Christmas Break Part I...fun, fun, fun!

 Dinner & Christmas  Lights with friends

 Lunch & Gift Exchange with more friends

                                                    The Annual Gingerbread Houses,

made with Grandma & Grandpa Neese

                                                                Cookie Decorating

                                                                   Christmas Eve

                                                    Sutton got a puppy pillow pet

                                                 Jamers got a LOT of StarWars toys

        Leaving Cookies for Santa & a Carrot for the Reindeer to share

 Christmas Morning

 Singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus

Modeling their snowflake necklaces that they crafted

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Our first part of the kids' Christmas break was filled with fun and festive Christmas activities...we saw a movie, made crafts, baked, delivered treats to the neighbors (the kids love to load up the wagon and deliver these with daddy)and spent time with friends, eating and taking in the sights of Christmas! It was our year to spend Christmas with the Neese side. On Christmas Eve, we went to church and then celebrated with cousins, aunts and uncles at Grandma & Grandpa Neese's house. We had a leisurely Christmas morning at home before heading back to Grandma & Grandpa's house, with our traditional breakfast-eggbake, cinnamon rolls and fruit, opened gifts & stockings and the kids enjoyed playing with ALL their new toys. The next day we packed up to drive south to spend time with my family in OC...more to come on those fun times on the next entry!

Meran's "Star Week"

Last Friday Meran came home all happy & excited(well, she does most day really). She had good news! It was FINALLY her turn to be Star of the Week! This means that her teacher randomly selected her to have her special week in the classroom...She got to make a picture board of herself, fill out a paper about her favorite things, bring a special share item on Wednesday (which were her American Dolls) and bring a special treat to share one day (she chose to bring these adorable gingerbread people, which i ordered from a gal i go to MOPS with). Dad went to school on Thursday with her to help her hand out the treats, which made it extra special!

Jameson's Pre-K Christmas Program

Wednesday was Jameson's Christmas program in his class...I couldn't stop laughing!
Not that it was funny, but so darn cute! Ofcourse, my boy was singing at the top of his lungs (a yell, really)-louder than all the other kids. He loves to sing and I can catch him singing throughout the day. Today his song choice was "Put one foot infront of the other, and soon you'll be walking out the doooooor" (from the vintage cartoon, Santa Claus is Coming to Town). 
After the singing the kids decorated cookies...sugar overload!

                                                       in his handprint anteler hat

                          he got a little carried away with the sprinkles                  

 with one of his teachers

Let the Christmas Festivities Begin!

Saturday night was our annual Christmas get together with our friends, the Olson and Saltzman Families. We have been doing it 5 years now...hard to believe! This year we gathered at Kevin & Robyn's home....which is always a treat to one's senses! Robyn has a real knack for weaving creativity and whimsy throughout their comfortable and cozy home. They have recently converted their garage to a homeschool/playroom for the kids and it made the night so enjoyable for all! The grown-ups got to have conversation and a relaxing dinner and the kids were in heaven with the kid-friendly space, in which there were plenty of treats and fun for all!
This is one of the many delights of the Christmas season, enjoying sweet times with good friends.

The treats for the kids

An Unusal Choice...

Last night we had spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread and broccoli. For dessert, homemade chocolate chip cookies, fresh from the oven. If it weren't for my gestational diabetes, I would have put down 3...easily.

Sutton, on the other hand, chose to spit his cookie out and opt for more broccoli. And, for some reason, he loves to eat the left over veggies from the pan. Not sure where he inherited these taste buds from...unusual, to say the least.

Meran's School Christmas Program

Tueday night was Meran's Christmas program at school. One of the billion reasons I love her school is because we call it "Christmas" Program, and not "Holiday" Program. It was a sweet little performance with about 140 2nd & 3rd graders, about 5 stars that experienced the night Jesus was born. The boys stayed home with our babysitter and we enjoyed the evening with our (for now) only daughter. Afterwards, we gave her the choice of Satrbucks, for Hot Cocoa or Big Kahuna's (the newest frozen yogurt shop)...ofcourse, she wanted both, but her dad was able to sweet talk her into frozen yogurt (his fav!).

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving week in Orange County, with my family, this year. We packed it full of fun...a Disneyland visit, the movie "Tangled", Christmas shopping, pedicures for the girls, golfing for the boys and lots of quality time with my family!


The View was so beautiful on the drive there!

Disneyland!

Sutty's girlfriend, "Mimi"

Jameson knows how daddy likes his pumpkin pie...lots o' whip cream!(note how he is holding the canister like a gun-all boy!)

Meran helping prep dinner

My very creative aunt made this cool appetizer

Sutton enjoys eating pumpkin pie with both hands...who needs a fork anyway?

Sutty, Jason & Papa
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Thankful for...

Jesus & Salvation

My handsome & understanding husband

3 spunky, healthy kids

New baby girl coming

Our supportive family-both sides

Really good friends

Family Photos by Christie

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We did a mini photo shoot this weekend in our yard, since my whole family was here.

My friend Christie took them...I think they turned out lovely.

Celebrating with Friends

Meran helped me open gifts and was thrilled to be there!

With my mother-in-law, Linda

Mom, Kate & Lauren came up for occassion

Myself, with the hostess' with the most-est

Our Beautiful Table (customized by Karin)

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Some dear friends held an intimate luncheon on behalf of our new baby-girl-to-be at one of my favorite restaurant downtown, Cafe 225. Originally, I felt awkward about having a "shower" thrown for me. But, I do agree, that every baby deserves to be celebrated...and it isn't her fault she is 4th in line!
We lunched, talked and opened adorable pink gifts...a perfect afternoon.
It made it special, too, that my side of the family was able to come!

CVC Junior Cheer

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Meran participated in a Junior Cheer Clinic that her school offered a few weeks ago. The following Friday night the girls got to cheer at the football game. Meran loved it...the song they danced to was the Beach Boys "California Girls".