My Birthday

I had a super great birthday this year!

First off, Haven made me a super cool birthday crown.  It was so special and very thoughtful.

The kids gifts were precious to me also.  J picked out a K-cup carousel for my coffee and H picked out a purple cup for me.  I love their thoughtfulness   Neil got me something Ive wanted for a long time.  Its a Map of History - Biblical alongside natural.  Its the best!

 Then, my mom payed to have a sitter come to my house so I could spend the day shopping, having lunch and hanging out with her and my sis and her girls.  She also gave us all $$ to spend.

I did get to start my day with Starbucks and I bought the Les Mis cd. Happy!

We had lunch at Cheesecake Factory.  One of my most favorite places!  Neil even got to come join us.

 That night I got to go have dinner with some great girlfriends of mine.  I felt so blessed!!

A new Experience - Teppanyaki

For our birthdays, my parents took us all out to Teppanyaki.  The kids had never been before so it was super fun for them.  We got a great cook that really put on a show for us.  Fun times!!

For our birthdays, my parents took us all out to Teppanyaki.  The kids had never been before so it was super fun for them.  We got a great cook that really put on a show for us.  Fun times!!

Christmas Day

This year was very special for me.  Since the kids are older their sweet personalities are starting to show through.  We told the kids that we weren't going to have presents for them under the tree this year.  That instead they would get their stalking stuffers and we would be giving more this year.  So they got to pick out a toy to give to a needy family and they knew that we were gifting extra to our Compassion family.

But the best part was the kids making their own presents for Neil and me and for each other.  It was priceless.  I love that they can do this and that their hearts are so tender.  Very special for me.

In the morning the kids got me up.  We went to their stalkings by the fireplace.  Neil read us the Christmas story and we talked about it a little bit.  Then we took our stalkings into the other room to open everything up.  The kids were just as excited to give us their gifts as they were to open their own.  So endearing to me.

Sweet notes from Haven

Up close

Opening Stockings

Opening Stockings

 Then we went over to Neils parent for our traditional present opening extravaganza and holiday meal.  This is always a fun time.  The exclamations the kids made were so entertaining.  It was a great time.

At Gigis 

At Gigis

 Later that day my parents came over and my sis and her fam.  We also decorated cookies.  Yum!!

It was a great day!!

The Parentals were here!

My Parents flew in on the 22nd and we spent as much time with them as we possibly could.  The kids LOVE being with my parents so we make sure we are right with them as much as possible.

Js Class Christmas Party

Js class also had a Christmas party.  Since I am one of the room moms, I got to help lots for this.  The funny thing is tho, I didnt take any pics of J.  But they did lots of fun stuff too.  Decorating cookies, making ornaments, having hot cocoa.  Fun and Yum!!

Havens Class Christmas Party

I got to help in Havens class for her Christmas party.  Part of it was quite comical!  They played a game that they had to swap a gift each time the word Gingerbread was said.  It was so funny!  They didnt quite get it.  But they managed through it.  Then Santa came for a visit.  The kids all loved that.  Lastly they went through some stations where they decorated Christmas cookies and did fun crafts.

Playing the game

With Santa

Decorating cookies

December 16th - A special morning and super fun night!

Our Christmas service for our church was held on the 16th because we always have home church on the Sunday closest to Christmas.  We had a special service that included a candle lighting and lots of singing.  The kids got to participate too which I think was nice.

Lighting Candles

Our Family

Then afterward we had some food as a church body and even got to dress up and take crazy pictures.

Family crazy picture

 That night was our Life Group Christmas party.  It sure was a fun time.  We shared a traditional Christmas meal then did a gift exchange and finished up with some games.  It sure was a Super Fun time!!

Yum!

Gift Exchange

All our iPhones.  Everyone in the group has one.

Just some games ;)

Our Group - Love these people!!

Jingle Bell Run

Early (well, not to early compared to the one we did on Thanksgiving) on Saturday morning the 15th, Neil and I went for a little run.....with about 2000 other people down Christmas Tree Lane.  We were all decked out in our finest of Christmas bells and attire.  I just wore bells tho.....the free ones they gave us for signing up for the 5K.  Fun times!!

Kids Christmas Programs

But of course they are not called Christmas Programs, they are called Winter Holiday Program.  Lame!  Well anyways, we call it Christmas program at our house and I make a point to say that to the kids at school when Im helping in the class ;)

My kids had programs on different nights.  Js was on Tuesday which is 1st through 6th grade.  He did really well.  The only exception was in the beginning before they started he was putting bunny ears on the boy in front of him.  Not to bad, considering prior years.

J is the 7th one in from the right on the top

 Hs was on Thurs night and the kindergarten is so big that they even seperated the am class from the pm class.  H was being very difficult before the program started but once it started she was all about doing her motions and singing her songs.

H was right in front but was being sour

Fun times!

Havens "Gingerbread" house

The day after we got back from Disneyland Havens class had planned to make their gingerbread houses.  Haven technically wasnt supposed to be at school because she was on independent study from us being gone, but I still wanted her to do the activity so we went to school just for it.

We met her class in the MPR and they had everything all set up.  Each child was supposed to have a parent or someone there to help them.

We got our spot and went to work.  I say gingerbread in quotes because its not gingerbread .:sigh:.  They use an old milk carton as the from and then we use frosting to stick graham crackers to the sides.  Next Haven got to decorate it after we did another layer of frosting.

H and me

The supplies

All finished :)

Its fun and oh so tasty, even if its not gingerbread.  :)