Christmas 2014

Ready for the munchkins to come downstairs!!

From Santa, a kicking bag for Nate and a lego/tea party table for Abby

I always make them wait at the top of the stairs until we are ready.....

 Click here to see the kids enter the living room & see their Santa presents! They didn't have super dramatic reactions, but still, they seemed surprised and excited! :)

The kids' stockings....

Greg & I did stockings for each other....

 Trying out their Santa presents, while Greg cooks french toast for breakfast.....

 After breakfast, we started opening presents.....the kids were very blessed this year and go lots and lots of good stuff!

Nate got the Legends of Chima lego set he wanted!!

 For the first time, the kids used their own $$ and bought Greg & I gifts at the school store. Everything was a dollar. Looking at the picture below, from left to right:

-Abby bought Greg a funny Santa (because Daddy is funny!) and I got a pair of Christmas earrings

-Nate bought Greg a coffee mug b/c he drinks coffee 24/7

-My favorite gift of all was from my sweet boy. As we were decorating the tree this year, I was telling him how Grandma Briner used to hide a check inside an ornament on the tree every Christmas morning. He remember this, and bought a small sock/change purse for me. Then he put $3.50 of his own money in there and hid it on the tree for me. Bless.

I buy the kids Hallmark ornaments every year...

Nate picked out a set of 10 My Little Ponies that Abby really wanted!

A nerd game from Mum Mum and Granddaddy!

Someone hit a wall....

Nate's last surprise was an electric scooter from Aunt Gena & Uncle Kevin!

Of course we had to go outside right away and try it :)

 After all the presents were opened, the kids retired to their rooms to try out their new lego sets. Love my little lego nerds!!

 To top off an amazing Christmas, Greg cooked a delicious meal of shrimp & grits with andouille sausage!!! Our new tradition, started last year.

Love having a quiet Christmas day with my family of four!

Christmas Programs

Abby's class had their Christmas Program last Friday, and sang 6 songs. Abby knew every word of them, since she had been practicing at home for the past 45 days. Every.single.day!!

 

I had a really bad seat/angle, but here are a few shots I managed to get:

 

Her boo in the front row, Louie, must
have said something funny :)

 Click here to hear Abby's class singing "Come to See the Newborn King."

 

A friend - who had a better seat - sent me these videos and they're much better than mine.....

 

Click here to hear "Away in a Manger."

 

Click here to hear "On a Journey"

 

Click here to hear "Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star." If you watch only one of these videos, watch this one!! It's my favorite because it has hand motions! :)

Two handsome fellas

Both PK4 classes and the PK3 class

Pretty proud of her performance! :)

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Later Friday morning, Nate's class performed in the elementary school gym. Each grade level performs one song, and Nate's class got "I'm Getting Nuttin' for Christmas." It is a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e!!

Click here to see the video.

 

 

Love my little Christmas stars!! :)

 

Class Parties

Abby had her class party last Wednesday, and we started out with a simple snowflake craft.

(I decided against anything involving glue or paint...good call on my part!)

 

Some of Abby's buddies

Her finished product! Notice all the patterns :)

 Then it was Pizza Party time! Complete with apples & grapes, snowballs (aka white cheeseballs), cookies, and juice. Abby was in heaven!

 

We had about 15 minutes to kill before parents came for 12 pm pickup, so the kids colored on the tablecloths. (Sidenote: another parent brought these in and they were brilliant! Lots of activites for the kids. I had never seen anything like that.)

I asked her to take a picture with me and she refused. Then she changed her mind
and said "only if it's a selife." Lord help me.

She looooooved her new golden shoes! :)

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Then, last Friday (the last day of school) was Nate's class party. This craft was a bit more ambitious - painted ornaments - but all the kids did a great job.

Hard at work!!

Nate's very detailed Christmas tree ornament :)

 

 

This party was a bit more hectic (read: louder!) than Abby's, but just as fun. My favorite was the dance/freeze party at the end. Nate & friends are a trip!!