Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas!

Our kids always try to sneak down the stair Christmas morning to see what Santa brought. They get so excited, as we all did when we were kids. Heck I Still get excited not for the presents but for the reaction of the kids. 

                                                                                                                                                       Santa had put socks and other need things in every ones stockings. The girls were not impressed.

 The only one that thought it was cool to get underwear in his stocking was Kieron. He  was so excited he had to put them on and not just one but two. 

Sill boy!

Xander got his football that he wanted from Santa

 Kylie got her new bed spread that she wanted. Good Bye Tinker Bell hello stars and guitars. 

Miss Lilya got her cow from Grandma Angus. Each one of my kids get a cow from my mom when they are babies. She says it's her way of keeping the Angus in them.

Janika finally got her own tablet. She's been wanting one for years. I guess Santa thought she was responsible enough this year.

We also had some extra people in our home for Christmas. Sam's friend Erik from Chiropractic school and his daughter Torrie came to spend the Christmas weekend with us. We had a great time with them. 

Christmas Eve

This year we decided to go sledding with a few friends. We hadn't had much snow this year but heard that there may be some in the mountains. So we pack the van with snow gear, sleds, doughnuts, and lots of hot chocolate and headed to the mountains. As we were driving the ground all the way up there was snowless. Sam and I were getting a little worried. We not only were taking our family up there but two other families. We were going to have many sad kids if there was not snow. About 1/2 mile from the sledding spot we found snow, HOORAY! 

As you can see they all had a blast and enjoyed thier hot chocolate and doughnuts.

Every year we get pj's for Christmas Eve. Normally they are wrapped individually, I changed it up this year. I put them all in a big box and added a new wii game, Just Dance 2014. The kids were thrown off all week trying to figure out which box was there pj's. We spent the night dancing and eating yummy food. 

HO HO HO Merry Christmas!

For weeks Xander has been trying to disguise his voice and say "HO HO  HO Merry Christmas" and then say "did you hear that it was Santa".  He would do this at home , in the car, in the store, just about everywhere. It's been pretty funny. 

Santa came for a visit tonight and all the kids were up stairs getting ready for bed. Santa came into the house yelling "HO HO HO Merry Christmas". Xander ran to the stairs with a look of, holy crap that's really Santa. It was pretty funny. Kieron ran to Santa telling him Merry Christmas and giving him a hug. After Santa left all the kids was so excited that it took them a little bit longer to calm down and go to bed.

Xander's Preschool Performance

Xander and all the other kids at preschool have been practicing all kinds of songs from preschool to Christmas songs. Today they performed at a retirement home and did a great job. All the moms thought the only one singing would be their teacher. Every kid was singing, to our surprise. 

South Hills Lights

We had a great time at the South Hills Lights this year. I love lights, they make Christmas for me. I love to drive around different neighborhoods and see everyone's lights. Sam says one day I'll have the house that everyone will drive by at Christmas time. I keep adding more and more each year. My kids feel the same way about lights. They look forward to seeing lights every year. 

It was a cold night but definitely worth the frozen toes. Lilya slept the whole time. I think she was so snug and warm as a pink marshmallow, she slept.

Okay, I love my phone and I'm finding new things it can do all the time. I didn't know it could capture the twinkling of the lights in a picture, until I uploaded this picture. I just took a normal picture, I thought. So cool!

Kieron's 2nd Birthday

I can't believe this sweet little baby turned 2. I think back to that crazy week he was born, the excitement, the stress, the tears, and the joy. We were so blessed to have his birthparents choose us to be his family. He has been such a joy to our family. 

He's smile can make the grouchiest person smile. He's full of personality and loves to love. Kieron is the best big brother, always kissing on his sister and giving Lilya her binkie. He loves Mickey Mouse, cars, and riding his bike. He likes everyone that he meets, but is drawn to men. He loves to be ruff and wrestle, but at the same time he'll snuggle anyone that is welling to let him. 

Right after Kieron woke up in the morning we all started to tell him Happy Birthday. He got a little confused and started to tell everyone else happy birthday. This is how our conversations would go...

Me-Happy Birtday Kieron

K-Happy Birthday Mommy

Me- No it's your birthday buddy

K-Happy Birthday Daddy

Me-No, you

K- Happy Birthday Kaka(Janika)

and so on till he would go though the whole family. This would happen every time we would wish him happy birthday.

 

Seeing as how Kieron LOVES Mickey Mouse that was the theme of his birthday, with a Mickey cake, Mickey clothes, and Mickey toys. 

Happy Birthday Kieron Christopher-Clarke!

Mommy and Daddy love you.

Your Sam and Chris love you, too

And the Christmas Season Begins

Every year we do something with gingerbread. Some years we build houses and others men. This year we did gingerbread men. The kids love to make these at the beginning of December so that we can mix them in the other Christmas decorations. 

Most years I end up doing most of the work, but not this year. Janika and Kylie were able to do everything them selves. All I had to do for the boys was put frosting on and they did the rest.

The kids thought it would be silly to take a picture as they pretended to eat their man. Xander didn't get that meno, silly boy.