Another Day...

We cleaned. We cooked. We cleaned the back yard. We had a guest for dinner. We watched Tim Hawkins (Krista and Albert - our guest- hadn't seen it).

Krista is working on clues for the Scavenger Hunt tomorrow - 3 other families will join us. I plan on pizza and picked up 6 - I think I'll pick up a few more tomorrow. No time for more cooking if I want to participate in the hunt and get Cy to work on time - both things I'd like to do. ::snort::

I think I'll go enjoy the interesting conversation that Mike and Albert are having. LOL

©2008 D.R.G.

Happy Birthday, Jesus

"Of Course you can help, Stacia." She'll get lots of practice at how to insert candles in the next few weeks. LOL


Our last clue and advent gift*..... This led to Christmas Crackers"...

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus

Enjoying our Christmas Crackers at Jesus' party

Gifts to Jesus - things we'd been "caught" doing throughout the past month were written on slips of paper and put in this stocking. We read the slips and it was a great time of affirmation and contemplation. I left this Christmas Stocking up most the year in 2008 as a "reminder". It's been suggested that I leave it out again this year, and that we FILL IT and open it once a month on our family nights. We may do that.

*Advent Calendar Gifts - 6 days into this I was sick of gifts and the focus....then we did a "mental shift" and decided that Mike and I would not fill stockings this year...so this was the stocking throughout the month. The kids and Mike loved the hunts. I did too. We'll probably do this again and simply let the kids fill the stockings.

©2008 D.R.G.

Christmas Night or More Christmas Games

The boys, the younger ones and Mike and I headed to Lamar. Bre and Krista opted to stay home.

Quite a crew - our boys, Mike and David

Arielle, Stacia and I walked home. When we got home Stacia had to say goodnight to the "tivity". I'm so going to miss this...and while a blow up Christmas Nativity doesn't say "elegance", I wouldn't have missed her reactions for the world.

She's telling Baby Jesus sweet nothings...it makes me tear up...she kisses him goodnight each night she can break outside.

Last night she told me, "I love Baby Jesus and Baby Jesus loves ME. He kissed me." Oh Stacia, may your love of Baby Jesus grow to life-long love of Jesus, the Son of God, who does LOVE YOU very much....and I believe does send holy kisses our way.

We also have a Christmas music sound system and pulsating lights in the front.... ::quit it:: and this leads to dancing by the Christmas lights....this really is fun and you should try it if you find you've gotten a bit too "old" to enjoy Christmas. Yes, I've done it...but here I'm taking photos. May I never be too old and proper that I can't dance with a 3 yo WHEREVER she may want to dance.



©2008 D.R.G.

Creative Daughter

Krista has always been very resourceful and creative. I LOVE this year's gifts. I plan to copy the idea and thought some of you may want to do the same. I have a "hall of fame" where I try to keep a photo of each child....I plan to make these and I can easily switch out photos at will. LOL

Nolan's gift....

Josiah's - each had photos of them and Krista and the meaning of their name along with a verse she picked for them.

Those that shared a room also had a bigger one with joint photos... see left canvas.

Arielle

Girls' joint canvas

Stacia's canvas

Jamin

Jared

Directions from Krista - Buy the canvas cheap at Walmart; Paint it to match room or likes; print out name and verse on vellum; attach it all with coordinating paper and photos.... Krista used hot glue....I think that's best for the paper to canvas and I'd use some scrapbooking tape for the photos...but she did this while she was snowed in in Spokane and thought she HAD tape...didn't. LOL

Aren't they GREAT? I thought about snagging them for my hall....but she meant them for their rooms. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

Christmas Games

We spent the afternoon enjoying various games.

Imagine If -

Josiah bought an incredibly fun game, Cosmic Ball, for Mike for Christmas. Players wear little sensors on their hands...see Cy below...

Then you toss a ball around and the ball calls out colors to determine where you throw it. It has several games you can play.....sort of a cross between "Hot Potato" and "Big Doggie"...and other such games.

