Holiday fun

Nothing says "Christmas Break" like donuts!!!

We enjoy going to a hotel each year that has a tree decorating contest. The trees did not disappoint!!

Warmin' up by the fire!!

Alli tries to help out wrapping gifts:

Willow and Owen were MUCH more successful at helping!

And, we delivered letters to Santa!! 

Christmas performances

The kids were part of our church's Christmas performance. Willow wanted to be part of the stage crew, so she's only in the last video carrying a flag. Otherwise, she was busy making sure people had a microphone that needed one. They both did a great job! We didn't get a picture of Owen in his "fancy" collared red shirt but when he put it on that morning, Chris asked if he was going to leave it out or have it tucked in. He responded by saying that he was going to have it "tucked in like those weird boys." 

Songs here, here, and here.

The 1st and 2nd graders at school did a Nutcracker performance. Owen wasn't interested in having a role besides "singer" but he did a great job with singing and the motions! Ironically, Willow was standing in the same spot on the bleachers when she did the Nutcracker at school in 2nd grade! 

March of the Soldiers

Kingdom of Sweets

A Russian Recipe

Dance of the Candy Flutes

Desert Midnight

Chinese Tea Party

Flower Waltz

 We love Owen's teacher!!

Happy 5th birthday, Hannah!

We enjoyed celebrating Hannah's birthday at her gymnastics gym!

Where's Hunter??

How is she 5 already???

Advent Season

A friend of ours shared this Advent Acts of Kindness list with us. Instead of doing a chain link countdown full of child-centered activities, I thought this would be a better option for helping us think more selflessly. We've been consistent with 90% of them and I'd say it's been good for us all. 

Card and cookies for the firefighters & police officers:

Christmas cards for soldiers:

Cookies for the dentist and teachers:

Candy cane reindeer for neighbors (the kids enjoyed playing "postman" out the car window):

Hockey

We've enjoyed attending our local hockey team's games a couple times a season. Owen's swimming instructor has season tickets and sold us her seats for a game she couldn't attend. They were definitely better seats than we've ever had! Popcorn helped us make it through the first two periods. It's just too bad the games start so late!

Birthday Party fun!

The kids have both enjoyed celebrating a few friends' birthdays lately. Willow attended one at the skating rink and inflatable place. Owen attended one at the trampoline park. 

 Owen asked for help spelling "birthday" but insisted that he knew how to spell Evan's name ;)

I'm going to miss when he stops spelling "from" as "form."

A sign of a successful birthday party:

The best part about birthday parties: Getting things your parents never get you!!

The detail on Evan's Fortnite cake was insane!!