Christmas Festivities

This week was the start of our Christmas festivities! Monday night our women's fellowship at church had a gingerbread house decorating get-together for all the women and girls. I was able to take my five youngest girls with me and we had enough space at our table that our friends were able to join us. (Many times we take the whole table so we don't visit with others as often as we would like to in those settings.)

Our women's fellowship team did a fantastic job. We played games one of which was charades and my song was "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" which was easy for me since there was a Christmas tree right next to me and I just started dancing next to it, which must have been a sight.

When it was gingerbread house decorating time we each picked out our own little house to work on. Candy was spread out in the middle of the table and we all went to work. The frosting was a little messy at times, but that was part of the fun.

The next night we were able to join the fun at the Burn Institute's Holiday Party. We were running late and snagged the last table that would hold our group of nine. The setting was fancy yet the food was kid/teen friendly and my crew got their fill. They were also able to decorate sugar cookies, get their face painted, have a balloon creation made for them, see Santa, and take a handmade wooden toy home. We couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable evening.

Two days later two of the girls were singing with our homeschool choir. They dressed up in their pretty Christmas dresses and sang with joy.

More fun to follow!

Legoland!

We went to LEGOLAND with our homeschool group this past week. It's the only way we can afford to go to such places.

 

We were able to take five of our girls, our daughter-in-law Arianne, and two grandsons. We had so much fun together. I enjoyed holding Stephen while his mom went on rides with Scott or the girls. I went on one ride, the little rollercoaster and thought I would die. I have no idea why since I love rollercoasters.

 

This is Addis. Aren't those Lego alligators something else?

 

                                                                       Abi and Amy

             
                                                                     Adah and Addis

                                                               Anna, Scott and me

                                    Steve made the two oldest go down the slide together.

                                                       Our granddaughter Makenna

 

 

                  On our way out. Thank you LEGOLAND!

Baby shower time!

We hosted a co-ed baby shower for my sons and their wives in June while Jesse and Sage were home visiting.

                                                     The Mamas-Arianne & Sage

                                                 Drawn  and posted by Adah

                                       
                                                      My project for the shower

                
                    Almost our whole family. Nathan and Elizabeth are missing.

                                      Grandpa, Grandma Val and Aunt Debbie

 

Cake from Costco-Don't let them tell you they can't do a double shower cake.

                                    Jesse & Sage with Grandma and Grandpa

                                                            Little Lizzie

                                       
                                                           Isaiah Boy

                     We had Big Sticks for dessert since it was so hot outside.

                                                                Cousins

                                                                    Joe

                  Thank you to Frankie Najor for taking all of these wonderful pictures!

June, June, June

June has turned out to be so far my busiest month. I haven't danced through it gracefully at times, in fact I can usually be found doing that funky dance that Elaine Benes did on Seinfeld. But July is just around the corner.

We've had school finals and MAP testing, two school pool parties, two used curriculum sales where I shopped not sold, a dermatology appt., eleven dentist appts., Awana Awards, my oldest son's 30th birthday and his party, I had two haircuts in one day, helped on a field trip, helped at the Wacky Olympics at school, my high school senior went to his senior prom, threw a graduation party at the bay for Joe and his friend, our third son and his wife are here visiting, went to two school award ceremonies, high school graduation, my two middle school boys went to Mexico on a short-term mission trip, I've worked in the preschool and nursery at church, helped out at the Ethiopian church on two Sundays in the 1st-2nd grade rooms, VBS for a week, and we're hosting a combined co-ed baby shower for two of my sons and their wives. WHEW! Are you tired yet? I'm losing my noodle.

                                                       Joe ready for prom.

I found this chart online and reconfigured it. At the Ethiopian church the kids were told to have the names of   

Jacob's wives, their handmaidens, and his sons memorized. I found this and found it helpful for myself.

Joe receiving a scholarship from the PTSA.

Dad with Abi Mulu and Addis

The birthday boy

                                                         Arianne & Scotty

                                      Distressed Makenna because she has sand on her hands.

                                                         Smiley face Elizabeth

                                                     Miranda & Makenna

                                                 Sarah & Elizabeth

                                                    Meskie

                                                               Anna

                                                         A boy and his stick

more pics tomorrow......