Christmas Day

Our Christmas Day was probably much like everyone else's: opening gifts, eating yummy food, talking to families, etc. It was a lovely day though. 

It's become a tradition to tape wrapping paper over the entryway leading to the girls' bedrooms on Christmas Eve. Then Christmas morning they get to break through and run out to see their gifts.

The video we took of the girls coming out is too long to post here, but Russ and I were both touched at the way Kaylee and Ashlyn first followed the younger girls over to their gifts - a slide for McKell and a bike for Brenna - before even looking at what they had each received.

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa! Just what Kaylee wanted!!!

Kaylee and Ashlyn FINALLY got tablets, Ash spent a lot of time taking pictures and videos.

Brenna and McKell also got a box full of new princess dress-ups.

The biggest surprise this year was for Ashlyn -
a trip to Chicago over New Year's to meet her new cousin Isaac.

And here's the video of Ashlyn opening her special gift (you may want to turn your sound way down):

Christmas Eve

The evening of Dec. 23rd Brenna had another seizure, so we weren't sure how many of our Christmas Eve plans would work out (it usually takes her a full day to recover from a seizure). She felt a bit out of sorts in the morning, but was back to normal by afternoon. 

We went on our traditional grocery store run to pick out our Christmas Eve dinner cereals, made and decorated sugar cookies, delivered some of the cookies to our neighbors, watched "Miracle on 34th Street", ate our cold cereal dinner, acted out the Nativity story, opened new pajamas, drove around to look at Christmas lights, and sent the kiddos off to bed! 

Russ looked through pictures from the past 3 Christmas Eves and discovered Marshmallow Mateys has been in the mix every year since we started this family tradition!

2015 Nativity Cast: Ashlyn as Mary, Brenna as the Angel,
McKell as a Shepherd, Kaylee as a Wise(wo)man,
and Russ as . . . Joseph. Of course. He's pretty much stuck with that role

One of the Christmas lessons I learned this year is that 10-year-old girls are no longer interested in matching PJs. Kaylee was, um, less than excited when she opened hers. She warned Ashlyn NOT to tell anyone at school. :) I think they all look adorable though. The 2 pictures below are some of my favorites from the whole season.

Santa Claus Stuff

The girls had a few different chances to visit with Santa Claus this year. McKell got over last year's Santa shyness and was eager to sit on his lap.

This visit was at the gym where Ashlyn does gymnastics, hence her attire.

The picture below are from our church Christmas party. 

Looks like Ashlyn was feeling a little too old for sitting on Santa's lap!

December Fun Stuff

Lots of fun activities going on last month. Last year we visited the "Journey Through Bethlehem" for the first time, and decided to go back again this year. A lot of people put a lot of work into this event, and it's a wonderful place to take the kids and focus a little more on the spiritual side of the holidays.

Brenna lighting one of the candles in the menorah at the "synagogue". 

Posing with the live camel. :)

This was Russ's 4th December at BR&E, and our 4th cupcake delivery to his office. I try to find something new and creative to do with the cupcakes each year. I was really happy with how the North Pole cupcakes turned out. 

We invited some friends over for a Christmas party the week before Christmas. It was fun, and may become an annual tradition!

The kids settled down in front of the tree with their cookies and listened to some favorite Christmas stories.

 Last year was also our first time discovering the awesome light display at Central Park. We definitely wanted to return.

December School Stuff

When it was my turn to host McKell's preschool in December I took some pictures of the kids playing outside; they're so cute and fun! (And we had such amazing weather most of that month!!!)

The school Spelling Bee was held the beginning of December. Six students from each grade (3rd through 5th) participated. Both Kaylee and Ashlyn did well enough in their classroom spelling bees to be selected.

Ashlyn was pretty nervous, but made it all the way to the 4th round.

This was Kaylee's 3rd crack at the school spelling bee. As a 4th grader she was the runner-up (2nd place), and this year she won. :) She was happy that she won, but not too thrilled with the giant list of spelling words she was handed to help her prepare for the district Spelling Bee, which she'll participate in on February 13th.

The last day of school before the holiday break McKell and I went to Brenna's classroom to help out with their Christmas party. McKell was pretty excited that she got to participate in the activities, and eat her share of the treats.

Here's cute Brenna with one of her good friends, Ellie.

Kaylee's Winter Piano Recital

As usual, Kaylee practiced hard and performed well at her piano recital in December.

For interested grandparents, here are the videos of her pieces: