December/Christmas Update

Since I am so far behind with blogging I have just chosen a few of my favorite shots from Christmas & the end of 2011. Our Christmas(es) started on the 24th & we had something on every night until the 31st.

This is Simon, just as he is. I love this picture of him. He was so thrilled to receive an MP3 player for Christmas filled with his favorite music.

Calleigh on Christmas morning. All 3 girls received these matching pjamas.

Micah, quiet & calm as usual, opening a Collingsworth family piano book on Christmas Day.

I love these 2 sweet peas. If you recall we took photos of them at the piano last year. This year it was a little more difficult to get them to sit there & look at the same time. They do not ever stay still for long.

(you can see the top on the snowman from our front lawn)

Christmas on the 27th

Micah & Brennan

Christmas with the Klatt's

Katelynn, Dad, Derek, Calleigh & Micah all on one sled.

We all had so much fun that day sledding right in Mom & Dad's yard.

The twins loved it. It was their first time to really be out playing in the snow & they had a hoot.

Micah & Lauryn?

Leah & Simon

A good game of Cranium

Lauryn & Leah at Doug & Tins'as on New year's Eve.

Best Buds having a private picnic in the hallway.

Church Christmas Program

This year I led the children's Christmas program & enjoyed it so much.

Singing "Oh Come Little Children".(Micah playing the piano for it) The twins are clapping for themselves & the others.LOL

Duet of "We Three Kings"

Presenting " Wild West Christmas"

My little shepherds (Micah(Doc) entering behind, Calleigh as an angel)

Leah put on a little show herself

Calleigh sang, "Come on Ring Those Bells" & "Away in a Manger" as well as recited part of Luke 2 (the angel's part)

Simon as Wild Bill Hiccup

Singing "Joy to the World"

First Concert

At the beginning of December the boys put on their own concert at home. This was the first of many performances.

Playing "We Three Kings" duet

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Then the kids sold coffee & goodies before heading out to the Parade of Lights.

Christmas With The Klatt's

We had Christmas at Mom & Dad's on the 27th. We have it when it works for Derek & Pam to be around. Mom(Grandma) bought the kids these wonderful balloon blowers. You blow up the balloon then let the air out & they make a loud squeak sound, the kind of sound that should only be heard at Grandma & Grandpa's.LOL

Everyone went outside to go sledding down the hill right in my parents 'backyard'. I stayed inside with the twins & mopped Mom's floor.LOL


Leah & Lauryn riding on the horse that belonged to Grandpa(Warren) when he was their size. (you can see Leah is eye is still recovering from her eye infection)

The grandchildren
Missed a picture of us all enjoying our turkey meal before opening gifts.

These pics were after the gifts were open. Leah loving Jaken's new toy.

Calleigh with the kitchen from Grandpa & Grandma.

This year, us 8 adults decided not to pick names but we decided to do a chinese gift exchange. Many Tim Hortons products were exchanged this year.

Eating again!!

Tim said that we should take the family photos around the table becasue all we do is eat.

All of us

I always love getting together with my family to play games.

We played WhoNu?, What's Yours Like?, and Horseopoly.

We had agreat Christmas together and I am already looking forward to the nest time we are all together. What will this year's exchange be?

Christmas Day

We headed over to Bryan's parents around noon for the rest of the day, opened gifts then had our turkey meal.

Opening a gift up on Papa's shoulders, what a place!!LOL

The twins opening a gift. They really liked all the paper & boxes.

"Our first Christmas"

I took more video than pictures so I don't have many from that day.

Calleigh coloring on her Coloring Roll(these are neat, better than a coloring book) Notice that she is using both hands, a pencil crayon in each hand.LOL

Christmas Morning

I still love Christmas morning just like I did as a child - well maybe not quite as excited. I do still like to wake up early on Christmas morning. This year I woke up and baked Cinnamon Bun Pull Aparts, maybe the beginning of a tradition.

Then off to the stockings:

Simon, pretty excited about his own "SNAIL"(adhesive):

Micah with one of their many Montreal Canadians gifts:

Calleigh so excited about "BOOKS". She took awile opening all the gifts in her stocking because she really cherished each one & wanted to look them over before moving to the next gift:

Simon with his new MC toque & Jeff Gordon wall hanging:

The twins with their new bibs from their stockings:

Then we took a break to eat the Pull Aparts before going into the living room to open gifts from under the tree.

Calleigh with her Magic Oven from Uncle Andrew & Aunty Shancelle:

Thank you!!

The Walk & Ride toy that we gave the twins.

My helper Calleigh with her apron & measuring cups/spoons.

One of Dad's gifts from the boys.

And one of the favorite gifts, a goalie helmet for the boys when they play hockey downstairs & outside. The wore this lots for the first few days, even while playing the piano.LOL

This year we spent the entire morning at home just allowing the kids to play with their toys & enjoy their gifts a bit. It it was nice to not be rushed before heading to Bryan's parents for the rest of the day. Although we were all hungry by the time turkey was served because they had all eaten a big brunch before we got there.

Christmas Eve

We spend every Christmas Eve at Bryan's Grandma Schreiner's, with the exception of last year when Grandma was staying with Bryan's parents after her heart surgery. It is our tradition to have cheese rolls for supper before opening gifts. Before the gifts are opened, the Christmas story is read. Here Micah is reading it:

The kids singing, "Away in a Manger":

Calleigh saying her verse:

Another "tradition" is that we give the kids a game as well as PJs on Christmas Eve. We gave them the "Game of Life" and we have played it many times since. Today we discovered it is just as fun, maybe more fun, playing without the money but using the Life cards.

Can you tell Calleigh was excited? She was thrilled by every gift she opened & so dramatic about it all.

Our matching scarves

In their new pjs

And with Great Grandma(Gee Gamma):