Halloween and Christmas

I'd love use the excuse that I was just too busy to post something over the last few months, but honestly, I just didn't make it a priority. I have been extremely busy. (I know that's a weak excuse.) It seems when I had a free moment I felt like just sitting. So today I will post what I should have done months ago.

Halloween:
The kids were characters from the animated show LEGO Ninjago. I made the costumes myself. I used duct tape to make the tops. Yep, duct tape and yes 100% w.t. Hey, for one night it worked. The kids LOVED them. Mission accomplished.







Christmas:

We started celebrating Christmas 10 days before Christmas by having "our" family Christmas. We took the kids to Kobe Steakhouse for dinner. It was the first time the younger two have been to a Japanese restaurant. They had no idea the tables lit on fire. They were terrified. It was somewhat funny to the rest of us.

After dinner we came home to open presents. It was a fun night. From the parental point of view my kids made me very proud. It was nice to hear all four kids say an unprompted thank you when opening gifts. They were truly grateful for the gifts they received.

A few days later we headed to Nebraska to celebrate Christmas with our extended families. It was a lot of fun. Santa managed to find us even though we were miles and miles from home. We got to spend a lot of time with family, which unfortunately meant a lot of hours in the good ole minivan. We were kind of sick of being in the van, but our hearts were happy.

Coloring new Christmas t-shirts.


Christmas at Papa's and Mimi's house.


Sledding behind the golf cart is definitely at the top of the fun list of things to do.


Papa and Mimi with all their grandkids.


The tradition of decorating Christmas Cookies and swimming in the "round and round."



Cousins.


Great Grandma Porter with her "greats and grands."