Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas Eve 2011

I've always loved Christmas Eve...growing up our family celebrated just as much on Christmas Eve as we did on Christmas Day.  I have tried my best to carry on that tradition.  For the past few years, we've hosted Christmas Eve at our house after attending church.  But this year, it worked out best to head to Kyle's parents and spend the evening there.  My parents didn't arrive until Christmas morning, so I offered to host Christmas dinner instead.  It really worked out well - I felt like it was the best Christmas yet!  I missed going to church, but it was such a fun time.  Relaxed, great company, a delicious crab dinner, presents for the kids and then home for bed in anticipation of Santa.

 A few quick photos before we left for Grandma and Papa's house. 

A Christmas miracle - both kids smiling real smiles and looking at the camera.

We set up the camera on the dining room table and tried to take a family shot in front of the tree.  I had to include it, because it just makes me smile.  I couldn't coach the kids, since I wasn't behind the camera, and this is what we got. 

Brady's first Christmas  

Carter and Kennedy opening up a few gifts from Auntie Val, Mark and Brady.  They had to leave to attend a family celebration of Mark's, but we were thankful to see them for a bit. 

Two miracles in one day - amazing! 

Our family, feeling blessed on Christmas! 

 Grandma and Papa and the kids

A few more gifts after dinner 

Pajama time - Kennendy, Carter and Bennett

I purchased matching pj's for all of the cousins this year and love how cute they all looked.  We were able to take a few more on Christmas day when Brady was with us. 

Sweetness 

How cute are these little elves?!?!

Checking Santa's location on Uncle Justin's iphone.  It was so fun, the first time that they checked, earlier in the evening, Santa was in Senegal.  We sponser a child, Daba, through World Vision, and she lives in a small village in Senegal, so the kids knew just where Santa was.  They were thrilled to know that Santa would be visiting Daba's house that night, too.

The kids both fell asleep on the way home, so we didn't even leave cookies for Santa.  I felt terrible when I realized it, although the kids didn't seem too concerned.  I'll have to make a better list for next year so that I don't forget these little details :)

And this is how we end almost every Christmas Eve...Kyle having to assemble some giant gift with about a thousand pieces.   I hadn't slept in over 24 hours, so I went to bed and my sweet husband stayed up for another three hours putting together Kennedy's new doll house.  What a dad!

Twas the week before Christmas

'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the land,

people were busy preparing for all holiday plans. 

Our house was no exception, as you can see,

We were busy with friends, family and being merry.

On Monday, Kyle's Aunt Peg hosted all the ladies and kids for a nice lunch at her house.  The kids enjoyed playing together and I enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with my SILs.  It was a great way to kick off our week!

 We've been busy...

Some of my dearest college girlfriends were able to travel for a fun day of catch-up and chaos.  With 10 kids all under the age of 7, it was a lively house full.  But I wouldn't trade those moments for anything - it was wonderful to be together, sharing life experiences, connecting, empathizing and just enjoying our friendship.  After a few hours, we put in a movie and were actually able to finish several conversations.  The kids all had a fantastic time - it's so sweet to see how quickly little ones can "make friends."
Aren't they just the cutest bunch of littles? Such sweetness, too. 

Mamas and their babes

Andrea with Brock (6) and Reagan (3), Sarah with Jackson (7), Chase (5), Julia (2) and baby West (2 months), me with Carter (5) and Kennedy (3) and Ali with Emi (5), Luke (2) and baby boy on the way!  And think we were missing half our group this year, due to our last minute planning.  Can you imagine how this picture would have looked with 7 more?

Carter and Chase
These two took to one another quite quickly and enjoyed playing all things boys.  I promise Chase was having fun, this was his worried movie watching face :)

Carter, Alessia, Kennedy, Sienna and Ava

On Wednesday, my childhood friend Jackie came to visit with her husband and three precious girls.  They are here visiting from Australia for the month, so I was actually able to sneak in a second visit with her after Christmas.  I always love our time together...she's the type of friend who we can go months and months and months (which we do since she lives half way around the world now) without seeing one another, but we just pick right up.  We could talk for hours without running out of topics.  She is a wonderful person, a great mom and such a treasured friend.

