Bowling

Got to keep kids busy over Christmas break, or we'll all go bonkers. Today was bowling day with my nephew and nieces, Andy, Jennie and Beckie. Fun times! Andy creamed us all, with Quinn coming in a close second. Mom was dead last. Figures.

Candyland

I really CAN'T explain my thought process, attempting a gingerbread house with the boys. It's kind of an annual tradition, after Christmas when the kits are really cheap, to decorate one. But that much sugar? With hyped-up, cooped up, over-active little boys? DUH, Mom. Get a clue. It sounded like such a "Currier and Ives" moment when I bought the thing at Walmart. Half way through, though, we had to take a break, and I wouldn't let the boys back in the house until they'd run around it 10 times. In the snow. Because..... holy.cow. They had already been outside snowmobiling with Dad earlier today, but I've decided that, unless the snowmobile physically gets stuck and they have to push it out of a snowbank, there's just not enough energy expenditure involved in the activity. We definitely needed something VIGOROUS to burn off all that pent up squirminess.
Reagan helped by licking the frosting off the knife afterwards. Probably not a good idea to get her started on sugar at this young age, given how it effects her brothers, but... I couldn't just leave her out when she was staring so longingly at us!!

Boxing Day

Beautiful day today. Relatively warm (31 degrees), bright blue sky, brilliant sun. Perfect day for building a snowman and doing a bit of sledding in the front yard. We tried to give the snowman a carrot nose, but apparently the carrot was a bit too long for gravity not to take hold, so Quinn ate it instead. This new addition to the family was dubbed Frosty Jr. Original, I know. Colby was worried that he looked a little sad. "Just serious" I told him. After all, the temperature is barely below freezing, and Frosty's existence is precarious. Especially with little boys nearby who seem to think he's edible.

Merry Christmas!!!

I went to bed at midnight, and awoke at 4 am. Went to the couch in front of the Christmas tree, and laid there, video camera in hand, to catch "THE" magic moment... when the children first walk into the room and see what's under the tree. I had a three and a half hour wait. Despite the fact that their mother was incredibly excited for Christmas and couldn't sleep, my boys decided that today would be a good day to SLEEP IN!! Even Rob got up before the boys, and that has never happened before on Christmas. Whoa. Whose children are these, anyways? They certainly didn't inherit the Christmas morning gene from my side of the family. Here's pictures from our morning. Mom's big gift? An 8 foot toboggan!!! What a surprise! And what fun it will be later on today when we hit the big sledding hill!

I think guitar lessons may be in order. Uh, the strings go in FRONT, Quinn....

Breakfast on Christmas Morning... a slice of Reagan, serve her up fried!!

We spent the afternoon at the sledding hill, checking out the new toboggan. Forgot the memory card for my camera, so you'll all have to just imagine how much fun we had. Afterwards, Grandma and Grandpa Aho came over for Christmas dinner! What a wonderful day.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve Day started with an enormous snow storm that dumped about 2 feet of snow on us. Homebound with rambunctious boys. UGH. Thank goodness for 24 hours of Star Wars on cable. The holiday was not starting out well. Luckily, my brother in law and his 4-wheel drive stopped by just as we were wanting to leave for church, and blazed a trail out to the highway for us. That is, after helping the van get UNSTUCK from the DRIVEWAY. Double UGH. After a lovely, peaceful church service, we came home for family pics, and preparing for the big guy's visit.

For the record, it is IMPOSSIBLE to get three squirmy children to sit still and smile at a camera on Christmas Eve.

Pajama Day

The Kindergarten had Pajama Day, dedicated to the Polar Express. Getting ready for school is a breeze when you don't have to get dressed!

Church Christmas Program

Just got back from the church Christmas program. There was some actual singing this year on the part of two small boys. Some fidgeting, but not too bad, and, this year, not a-one of 'em laid down on the ground for the duration! We have progress, by gum!!! It sure doesn't take much for mom to tear up these days. Something about Christmas, and small kids, and the nativity story. Just melts me every time. Sentimental fool that I am.

Sledding Super Fast

We checked out the new sledding hill today. Holy. Cow. FAST. Thank GOODNESS I had brought the boys' helmets. They, of course, loved it. They were catching air, taking jumps, mowing over other sledders. It took every last parent on the hill to regulate the kids to go down one at a time, to prevent serious injury. A little nerve wracking, but man - those kids had FUN.

A Visit With Santa

Today was Chassell's Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration. Per our tradition, we visted Santa. Reagan was NOT a fan of the big guy, which is funny, because she's never been shy with ANYONE to my knowledge. What is it about Santa that scares kids so much??? Afterwards we took a horse-drawn sleigh (well, wagon) ride through town. Fun, beautiful day!!! Tonight, Mom and Dad go on an actual DATE to my work Christmas party!!!!