We had a BIG snow today. It actually turned to ice, but before it did we got out and enjoyed the fluff. It was coming down thickly when it finally got going at a little after noon, which added to the magic feeling.
Little Ev stays right in there with the big kids when it comes to outdoor play, even in the snow. Don't you tell her she's little. I pulled her in the sled for awhile but eventually let her down to waddle. I couldn't get a photo or video because I was helping her, but when Evie fell down she couldn't get back up and had to lay like a turtle for someone to help her. Too much snow gear. I kept hollering across the yard, "someone lift her up!" until I got smart and Mike or I stayed right with her.
I haven't been out to play in the snow in a couple of winters. Two years ago I was pregnant and last year we had a newborn....so when I got ready to go out this year I had forgotten that Natalee's been borrowing my snow boots. They are really good warm boots and give her good support to walk outside, and I'm happy to share. I tried to wear my rain boots with boot socks but I have a foot that I smashed with an organ bench some years ago and it's not been quite the same since - after a few minutes outside I realized it was swelling and I rushed inside and had to call Mike in to yank the boot off before it got stuck. So, Grandma Ann style, I kept on my warm socks, wrapped my feet in plastic sacks and put on my old tennis shoes. I stayed warm and dry! She'd be so proud.
We stayed out about an hour before the fluffy snow turned to ice pelts and drove us inside. I put little Evie down for a nap, made hot chocolate, and Mike shared his stroopwafels. Our Dutch friends taught us to set the stroopwafels on the warm drinks so that the caramel inside gets warm and soft - so delicious!
The rest of the evening we listened to the ice hit the house. We prayed for those who had to travel in it and praised God that Daddy isn't one of them anymore.
Zayden was the winner for child who ate the most of his pop tart gingerbread house!
We had worship Sunday morning and then the children all rested before we headed back to the church with our crew for thekids' Christmas program. It was lovely and we really enjoyed hearing our big kids at the piano. They worked really hard on their pieces.
Monday, December 21st
Even though it was Christmas week, we did school on Monday and Tuesday while Dad was at work.
Mia and Zayden finished up their Biblical dinosaur unit.
Natalee FaceTimed with her friend while she finished her bracing time.
She loves these new markers she got for her birthday.
Time out buddies... probably for life.
The 21st was the night to see the Christmas Star. It was actually when planets were aligning creating a bright spot in the sky but it was beautiful and everything we needed to help us focus on the season. You could see it with your eye but way more fun to look in the telescope and with binoculars.
The moon through our telescope.
Little Evie chatting it up.
Tuesday, December 22nd
The weather was beautiful on Tuesday. We did work through some school but also got our vitamin D.
Mia worked very hard on some canvas paintings for her family members.
We had brunch and then blinged out Mia's bike with her new accessories.
We realized over the holiday that Xavier's shoes were too small but he really liked them so he'd not spoken up. When we went to the store he completely skipped a size! Look at that shoe box - size 9 men's!
Games, games, and more games. I hope we're creating memories the kids will cherish forever.
We had a nice Christmas day spent at home. The kids weren't up *too* early but were so excited for the fun of the day. We did stockings right away, because of course we should.
After stockings we did pause the kids and read our final day of Jesse Tree and Jotham's Journey devotions. It just seemed right to focus everyone's hearts properly before we went on to gifts.
This year we did three gifts for each of our children. We kind of tried to do a gold (a very wanted item), frankincense (something to deepen their walk with Christ), and myrhh (something for the body). Honestly the youngest 3's frankincense gifts were non-existent to a bit of a stretch, but it was fun to have a different kind of theme to shop around this year. This was a year when our budget was not so tight as it's been in some years past and we don't take that for granted. We enjoyed shopping for our children and thinking of each one as we chose their 3 gifts. We did also give them each a Christmas Eve box with books and a new very soft oversized blanket.
Instead of opening youngest to oldest, we opened middle and out (middle child over here!). So we went Mia, Zayden, Xavier, Natalee, then Evalynn. Evie was content to help everyone anyways and get into all the stocking stuffers so she didn't mind being last.
The children also drew names for each other this year. They didn't keep whose name they drew a secret, but they did keep what they bought their person secret. Because of the pandemic and no in store shopping, we had the kids think about their person for a couple of days, and then I called them one at a time to the computer with me and we shopped online with a budget of $10-15. They were SO excited to give and receive these secret Santa gifts, and chose to open them first.
I was impressed with how thoughtfully each child chose for their recipient.
From Xavier to Ameliya - bike accessories for her bike. She'd been wanting a basket, but he chose a set with the basket, tassels, and spokey dokes.
From Natalee to Zayden
She chose a monster truck Lego set for Zayden and the much wanted whoopie cushion. He wanted that so bad and she knew it and couldn't wait to give it to him!
From Zayden to Xavier
Also a whoopie cushion and a NY Yankees pennant! Z couldn't wait to give his big brother something Yankees!
From Evalynn for Natalee
Mom helped Ev do her shopping and we chose the game of Yahtzee and nail stickers for when Natalee paints her fingernails.
{Ev carried this bag around and collected ribbons and other treasure the entire time we opened gifts.}
From Ameliya for Evalynn
Ev has LOVED our snowman disk stacker that came up with the Christmas decorations, so Mia got her a nice wooden disk stacker so she could still play when the snowman went back into storage.
And now, gifts from Mommy and Daddy...
In summary....much Calico Critters, a bunk bed rack, and dolly & me nightgown for Mia, desk chairs for both big kids, and the Elsa dress Natalee wanted so badly! I was so excited to give Natalee all the framed horse prints I'd done up for her bedroom walls (pics to come!). Zayden loved his backpack, but also had new action figures and micro machines. Xavier got the Yankees hat he'd been wanting and both boys got Lego technics with the new pull back action. Evie loved her dolly set and everything else all the kids opened (ha!) and mommy loved the light table Daddy made her and can't wait to have so much fun with it!
Some years Mike and I have forgone gifts for one another, but this year we each chose one gift to give.
A Barefoot Dreams house coat for me! So soft and cozy!
Gaming headphones for Daddy!
After gifts everyone was starving. We had planned brunch, so I headed into the kitchen to get cranking on our biscuits and gravy. I did buy frozen biscuits instead of making from scratch - Merry Christmas to mom!
The rest of the day was for enjoying. Some of us got dressed. Some of us did not. The kids played. We assembled things that needed put together. There were Legos to build and toys to enjoy. At one point I dug through 2 trash bags for a missing item - wouldn't be Christmas without that!
My pre-teens modeling their new desk chairs!
Everyone had stocking puzzles so they worked on those.
And when the afternoon got long and we were missing our grandmas and papas and cousins and aunties and uncles, mom pulled the ole "family gift" trick out of her hat. Evie napped and we played a new game!
Trekking the World
She woke up before we were done - have a cookie Lovey.
Daddy made hamburgers for supper and we had tator tots and veggies with them. Not super Christmasy food but everyone liked it.
While the big kids played with some new toys in the toy room and Daddy cooked, I played with Evie.
Tending her baby...
Getting to know the light table. In the Air Fort - living the dream!
Zayden FaceTimed Theo to catch up on Christmas!
Overall it was a good Christmas. I had a couple of moments - anxiety, sadness, a lot of big feelings - but those moments didn't define the day. These people in this picture - these people defined my day, and I'm so thankful to the baby who came to fulfill the purpose of saving this fallen world so that I could be with these sweet people - my favorites - on this day.
