Kaitlin's First Nutcracker

I was so excited to take Kaitlin to see the Nutcracker for the first time this year.  While Michelle and I attend the OBT production each year and love (love!) it, I thought a smaller, less expensive production would be more appropriate for Kaitlin at this age.   We joined our friends, Katie & Kennedy which made for a special evening!





We weren't sure how the girls would do, but they did great!  We brought snacks, and took a lengthy break at intermission.  They started to get wiggly at the end, but really did so well.



Waiting for the ballet to start!



We had planned on going out for a treat after the ballet, but there was an absolute downpour when the ballet ended.  (Which is saying something in the pacific NW).  I ran to get the van to shorten everyone else's run through the rain and stepped in a huge puddle.  The grounds were quickly flooding and just a mess.  Once everyone was in the van I loved that at the age of 4, Kennedy showed proper concern over the possibility of my suede shoes being ruined from the water.   :)

We opted for an ice cream cone at the local McDonald's drive through and headed home.

When asked if she liked the ballet Katilin replied, "I TRIPLE loved it!!"

Me too.  :)

Small Group Christmas Soiree

Our friends Katie & Kyle graciously hosted a Christmas party for our small group.  Normally our gatherings are quite casual and a bit crazy as we have 18 kids between all of us.  So it was really fun to dress up and have an adult evening.  Especially among friends whom we feel so comfortable with and enjoy so much.



Katie and Kyle did a lovely job (as always!) and had a beautiful spread of food/dessert and festive drinks on hand as well.  I wish I would have taken a photo!  But was too busy enjoying the company.  I took photos of each of the couples so that some day we can look back and remark on how young we were... :)



Adam and Amy



Linda and Rich



Sheri and Jeff.



Rachel and Zack



Who let them in?!
:)

It really was a night of just letting loose and laughing and having fun.  I love these couples (and their kids) and count them as dear friends.  They are a significant and cherished part of our life.  This group suits us perfectly.  They challenge us to grow spiritually but also know how to have a good time!



....The guys.

 

The ladies.



Always lots of laughter.



Beautiful (inside & out) friends.

It was one of my favorite evenings of the holiday season and hopefully a new holiday tradition!  (Though we promise to help share in the hosting!)

Thank you, Phelans for a lovely evening!

This 'n That

I just wanted to record a few of the miscellaneous things from the month that didn't make it onto our Project Life blog....

I kept Grace and Kennedy after Pre-school one day for different reasons.  The girls were so cute together.  Here they are being princesses and "Gaston."
 


Our family ornament this year is a Sand Castle ornament. I purchased it on our trip to Cannon Beach.



I captured these sweet hands one day as she was looking at one of her little ornaments.



Kaitlin made this sweet ornament in pre-school.  I've said before, I'm a sucker for anything with a handprint.  My favorite.



This tag accompanied the ornament....



Matthew attends "K2 Live" each Wednesday.  It's a church group for grades 3-5.  Dan volunteers at it as well.  They went to an Alzheimer's home to carol one evening and Dan snapped these photos for me.  I am so glad that he had this experience.



My mom bought Kaitlin this darling little coat that she's been wearing out and about this winter.   I know next year she'll be influenced by her peers so I am enjoying these final days of sweet mary janes, bows, bobby socks and little girl sweetness.



Dad's Christmas tree that Matthew, Andrew and Kaitlin decorated....



Jingle was lacking in time and energy to be creative this year. But he did pop around the house and the kids enjoyed finding him each morning. He was beholding the manger scene one morning.




The Advent calendar is another one of our traditions.



 I like the old vintage German ones, like when I was a child.
 


The kids take turns opening the little doors each morning. Funny how the little picture by itself would not be anything special to the kids, but put it behind a little paper door and suddenly a little kitty, or a drum, or an angel because really exciting.  The magic of a surprise! :)

 

Grace had a Super Girl party which was a nice opportunity to put last years' Christmas gifts to use!

Shannon did a fantastic job as always, crafting away and made it lots of fun for the kids....

 

Super Kids!





Happy Birthday, sweet girl!  Hard to believe she is five.

 

Andrew was invited to "Milk and cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus" by one of his school friends.  Such a fun idea!

He left Gracie's party a little early with Dan so that he could attend and see his school friends.



He had a great time.  December is a busy month full of fun!  (I'm looking forward to a slower paced January!)

Christmas Day 2011

We had a very nice, very quiet Christmas day.  We didn't get dressed until the afternoon.  It was just a relaxing day from start to finish.  This post is going to have few words and lots of pictures.  Just happy moments and memories I want to remember....



Katie received her "big girl bike!"



Andrew was thrilled over his game.



My 3 little loves.





The first gift I had the kids open was their ornaments.  I usually give them to the kids earlier but I couldn't find one that I liked for Matthew this year, until late in the month.  So



I ended up giving him a tennis ball ornament. He tried tennis this year and really liked it.



I forgot that I had already bought Andrew an ornament earlier in the year (a cowboy snowman on a rocking horse because he had a cowboy party this year and loved them as a little one) and accidentally bought him a second one ~ a nutcracker because he loves nutcrackers.



Katie received a ballerina ornament.

Let the gifts begin!  The kids were really fun to listen to as they opened their gifts. 

a

The bug is in love with this cheerleader costume.  Slightly regretting buying it....



Andrew was telling Dan about his gift ~ a sweet drawing.



He was quite proud. :)



And my gift from Matthew. Does it get any better than,"Me + You = Special" ?

I think not.



Matthew has been building a lot of fun things from this book.  It gives him inspiration and then he builds with the pieces that he has and improvises with what he's missing.



Andrew has wanted this Lego set for SO long.



I was really excited to give it to him.



Sweet girl.



I made a book out of Matthew's first grade art.



I have to say, it turned out really cute.  This is something I''ll definitely be doing again.



He looked through it and told us about all the art...it was great.



I saved these two gifts for last; love this photo sequence.



Notice Matthew checking out to see what Andrew got?



And then Andrew doing the same?



Think they were happy?
Love it.  :)





The ipad.  AKA.  The other woman.  :)



Time for stockings!




Super Matthew!











A little girl bracelet.



and a big girl bracelet. Dan hit a homerun.



There was lots of bike riding in the house.
It was Christmas, after all.







I love Dan in the background ~ watching his baby girl starting to flutter those wings a bit.



My mind can't quite wrap itself around this yet.



But then my heart will always be about 2 steps behind.





So excited to fly his helicopter from Mike & Michelle.



We managed to dress for dinner around 2 or 3. :)
Prime rib.
Yorkshire pudding.
Baked potatos.
Green salad.
It was delicious.

We've been enjoying french dip sandwiches from this meal.



I asked, "Who wants a picture with Mama?"



"Me!"



"Me!"



"Me!" ~ Merry Christmas to me! :)

A lovely day from start to finish.