Gingerbread houses, onesies, New Year's eve

SATURDAY-Better late than never with the gingerbread houses, except that I had thrown out all the fun little candies we bought for decorating them.  They had fun and were creative using what we did have though. 

Silly kids, they decided to try on their old newborn onesies and couldn't get them over their heads!

We went to see Ferdinand this afternoon, cute movie, the girls loved it.

 

Today-

Someone's Grandma thought they were 8 1/2  today so they made what were to be half-birthday cakes, then that Grandma realized she was a month off and they aren't 8.5 until January 31st so their cakes turned into New Year's cakes instead. 

Ava and Harper wanted a New Year's Eve fire pit and we planned to shoot off fireworks, too.  It sounded good.  But there weren't any fireworks stands in Castle Rock, then it was so cold out, and we didn't have enough light, we couldn't even tell if our marshmallows were cooked.  When Harper tripped over a rock and skinned her knee we quickly ended it and were all happy to go inside.

We watched the ball drop at 9 and celebrated the new year with apple juice, water and a few games of air hockey and foosball.  Happy 2018!







Parker & Maddie

Parker and Maddie came to visit tonight, they're so fun to talk to. 37 days until Parker turns 18! 

Christmas Day

We had another great Christmas morning with the Gourde/Utecht family.  Rielee slept in so we didn't eat till 8:30.

We left about 10:30 to bring gifts to Charb, Kelly and the kids.

The girls got Hatchimals from Santa.

They opened them immediately and it didn't take long for Harper'st to hatch, so exciting.

She got twins!

Ava's was slower to Hatch, she could hear it making noises and pecking at it's shell for quite awhile before it finally cracked open.

Another set of twins!

Everyone posed for a picture, even Oliver.  When we left they were off to Papa Mike's house.

Christmas Eve

 

 

The white Christmas we all wanted so much came back to bite us when Charb, Kelly and the girls decided not to risk driving up on the icy roads.  We sure missed them. 

Christmas Eve was once again at the Uhlenkott's and they surprised everyone by moving their tree!  Goodness, we don't deal with change very well, but it did make more room for the gift exchange.

Santa cracked up Parker,

while Rielee looks slightly mortified to be sitting on his lap.

Such pretty cousins.

Rielee seemed to love all her gifts.

And our newest family member Jordon was a big hit.  He showed off for Emmy, smiling and giggling for her.

We all ate too much, played Robin's fun trivia game and the gift exchange was a good one this year with lots of stealing. 

Another wonderful Christmas Eve.

Christmas cookies

Making Christmas cookies today, between the broken ones that Papa got and the ones they ate we didn't end up with many when we were done. 

Friday night entertainment-hairstyling, legos, Toy Story, and ice cream.  Ava was disappointed with her finished hair, it looked too much like it normally does, although much fuller, she didn't even want her picture taken.   Rielee and I liked it though and thought she looked like Lexi.   

Bedtime books

Our little darlings reading in bed Saturday night, they had no problem falling asleep since we had such a busy day.  I took them and Rielee to town to buy presents for a gift exchange they wanted to do at the Christmas party at Des and Gabe's Sunday.  We went to the Dollar Store, Big Lots, and Harbor Freight.  It was a funny trip, they picked out some interesting items they thought people might like, and added quite a few things they "needed" for themselves at the Dollar Store. 

Ava got #1 so she had last pick at the end, she surprised everyone by taking Harper's gift, and was tickled with it, announcing that she now had 14 stuffed toys.

Luke and Lexi checking out their stockings.

Proud moment - Rielee got the Best Defensive player award at her banquet tonight, she had the most steals and rebounds. 

Rielee basketball

Rielee's team played their last game of the season at Kelso High School tonight. They beat Huntington and finished undefeated.  Rielee had a great game with several steals and lots of rebounds.  She's happy that Mom encouragedforced her to turn out for basketball this year and plans to stay with it.

Laury David 30th, Jordon, Ava Harper soccer

 Emmy and Auna managed to pull off a surprise 30th anniversary party for their folks Friday night at the Vault.  Emmy gave a little speech at the beginning.

The girls went all out to make it memorable, making their Mom and Dad a beautiful scrapbook,  a collage and decorating  the place with "30" decorations.  Will couldn’t make it but they face-timed him so he could was included.

The actual bank vault is a fun little area for kids to play now, and the cousins had a great time in there.

 Jordon came to stay with us today.  He liked his tummy-time and played on the blanket for quite awhile.  He's such a little sweetie.

Ava and Harper had a big fan club at their game tonight.  They posed with Aunt Theresa afterwards,

and Papa Mike, too.  With their 9-7 win, the Pirates are still undefeated!

Tree decorating, wreath making

Saturday morning we went to Miller's Tree Farm and got our tree.  It was pouring rain but we found it fast.  The girls were anxious to decorate it so we brought it in later in the day.  Ava and Harper helped me put the lights on, then Rielee and friend Georgie came to help with the ornaments.  With four of them working, it was done in a snap.

Today we went to Gabe's shop to make wreaths and arrangements.

Parker kept us company.

We had a great time.  Papa showed Ava and Harper how to make their own wreaths,

they were really proud of them. 

They also made arrangements. (Rielee's is right behind her.)

After they decorated them, Ava decided she would give hers to her teacher,

Harper's is going to Miss Cundiff, their 2nd grade teacher.

Charb and Luke stopped by on their way to Seattle for the Seahawks game.

They sent this picture when they got there.