Christmas Week

Well, Christmas is behind us. The kids have one more week of vacation. Adam has reserves for the first time next weekend. He has not yet completed his college application stuff so not sure how he's planning on starting college on Jan. 6. Ty flies back to KY on the 6th.

Here's some of what we've done this week. Mostly we have been here at home, except Adam who is only home a few minutes at a time. He's been hanging out at the gym with friends a lot.

At the movie Frozen. Jasmine and I had gone with Kayla and my sister in Indiana, but my car was Frozen, and the mechanic called in the middle of the movie, and I missed a lot.

Christmas Eve service at church. The Pastor reads a book to the kids and talks about Christmas.

Our kids. Quite a mix of clothing styles. I told everyone to wear what they would be comfortable in so they could just focus on the message. Jasmine wore Seminoles because I did.

Hunter has been to church with us twice for special Christmas services. That is major for him.

Crimson and Green. The perfect Christmas colors.

Adam reading the Christmas story from Luke 2. Then all of us, including Hunter, opened stocking gifts, plus the kids handed out what they'd bought for others.

An elf helps me put out all the gifts each year. We stack them by who they are from.

Christmas morning. All the pets get their special treats. Normally we do not ever have all five pets together because Max (yellow cat) had an early traumatic experience with a large, mean yellow lab that he  has never gotten over. You can see that Travis is thinking about messing with him.

Adam

Kayla

Kaleb

Jasmine

Tyler

Jessica

We save Grandma Sims' present until evening each year. She usually gives the kids Wii games to share.

Yesterday Jasmine and I needed to get out, so we went to a popular shopping area about 45 minutes away.

Today is Hunter's birthday so he'll be over later. He really loves wolves, and volunteers at a wolf preserve, so she made him a large wolf blanket and two pillows. I'll post photos of that later.

Christmas Vacation so Far

Tyler and Adam both arrived home safely. Tyler got in with 15 minutes to spare before leaving for the Disney Live show.

This was not the group I planned to take to the Disney Princess show, but it's who ended up going. We've had some behavior issues, but those involved know what to do to fix the situation.

We went to Chilis afterward. The thing is, certain combinations of us tend to get a bit out of control at times. Not to the point we are rude, but to the point that people wonder about the random burst of laughter from our table.

Jasmine entertained us by serenading her root beer bottle with princess songs. She was singing "So This is Love" from Cinderella to her bottle. She is quite the singer too. 

Hunter's family came over Saturday evening. I'd put Dr Pepper pulled pork in the crockpot and that came out well.

Just Dance 4

On the large couch is Hunter's mom and dad (who are actually divorced but get along well), and Tyler. Adam in the rocking chair, Hunter and Jessica on the small couch, and Jasmine and ZonaMae on the floor. Rick, myself and the twins are obviously not in this picture.

We built three gingerbread houses in teams.

finished houses

This team had a lot of trouble with their house falling over!

ZonaMae with gifts.

Hunter's mom, Lisa, likes Alan Jackson.

Adam got this from his boss at Church's

Ready for Sunday morning church. Well, not the dogs of course. 

Yes, she is taller, but she also has on a low heel.

Jasmine and I went to the second Hunger Games movie last night because there was no evening church. We did not think it was nearly as good as the first one.

So that's what we've done so far. Today it is pouring outside so that ruined some of our plans. Some of the kids are going to Frozen later.  Basically the ones who chose to save their allowances for it.

Hope you are all having a good Christmas season.

One Home, One Still to Come

Adam got home yesterday. Tyler is coming in today.
We haven't been doing much. The kids have had activities and parties at school but for those of us at home, the highlight was probably taking the dogs through the taco bell drive through. We didn't let them eat in the car though. They're a bit messy.

Program and Second Parade

Friday was the big parade hosted by one of the schools. It's at 9:00 a.m. on a school day, and I'm not sure why. They bus in all the pre k classes for it though. Jasmine was in it playing bells again.

Our church program was Saturday and Sunday, but Jessica was only it Saturday because she worked Sunday. Hunter and his mom came. His niece and her grandmother came too but we couldn't get them to be in any pictures. I guess the Grandmother would be Hunter's brother's wife's mom. How's that for confusing? She is to Lisa the same thing I'll be to Lisa, mother of her son's wife.

Jasmine has been running a 101-103.8 temp this weekend so could not be in the church program either day.

We went to TGIF afterward and got appetizer plates.

I got my Christmas box from Tyndale too. It's always fun to get that.

Five days of school before Christmas break. Half day on Friday. I think Tyler and Adam are both flying in on Friday too.

Winter Concert

I could hardly see Jasmine. She's in the middle of the back row. 

She played a variety of percussion instruments.

We went to Applebees afterward.

Wings

Ribs

And not one spot on her white shirt!