I think we managed to squeeze in eight play dates, one speech therapy appointment, many Christmas treat deliveries to friends and neighbors and a lot of fun!

Preschool Program

Kennedy had her first preschool program in mid-December.  It was on their last day of school before Christmas break, and she was so excited to perform.  I love preschool and seeing little ones up on stage performing at all different levels is always a good hour of entertainment.  Kennedy had been practicing her songs for a couple of weeks, but I wasn't overly confident that she'd actually make it up on stage.  You just never know with this girl...

A quick photo shoot before we headed off to school.

 My little fashionista

Please pardon the disarray in the background - I believe those are some remnants of our holiday decorating!

I love how this picture captures so many of Kennedy's traits.  When she is nervous, she tends to pick at her fingers.  No smiles, just wide eyes taking in her surroundings.  It must be overwhelming for a three year old to walk down the main aisle of the sanctuary and see a sea of faces that she doesn't know. 

Song time

The Gumball class sang "There was a Little Baby" and "Christmas Morning", then the whole school got together and sang "Away in a Manger" (which we've now heard at least a hundred times since :)

Kennedy sang quietly through most of the songs but did do the hand motions and dancing.  Overall, I was very proud of my little one.

To cap off the fun afternoon, we had cookies in the Fellowship hall.  Yummy!

Christmas Crafting

Another one of the fun things about the holiday season is all of the opportunities to craft...whether it be preschool snacks, gifts for friends or our gingerbread house, I am always on the look out for creative things to do with (or for) the kids.  I've recently discovered pinterest and it is a fabulous resource for all things crafty!  I found several cute, and mostly simple, ideas there this year.

Snowman snacks for Kennedy's preschool class 

My first attempt at homemade play dough - FAIL!  I had found a great idea for candy cane play dough and wanted to make it for Kennedy's preschool friends.  My first batch was horrible, but I learned from my mistakes and ended up making two more decent batches.  The end result wasn't quite what I had hoped, but I think the kids probably enjoyed them, which is what's important. 

I give myself an "A" for effort.   Kennedy helped me choose the fabric and cut out the circles, so I felt like she contributed to the making of her gifts, as well.

We put off making our gingerbread house for a couple of weeks, so that we could make it as a family.  It's always a fun activity for the kids and this year they got very creative and the finished product was quite lovely.

Constructing our house 

 Phelan Gingerbread House 2011

Another fun little craft kit that I picked up was this Nativity set which the kids got to put together.  Carter constructed most of it, but we all helped.  It sat on a side table and provided lots of entertainment for Kennedy throughout the month.  She loved telling the story of Jesus' birth and moving the people around as she did.  Very sweet.

It's like looking in the mirror...

It's always up for debate - who do the kids look like?  Some say Carter takes after me, although I've never been able to see it.  In fact, I don't think that either one of my children look much like me at all.  BUT, in personality I often see traits that so obviously come from me that it's a little scary.  And I see it most often in this little man...

He loves to read and learn, if you ask him he's always right and he loves to be in charge and dictate the flow of activities.  He's sensitive and dramatic, irrational at times of stress and cannot make a decision to save his life!  It's funny how the similarities in people often cause us the most distress. 

