Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 was great.  We were able to spend the entire weekend doing Christmas activities.  It really got everyone in to the spirit.

We started the weekend off by decorating cookies and exchanging gifts with our friends.

On Saturday we had the Westerhold Christmas party.  We always go to Scott's sister's (Debbie) house.  Everyone brings appetizers and we play games and exchange presents.

Sunday we moved on over to my parents' house and my side of the family.

We had a very exciting Christmas Eve.  We took Gracie to pick out her first American Girl doll as her "big" gift.  I She had so much fun even though it was a bit overwhelming.  

In the end, she chose Marie-Grace.

We headed to church and then dinner afterwards with our family.  Back home and the kids said good-bye to our elf, Chuckie, and waited on Santa Claus to visit. 

When the kids woke up on Christmas morning, they saw that Santa came overnight and both Chuckie and Santa had left a note.

The boys both enjoyed their "big" gifts this year, too.  These awesome planes that we found on Toys R Us online.  Scott was as excited about the boys getting these as they were to get them.  I have to admit, they are really cool!

Gaga loved his new watch, it was a surprise, and his new Darius Rucker hat.

As for me, I love my new Fitbit Flex.  Most of all, though, I'm loving these three.  Hope you all had as great a Christmas season as we did.

Gracie's Winter Party 2013

Gracie's Christmas party was held the last day of school.  I love going to the parties for the younger kids.  They are always so excited to play the games, make the crafts, and most importantly to eat the snacks.

There was a game of throw the "snow balls" (cotton balls).

She balanced a bow on her head during a relay race.

She also played ring toss with a wreath.

For the craft, Gracie made a reindeer ornament.

Gracie especially loved the snack.  The kids made a wreath out of a Krispy Kreme donut, frosting, and M&M's.  Talk about a sugar high!

We ended the party by giving her teacher, Mrs. Tripamer, a scarf and some pretty smelling lotion.  She loved it and we love her!

Fall Parties

Today was a fun and hectic day.  This year I have two kids with Fall Parties.  Luckily, their parties were at two different times so I was able to go for both parties.

Kanin's party was first.  I wondered how he would act this way being a big 4th grader and if he would want Mommy at his party and hanging around but my sweet boy surprised me and really wanted me to be by him the entire time.  Of course, I ate it up!

We played lots of games . . .first he carried eggs in a relay race . . .

then he tried to stack dice on an ice cream stick . .

I loved when we placed an Oreo on his forehead and he had to try to get it down into his mouth.  This game was so much fun and I loved watching all of the kids try it.  Surprisingly, several kids got really, really close! . . .

Kanin had a partner in which they had to lock arms and run down and back . . .

the last game was the potato sack race.  I loved this only because it brought back my own memories from doing this as a little kid.  I'm glad that he was able to experience it, too.

In the afternoon I moved over to Gracie's party.  I was really excited as this was her very first school party.  She was so excited and hopped right out of bed this morning, a rarity in our house.  I also loved that she was so excited to see me.

One of the families in Gracie's room has this neat little putting green and they brought it for games to her party.  What a great idea.  The kids loved it and Gracie was so excited to sink the ball a couple of times.

 I love her so much!  It was so cute that a couple of the kids kept telling me that I look just like Gracie.  LOL

We made these bug crafts.  It was so cute.

It was a great day.  I am so happy and blessed that I was able to go to the kids' school today.  I made memories and I hope they did, too.

Halloween 2013

There is no way that Halloween has already come and gone. Where, oh where, has 2013 gone? I feel like I ask that question every year!

Here in St. Louis, my kiddos were so worried all day that they were not going to be able to Trick or Treat because it was cold and rainy.  Luckily, right around dusk the rain cleared out a bit and we were left with a couple hours of just mist and wind.

All 3 kids were really in to their costumes this year.  This is the first year that Caleb actually understood what Halloween is about (the candy, of course!) so he kept up with the big kids all night.

My niece and nephew came over again this year.  I was really afraid that Ali would think that she is "too old" to Trick or Treat this year (she's 14)  but she informed us last night that she is going to Trick or Treat until she is 17.  We all told her that she could Trick or Treat forever as long as she still dresses up. 
 

I love this bunch of monsters:  GracieAnn (6), Aidan (10), Alison (14), Caleb (4), Kanin (9)