This kid is SO much fun. Long-live Sanguine Extroverts. ::snort::

It's a duel...

Winner of the round....go Longhorns????

Down to two again....

Josiah found this at Wal-mart in the game aisle. It's good for six players. We thought about getting 2 so we'd have more sensors - but the ball would still call only six colors...unless we used BOTH BALLS....hey....an idea with possibilities. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

Dinner

Well THIS photo doesn't fit with any of the other posts...

Dinner in our home.

We've learned a few things - two small tables pushed together work well for a large family who can't afford a big table...and gives a variety of options for games, co-ops and entertaining. Grain buckets are the perfect height for extra seats.

I love cooking when we're all home and there are folks to EAT IT. LOL We'll continue to work on the eating habits of the younger four this year.....because I MISS cooking for an appreciative crowd...though Stacia DOES end each prayer with, "God Bless the Cook".

©2008 D.R.G.

Christmas Gifts

Yes, we do gifts. We have a budget of $50 per child. Several of the children had their birthday and Christmas budget combined this year. We do not go overboard on gifts...but consider...Twelve people giving Twelve other people one gift each, throw in packages from extended family....and well - it is a LOT of givin'! It is a bit overwhelming for me. I am typically the one who hasn't opened a thing and opens after the hubbub has died down and someone says, "Mom, you haven't opened any gifts". BUT - I do LOVE the spirit of giving, I love the excitement of both the giver and recipient when the "perfect" gift is opened.....

Elves - still working at 2 a.m.

This monkey is a hit with Zander, Mom.

Stacia loved this gift from Jared - we loved knowing what was to come.

My Sweet Krista with a necklace from Arielle.

David received several games (Debbie he says that since hanging out with BreAnne, he's gotten used to photos being taken and it's o.k. for me to take his photo and post on the blog.)

Stacia received a baby horse from Nolan that matches the horse she got last year from Jared.

Stacia presents Jamin with a gift.

What IS Bre thinking?

"Survival" knives from Grandma and Grandpa T.

Mike & I purchased a paint gun for Jamin - our one Black Friday foray...turns out it must have been a returned item...no manual and doesn't work. I hate going back to stores after Christmas. ::snort:: But we shall go as the boys (and Krista) are planning paintball on Sunday.

Arielle - jewelry from Bre

Nolan received batteries from Mom and Dad (us). He KNEW it was his birthday and Christmas gift. We told him it was so he could run his old car. He was brave. He was thankful. THEN Mike brought this package out! Wow. Now we need a calm day because no one in his right mind will take a thing this BIG out to learn on a windy day......and Mike was told to buy insurance in case they run into someone's car. ::snort:: I think this will be a fun Daddy/Son toy....and I think we need to keep our eye out for a BIG field with no CARS. There is a local "RC airplane club" that they may join...but since we will be moving in 6 months - they may not.

Jared received the Lord of the Ring series on CD's for listening at night AND the movies.

I know I already showed Zander....but this set from Bre is a real hit too.

He ASKED for socks.

Ah - the kitchen. She loved it - and did NOT want our helpful suggestions as to how she should play with it. She fixed us all muffins and told me she needs milk in the fridge. Note to self: check fridge each night before bed.

Thanks, Mom. I received a lot of meaningful gifts from family....Gram's and Great Gram's jewelry and box, country sign that I LOVE "Cherish Life's Simple Pleasures", Willow Tree nativity pieces and angels (from my out of the home and soon to be leaving young men), jewelry, calendars... this vase from my Mom & Dad.

There are not photos of Mike opening gifts....because he's a stealth opener....we don't follow the rules, "OK find your gift from Stacia...." as he and I are pre-occupied, so, alas....no photo I can post. The one I did get, I will not post because I think the "wrapping" used by son would offend some. ::snort:: Quit thinking about it.

©2008 D.R.G.