Christmas Projects

December went by fast, but we still tried to squeeze in some things that we decided that were the most important.  I showed Rhone a couple of ideas for gifts he could make for his Grandparents.  He decided to make them each a little dish.  By the time we molded (even hammered), dried, painted and stamped, and wrapped them- it was quite a project.  But he really did almost everything by himself.  I hope that he is learning that being a giver is as important as being a gracious receiver.  

Rhone picked out some paper and went to work on his letter for Santa.  We really had to encourage him to keep it short.  But he did remember to include Sylvie which was pretty sweet.  We stamped it and dropped it off at Macy's for part of the Make a Wish program.  Rhone started to put it in the box, then quickly pulled his letter out gave it a kiss and mailed it off.  It was really funny and caught me by surprise.  I guess it was a lucky kiss.

We also made wrapping paper, did some Christmas math, and painted a Santa and more.  There were tons of other fun ideas, that just didn't get done.  We already have a list of projects for next year, right.

Showing off his gifts.

Sylvie sucked on a rock and painted a little too.

Toffee is the only candy that I made this year.  But I did win a prize for having the best  dessert at a recipe exchange on base.  Go me!

 

 

birthday girl

My birthday was not exactly awesome this year.  It was on a Sunday.  We made plans to go out Friday night, but Ben ended up having to work.  I didn't want to just sit at home.  So I left the kids with a sitter for about 2 hours.  I got a Jamba Juice and strolled around TJ Maxx and Target.  I got a fun new tea cup for myself and some little Christmas gifts for everyone else.  Sat Ben slept in from his night of work and then had to head to bed early because of his early morning flight on Sunday.  Rhone left the bathroom seat up and mid night I just about landed in the toilet.  The garage door wouldn't open after all the kids were loaded in the car and ready for church.  Haha-it was a below average day.  But Ben surprised me with some fun gifts (he even picked out a pair of boots for me) and a box of Krispy Kreme Donuts for my cake (we are classy like that).  I know this year has plenty of challenges in store, but hopefully there will be plenty of blessings as well. 

Our dear friends invited us over on Tuesday night where I got a real birthday cake and dinner.  It was so kind of them.  I can't believe I didn't get a picture with Haley!

more and more Christmas Parties

I feel like we went to hundreds of Christmas Parties...OK maybe it was more like 3, but it felt like a lot.  I loved that Rhone got to make lots of fun Christmas crafts and I didn't have to do all the work.  Ben's squadron had a party where Santa flew in on an MC-12 (that's the plane Ben flies).  It was actually pretty cool, but the wait was exhausting.  Poor Miss Sylvie finally gave up and feel asleep.  This means that we all got to be in the picture with Santa.  Turns out this was the cutest picture of Santa and Sylvie we were going to get.

The base also puts on a children's Christmas party.  It is quite a party!  There was food, a band, planes on display, Santa, crafts and presents.  Rhone's present was pretty cool.  He got 2 monster trucks. Sylvie ended up with "Skip" the ER nurse doll.  It was funny, but not cool.

Last we went to our church's Christmas party.  Rhone got to go up and sing with the primary kids.  He was crazy up there!  You know it's bad when the guys standing behind you are asking whose kid that it.  Yep, he's mine.

Rhone froze up a little on this Santa encounter, kind of like the kid in the movie "A Christmas Story".

 I loved watching Rhone walk around and ask Ben all sorts of questions about the planes. 

This Santa was amazing.  He really looked at the kids and listened to what they said.  The beard and hair are all real too.  I love the look on Sylvie's face as she and Santa are having a face off.  Priceless.

Bethlehem Night

The base chapel put on a special family night with tents set up like Bethlehem and activites for the kids to do.  They even got a purse of coins that they had to pay with.  There was a live manger scene outside that was really cool.  I am so glad that I singed us up on a whim.  We had a great time.

Rhone was playing with his "wiseman crown" and wanted Sylvie to wear hers too.  Sometimes I watch them interact and I am just so impressed and feel so blessed that they are my babies.

Rhone took this gem

After a shower, I walked into this adorable scene one Saturday morning.  It was totally worth cutting that wood.

Rhone at story time with Mother Goose

Rhone has outgrown naps, but I still try to encourage quiet time.  Look what he quietly accomplished.  Why yes, that is a ski sock in the line of toys.

to the Mountains!

Right before the snow really hit the Sierra's we headed out to get some firewood and cut our Christmas Tree.  We haven't lived near mountains for a long time so its fun to load up and take the kids exploring.  Ben had fun playing -I mean working with his new chain saw.   Rhone was a pretty good helper.  It was fun to go exploring.  We always have a live Christmas Tree at our house, but prices in Cali are a little steep.  So we found the closest National Forest where we could also cut our tree.  Getting our tree was quite the debacle but in the end the tree turned out absolutely beautiful- but a little gigantic.

This tree seemed reasonably sized compared to what else we had seen that day.  Why didn't Ben tell me that this was huge when he took this picture? We might have had a tough time fitting the tree into the bed of the truck.  Don't worry we only lost a few branches when it flew outta the back of the truck.

Giving Thanks

We spent a lot of time not knowing whether or not we would be able to make a quick trip to Idaho for the holidays.  But Ben came home from work with good news (that does not seem to happen very often).  We were together as a little family and even able to spend time together with extended family.  I haven't been "home" for Thanksgiving since college.  It has been really wonderful to have Ben around for holidays.   This is quite a change for our family and we will enjoy it while it lasts!  The kids were pretty good troopers, but the drive does get long.  I think Ben was pretty impressed that I pulled it off by myself a few weeks earlier.  

I had a few crafts planned for the kids to help entertain them while we waited for dinner.  After our delicious meal we headed out on our annual pheasant hunt.  We usually go before the meal, and I must admit that it was hard to convince myself that hiking around was a good idea after my tummy was stuffed with good food.  Rhone was excited to see what the wish bone was.  He was pretty serious about breaking it too.  We have been blessed beyond belief this year and are so grateful for our family!

Gramps is pretty amazing and made the hunting trek with us!

Rhone gave Olin his birthday present before we left

Nana is the best at snuggling babies to sleep

The kids with their Great Grandpa/ma Roser

Snow babies

We have been hitting the snow this winter. These are from skiing and sledding at Eagle Point in Utah. More pictures and video coming once I get caught up. The bottom photo of Rhone is at Donner summit on our way to visit family.