Christmas

Christmas Eve at Des and Gabe's was lots of fun.  The kids played the cellophane ball game, winning small gifts, cash and lotto tickets.

Colin opened the center and got a match box with $20 inside.

We also played a "What's on Your Phone" game (Harper won), and a 2021 trivia game (Kelly won), and Harper and Papa won the ugly sweater contest.

Everyone seemed happy with their gifts, Katelyn liked her bunny shirt,

and Harper her Lego set.

The girls team won a close Family Feud game, it went to a tie breaker round.

Christmas morning we had the traditional biscuits and gravy and gifts with the Gourdes, with Craig joining us this year.

It was a wonderful Christmas, we even got a little snow in the afternoon!

 

Lunch and projects

The girls stayed home from school Friday due to the TikTok challenge so they got to come with us to lunch with Nancy at Olive Garden.  They were animated and goofy-happy to be on break.

We had a busy weekend helping the girls with craft projects for gifts.

Lucy tried to help with the wrapping. 

We had a lot of laughs playing a new game - Kids Against Maturity.

Sunday-Josie brought her Grandparents and Mom over for coffee and toast.  She kept us all entertained just being her cute little self.

 

Parade

Saturday we saw the new generation of Country Cousins on their float in the CR Festival of Lights parade.

Jordon, Josie and Jacob in the back were such cute little elves.  They went by so fast I didn't get a picture of Jillian, Bridget and Tor walking alongside.  It was great to see the huge crowd that came out on a cold and wet night to see the parade and tree lighting.

 

Josie day

We got to watch Josie Monday while Laury and David were away for their anniversary.  She was so much fun.

Patiently waiting-with a mouthful of toast-for more toast, she has Uncle trained.

 

Rainy day weekend

Friday night treat-Magic Marshmallow Puffs, these are so good.

Saturday we went to Nipp's to see Rielee at work and have one of her milkshakes but she was on a break so we ended up at Applebee's instead.  Afterwards we stopped at Michael's and bought supplies to make wire-wrapped jewelry.  Ava made some cute rings and Harper worked all night creating a bracelet 

with rings modeled after the Marvel Infinity Gauntlet, very creative.

Ava multi-tasking.

 

Making wreaths

Sunday we got together at Des and Gabe's shop to make wreaths.

Des made taco soup and we had munchies and pizza, too, it was really nice.

Ava and Harper were into it and each made several wreaths.

Rielee helped her Mom make the three big wreaths they put on their garage.

Another great photo by Papa.  

Ava's last wreath was a tiny one.

 

Josie, Harper's fundraiser

Josie thought she was hot stuff today climbing up to sit at the table and have some oatmeal and toast.

She likes to climb up and sit in the school desk, too.

Harper is selling raffle tickets-I noticed her picture on the school's Instagram today explaining what her team is doing.  She really wants to sell the most tickets since the student who sells the most from each room gets to go along to help pick out the toys to be given out.

 

State volleyball, gingerbread and Josie

Rielee being introduced at their first match at State, a loss to Mt. Spokane.

They went on to beat Snohomish in 4 sets, Interlake in 5,

and Bishop-Blanchet in 3 to take 7th place.

Rielee played great all the way through.

Celebrating after their tension-filled match with Interlake.

Rielee served the last point when they won their last game.  It was an emotional win for all of the girls.

With her good friend Bella, a senior, Rielee will miss playing with her.

We were all so proud of her!

Saturday we took the girls to Sweet Spot and were surprised when Rielee and Hayden came in right behind us.

After visiting Michaels we came home with gingerbread and foam kits which they worked on the rest of the day.

 

Josie visited on Sunday.  She loved playing with the girls, and they were so tickled with her.

So cute, after seeing Harper hoola-hooping, Josie packed the hoop around and tried to make it work over and over.

After Ava asked if she could eat the chimney off her house, we decided to make gingerbread cookies,

Josie was our taste tester, she liked them.

 

Harper's house had so many pieces, but she stuck with it and finished it Sunday.