Making Gifts

For Christmas this year we as a family decided to do all handmade gifts with the exception of one "Santa gift". Everyone would make a gift for everyone. I knew it was going to be a lot of work and it is something I have wanted to do for a long time but was intimidated by all the time it would take. But I loved it because I spent less time at stores and more time and home making things with my kids. It was a lot of fun. William made Gracie a little box theater and used our box that Tiny Prints sent our Christmas cards in. I loved how our cards turned out and I loved the box. It made this project so much easier since the box was already cute. 

I had to help him figure out how to construct the stage but he did those little puppets all on his own.

He and I had a lot of fun making it together. He sure loves being creative. He kept saying, "Gracie is going to love this." He was so excited about it. It was the first of many successful Christmas gifts. 

New Years 2014

Our New Year's Eve was pretty low-key. We had Connie, Mark,  Ashley, Sam, and Scout over. We played with sparklers, did a balloon drop, and ate our traditional macaroni and cheese.

A little while later my friend Lindsey came over and we did some fireworks in the backyard.

I guess the kids like Connie.

Here we are toasting at midnight.

These pictures are so blurry and taken with the iPad but I had to post them because I love Lindsay.

William and Gracie stayed awake the rest of the kids fell asleep.

My kids have built for earlier that day with the help of uncle Mark and Russ and they really wanted to sleep in it that night. So I let them.

Apparently they're restless sleepers because this is what it looks like when I got up in the morning.

Galentines 2014

This year for Galentine's it was just Connie and I and Austenland. We invited tons of girls but none could come. We did invite them pretty last-minute. Connie was awesome and brought over cucumber sandwiches in the shapes of hearts some awesome red and white gummy bears and rice crispy treats with frosting on top. She also brought peach Italian  sodas to drink my favorite. Austenland is seriously one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. I haven't been a fan of many movies lately but this one had me laughing all the time.

Valentines 2014

This year I was pretty unprepared for Valentine's Day so late the night before I ran to the store to pick up some treats for the kids. I decided to go with the theme of I art you. Mostly because my kids love art supplies so much I knew this would be something that would get them excited I also got them roll of bubble tape for fun. I was really glad that I got them gum since Jojo ended up throwing up that morning. If it had been something he needed to eat he probably couldn't have but he could chew gum.

This is Gracie's face when she noticed but glitter glue.

Russ and I also wrote each of the kids their very own valentine.

Gracie telling Louise happy Valentine's Day.

The night before Valentine's Day I also made a run by Krispy Kreme to get their valentines donuts for breakfast the next morning.

That night turned out to be a pretty crazy night. We had to go pick up Russ' truck from the shop and Louise cried the whole way in the car. Then we decided to stop And get Panda Express for dinner. Joseph still wasn't feeling well and all the kids were pretty tired and whiny and the line was really long. After we got home I had promised them that we would be able to watch the movie Cool Runnings (inspired by the Winter Olympics). While you're watching it Joseph threw up and it missed the bowl and landed on me. Not too long after he fell asleep in my lap.

Russ saved the day by giving me a back rub after the kids were in bed.

Since the kids go to a once a week school they are able to celebrate the holidays and were able to bring valentines for their friends. Luckily William had an extra one that he could give to Joseph and that made him so happy.

These are Gracie's valentines. The pencil, sucker, and card are taped to a blank book.

Christmas 2013

This year Russ' sister Kirsten and her family stayed with us for Christmas. They also had out family to give to for Christmas. Before they arrived this package did and it said to open right away so we did. 

They got these adorable elf hats.

Even one for baby Lou. They are the softest, most adorable hats ever. 

Then on Christmas Eve we had more of Russ' family over. Now I didn't takeaway pictures at all of Christmas or the Christensen family reunion that followed because Ted the photographer was there. The only problem is I don't have the pictures yet. 

We read a story about Santa and Jesus

Gracie, ever so sweetly and beautifully sang Silent Night for us. 

Joseph got the boom he wanted from Grandma and Grandpa.

 Saying thank you. 

And here is the Christmas tree just before we went to bed. 

These were some pictures of Russ with Lou I the night. She must have needed a diaper change. 

Waking the kids up in the morning. Gracie was completely under her blanket. 

And of course Joseph was sleeping in our bed. 

My little elves 

Connie made William a Deathly Hallows t shirt. 

Gracie hugging Joe, just because.

Connie gave Gracie an Indian costume which was something she was wanting so bad. 

Santa brought Joseph a sword. 

Then we headed over to my moms for Christmas breakfast and I took no pictures of that. I did get on if some of the kids and dads throwing around a football at the park. 

Then we went to the movies. Russ took William to see the second Hobbit movie and Connie and I took the rest of my kids to se Frozen. 

We loved it. 

Then we went home, ate some cereal and then went to bed. It was a fun but exhausting day, cause during all of that I was probably holding or feeding a baby most of the time.