Case in point - at the end of October, Kyle was travelling and Carter had received green dots every day that month at school (it's a way of tracking behavior and green is good!), so I said that we could go out to dinner and he could choose any restaurant that he wanted.  I thought he'd choose Red Robin, Chuck E Cheese or some equally kid friendly establishment.  Not so much, he toyed with the idea of McDonalds (blech!) or Burger King, because those are places that Mom won't normally take him.  He proceeded to throw out just about every restaurant in our local area and STILL could not make up his mind.  FOUR hours later and I'm circling around as he waffles back and forth.  It was maddening to say the least (although I struggle with simple decisions like these on a near daily basis).  After making our way to an area of town that has a multitude of choices, I laid down the law and insisted he make a choice.  By this point, we were all quite hungry.  Choice made, Stardust Diner, a 50's style diner where he could get a hamburger and milk shake.  We order (after waffling over the menu for a time - both him and me - Kennedy on the other hand, always knows just what she wants!) and the waitress goes to make the kids' shake...chocolate was ordered and after delivery Carter says, "I should have chosen strawberry!"  Really, it was like looking at a miniature version of myself from across the table.  I second guess decisions too, and now I realize how frustrating that must be for the people around me.  All in all it was a fine evening, and we left with full bellies and pride for a month of good behavior.  It was just another example of how very alike a child can be to his/her parent. 

Carter is his own little person and I can only pray that he learns to use the good qualities he has inherited from his parents and overcome the bad ones :)

Zoo Lights

We were fortunate enough to have a fun night at the zoo with Auntie Val, Uncle Mark and Brady - it was cold but dry and we all enjoyed the festive lights.  Poor Kennedy was fighting a stomach bug (worse than we knew), but I think she managed to have a little fun too.

Cousins! 

The train ride is always a highlight of the night.  We went on a Wednesday night and got their rather early, so we didn't have to contend with lines or crowds.  It was great! 

 Mommy and Carter

Daddy and Kennedy 

Our sweet nephew, Brady.  He was all bundled up (a la The Christmas Story) and could barely move, but he was a trooper.  Such a mellow and happy boy.  Sweetness.

North Pole Breakfast

I found this fun idea for a North Pole Breakfast on a blog that I've recently discovered and knew that I had to attempt one for the kids this year. Check out the blog here. I thought it would be a special way to welcome our elf, Frisbee, back for December.  It was put together quite quickly, so there were several details that I wasn't able to perfect, but overall I was pleased with how it turned out.

The kids had a wonderful time and seemed to enjoy the novelty of donuts, candy covered pretzels and hot chocolate for breakfast.

Frisbee is back...he's watching and reporting back to Santa.  Trust me, he's already come in handy a few times.  A great way to curb bad behavior! 

I set the table the night before, so I didn't have much to do in the morning.  Since our kids get up so early, I knew I didn't want to be preparing things then. 

My mom gave me these beautiful ornaments this year, so I hung them from the light above the table for decoration.   

 I found little place settings for each of them and used those to spruce up the table.

 Before they could dig in or open their gifts (much to Carter's dismay), we read the letter that Frisbee had written them.

 They each got their annual ornament and a new Christmas book.  The Polar Express for Carter and Fancy Nancy for Kennedy.

Oh, and if you're wondering why Kennedy is wearing a hat indoors, it's because she had slept with it that night.  She discovered it in the back of a drawer while choosing pajamas and insisted that it be worn to sleep.  Ok then.

An Oregon Duck ornament - Carter was in heaven! 

 Finally, let's eat!

 Kennedy was excited to see a place card with her name on it!

A true breakfast of champions

Snowballs (mini powdered donuts), snowflakes (covered pretzels with sprinkles) and Christmas shaped pancakes.  Oh and a banana so that I didn't feel completely hypocritical!

Overall, I think the morning was a success.  I had a lot of fun putting everything together and I think the kids really enjoyed it, as well.  Definitely will need to do this again next year.

And this is my 200th post!  Wow.
I started this blog almost 4 years ago and love to go back and read old posts.  My hope is to turn it into a book so that Carter and Kennedy will have it when they are older.  I think it's a great way to document our life as a family and wish that I had written memories like this from my childhood. (Especially since I have a terrible time remembering things!)  I know that I cherish these times and am thankful for the opportunity to share them.