Ending the Year in Memphis—Christmas 2013

The day after Christmas we went to Memphis to continue our festivities there. 

One of the biggest hits as far as presents were the pearl necklaces that George and Nancy brought for the girls.  Each girl got a necklace with a pendant and an oyster.  Inside the oysters were pearls that fit into the pendants.  So fun!

The girls proudly display their necklaces!

Rainbow loom!

Jodie and Jeff gave Jim some implements for the firepit, along with all the goodies to make s’mores!  Yum!  The fireplace set was actually an old set my parents had leftover from their pre-gas fireplace days.  They brought back some memories!

We passed down a Tote ‘n Go laptop to Graham.  It looks like he likes it!

Kinley, Reagan, Kallen, Zachary, Graham, Jonathan, Thomas

While in Memphis, we took Reagan to get her ears pierced.  She’s been wanting to for a long time, so we decided to do it while her two already-pierced cousins could be there with her.  She was very brave and did a great job, but the ensuing months have been filled with pierced ear drama.  I don’t know if I have mentioned this before, but my sweet daughter is a bit dramatic.  And she must have the most sensitive ears in all of history!  Even now, seven months later, rare is the earring-related moment that does not in some way involve tears and hysterics.  Hopefully, it will end SOON. 

KayKay and Bud and the kiddos

Hurrah for the end of 2013!

2014, here we come!

Christmas events 2013

Usually when I blog about Christmas in the middle of the summer, it is hot as blazes outside, but right now it is unseasonably cool for the middle of July.  The last two days were gorgeous, mild and sunny.  Today it’s overcast and rainy, but still nice and cool.

Anyway, the first part of Christmas prep is always the tree.  Every year we let the kids do a little bit more and every year they do a little bit better.
This year we got our first real tree since the kids were born.  We worried a little that it might cause Jonathan some issues with his allergies, but he did fine.  We put the fake tree in Jonathan and Zachary’s room upstairs so the lights could be seen from the street.  The kids really enjoyed having a tree upstairs!

Jonathan’s year to put the star on the tree!

The kids went with their church group to sing at the nursing home.

We went once again to see our Santa at the Bass pro Shops.  It’s always a treat to see him!  The people in line behind probably don’t think so though, since he always wants to spend a little extra time talking to us!

Right after school got out, we spent the night with Josh and Cris.  That is an event we always look forward to!

Christmas Eve we had dinner with the Bakers and Borsts, and I snapped this picture of Reagan and Lily just as my phone died.  I think that’s why Reagan blurred a little.

Cookies for Santa!

Santa came!

The giant remote-control Angry Bird was Dad’s favorite!

The boys with their Beyblades

Reagan and Saige

And finally, a few highlights from this year’s Christmas card photo shoot!

Merry Christmas!

Let the Christmas Festivities Begin! Dec 2012

Warning: This post is REALLY long!

 

First the tree!

 

For the first time, we let the kids stand on a stepstool to put ornaments on the tree, so ornaments went higher this year!

 

 

Then the other tree!

 

That’s Reagan, by the way

 

Take a break to go to a birthday party

 

Jonathan and Caleb, a friend from kindergarten

 

Put lights on the house (no children required for this step)

 

The house looked so pretty with the Christmas lights and the accent lights Jim added the month before.

 

Go have breakfast with Santa

 

Thomas ran a fever the day before, and we probably shouldn't have taken him even though he was not running a fever that morning.  We just couldn't bring ourselves not to when he seemed fine!  Of course, when the fever came back that afternoon, we felt bad.

 

This was just a small portion of the medical events of our winter!  It started with Reagan and strep in Nov, followed by strep for Zachary and Thomas, then an ear infection for Zachary that wouldn't go away, then a return of strep for Reagan.  All three boys tested positive for strep in January even though they had no symptoms!  We pretty much spent 2 whole months with at least one kid and often two on an antibiotic!

 

This was the first year we didn’t go see Santa at the Bass Pro Shops.  Do you think he missed us?

 

Get new belt loops at the Cub Scout Banquet

 

Jim was still sporting his No shave-November beard

 

Then beat up Dad afterwards

 

 

Celebrate at school

 

Thank you, Gina, for this picture of Jonathan and Thomas!

 

Not sure why I didn’t get a picture of Zachary.  Probably because he didn’t stay in the outfit long enough!  Imagine him in a giant reindeer shirt with a headpiece like Reagan’s since they were in the same class.

 

Leave cookies for Santa

 

 

Get presents!

 

Presents from Santa

Presents from everybody else!  This year we let the kids draw each other’s names from a hat and buy a present for one of their siblings.  It was really interesting to see what they picked and hear the reasoning behind their choices!

 

 

The aftermath!  Present highlights from this year’s Christmas: Reagan’s first American Girl doll and Skylanders for the boys.

 

Go to Memphis!

 

(l to r) Zachary, Jonathan, Reagan, Thomas, Graham, Kinley, Kallen

 

Look!  He shaved!

 

Woohoo!  Money from Uncle George and Aunt Nancy!

 

Apparently the Star Wars Squinkies are a big hit!

 

Aunt Jojo and Baby Graham

 

 

Bring it on, 2013!