dana and Grandpa Ken's Christmas Tree

All of us together - we don't get a picture of that very often! Grandma Dana, Grandpa Ken, John and Julie and kids, and Uncle Kevin (Julie's brother), Aunt Kim, and Cousin Kaiser.

Good pictures of the girls in front of the Christmas Tree - Christopher would have nothing to do with standing still for a picture (a general theme this year!).

Toothbrushes in the stockings for all the grandkids (always fun)!

Grandpa Ken sent the kids on a scavenger hunt around the house for some little items - they had a blast reading the clues and figuring out where to go for the next one!

The boy cousins (Christopher and Kaiser) playing with Christopher's new car garage/ramp toy. Aunt Kim and Cousin Kaiser

Grandma Dana

Grandma Dana and Grandpa Ken enjoying being surrounded by their family - albiet a bit frenzied with all the kids!

Kaiser was playing the game of hide and seek - pop up and say "boo" with Christopher - it was the funniest thing. He's bend down behind the couch and then pop up and say "boo" and then they'd both laugh and laugh and then Christopher would push Kaiser's head down and he'd do it all over again!

Elizabeth and her princess Jasmine!

They boys playing with cars.

Elizabeth with her Fancy Nancy felt play mat.

Kaiser and Christopher climbing up the stairs from the basement. We had a wonderful time and a great visit with family!

Nativity

I just had to share this picture - Elizabeth created this nativity from her Veggie Tales nativity set and her dollhouse. So cute!!

Snow (Ice) Day Activities

It doesn't look like much, but it was enough to close schools all over the area today, so we let the kids sleep in a bit and have just stayed in - it's ranged from 10 to the current 17 degrees outside with wind, so we are busy inside today. Below are pictures of some of our activities - yes, we've stayed in our PJs all day (the kids have, anyway).

Coloring and reading this morning (and baking some pumpkin cranberry bread -didn't get much help, though) and watching Charlotte's Web this afternoon. It's actually just nice to be able to stay home with noplace to be or no reason to be out running errands or anything. Hope you are having a good day, too!

So far behind

In mid-November, our Pediatric Dentist's office had a special night at the Magic House in Kirkwood for all of their patients, so we took the kids (who wouldn't go to the Magic House if it was free??!) and they had a blast. Here's just a few pictures from the evening.

The girls "tickling the ivories"

Christopher had a ball with anything that had a wheel or a ball. FUN!!

I was served pizza in the pretend pizza parlor - YUM!!

Before school let out for Thanksgiving, the school had a special chapel during which the kindergarten and first graders put on a play. Last year, Katherine was a pilgrim - this year, as a first grader, she got to be an indian (she's the one in the kahki jumper with the headpiece and and drum). She did great and the kids had a fun time. that same day, the "big kids" - those who eat lunch at school - had a feast and I helped with Katherine's class. Below is a picture of their table and her in her indian outfit - complete with CCS uniform!

Elizabeth also made a costume at school for Thanksgiving - her's the two girls together with their oufits. :)Katherine was very proud of the gingerbread house that she made with Dad at a Dierbergs class. She'll be using it to do a demonstration to her school class - showing them the steps needed to make it - as part of a class project. I don't have any pictures of the event, but on Thanksgiving Day, we celebrated with John's family. Then, on Saturday, we got together with my family and I did get a few pictures....

Katherine doing some puzzles

My mom and Elizabeth - great picture, gals!

The girls have been having fun getting ready for Christmas this year - here's just a few pictures...