More Christmas and the End of 2009

When we travel for Christmas our children end up having several days of gift opening. That is mostly because we don't want to transport too many gifts just to turn around and bring them back home. We also usually stop at Diana and Michael's (Derek's sister and brother-in-law) on our way to and/or from my parents' house. That meant they got to open gifts while visiting them, and again once we got home. Lucky kids!

Here are the kids opening gifts at Diana and Michael's


Kevin with his gift (money towards his sports fund so that he can play sports this year - he is very excited)


Jared with his new Lightning McQueen slippers. He wears these all the time!


We had a great time visiting Diana, Michael and Tanner (their baby). They were house-sitting in a great house. The owners (Michael's brother and his wife) have three children (two boys and a girl) close to the same ages as our kids. They have a finished basement with tons of cool toys. It was heaven on earth for our kids. Thanks for letting us visit. We had a blast!

Kevin with his cousin, Tanner


Kevin, Tanner, Jared and Jenna (she didn't want her picture taken)


Michael's brother has a dog named Blue. At first the kids were afraid of him, but they warmed up after a little while.

Jenna and Blue


They also have a Santa Claus that you can do karaoke with. The kids thought he was awesome.

Jared singing


Kevin singing


Jenna singing


Jared playing with one of the many cool toys in the basement


Kevin holding Uncle Mike hostage. Not sure the details on the situation, but no one was injured, and it was resolved peacefully.


Michael, Tanner and Diana with Kevin, Jenna and Jared


Here is the final Christmas of 2009. We had a few presents to open once we got home from our trip.


Derek, Jenna, Jared, and Kevin opening gifts


Jared showing off his new finger puppets


Kevin with his new snake (fake, of course)


For New Year's Eve this year we decided to have chocolate fondu and sparkling cider with the kids. We did this at about 7p. There was no way I was going to let my 6,4, and2 year olds stay up until midnight. They would have been so cranky! Anyway, they loved the fondu. We ended up doing it again on New Year's Day because we had left overs. Even though we didn't let them stay up until midnight, we did promise to wake them up to see the ball drop. I think that Kevin was the only one coherent enough that night to really know what was going on. He was, however, a bit disappointed in the "ball." I think he was expecting a fast moving ball dropping to the ground. A slow moving "chandelier" just didn't do it for him. :)

Amanda with Kevin and Jared on New Year's Eve


Amanda and the kids at our fondu party on New Year's Eve


Derek and the kids at our fondu party on New Year's Eve


Jared enjoying the fondu


Kevin and Jenna enjoying the fondu




I think this face says it all...the night was a success. :)


Jenna has been learning how to read. She is still in the very early stages. She got a few easy readers for Christmas. Derek sat down with her the other day and helped her read one. She was so excited that she "read" a book. She does a really good job sounding out words. I am very impressed with her progress. Every night we read the scriptures as a family. She always wants to read a verse. We help her with the big words, but she sounds out the small words. That is how Kevin started learning to read too.

Here she is reading the scriptures with her dad.


We hope you all have a great year! Here's to a happy, healthy, and productive 2010... Cheers!