Christmas

Christmas without snow is not right.
Christmas with 55 degrees is plain wrong.
But that is what we had this year. It did mean that all the family got to our house without too much hassle. It meant that I could go outside with the Flory boys and run around. It also meant that the coats we bought for the Krib boys will have to be put away for colder weather.
We had them all over Christmas Eve for an early dinner and lots of presents.

I mentioned to Roger and Luke that it would be a huge help to me if they would scape their plates and put them into the dishwasher when they were done, so Grandma didn't have too. Everyone must have heard me cause, before I knew it all the dishes were off the table and into the dishwasher.
In hindsight, I'm thinking they probably thought it was one step closer to presents.


When our kids were little I remember Mom and Dad always having their Christmas on the Sunday before the actual day. Mom worked her tail off baking and cooking. It was always a crazy, good time. She always said we should be home with our families on Christmas day.
Someone I told that to, asked me what Mom and Dad did on that day then. I couldn't tell her. I really had no idea. I imagine they stayed home alone.


That is what Mike and I did this year. I baked a ham in the air fryer and we had a nice quiet day, just the two of us. I did take advantage of the weather and tried out my new platform step ladder from Bryan and Mary and washed my outside windows. As much as I enjoyed that (I love washing windows) I still think we should always have a White Christmas. It is my favorite Christmas movie after all.

You should never pass up a opportunity when you have all the grandkids with you to take a Grandma and Papa picture.

Owen was supposed to sit on my lap, but he was not having any of that. He was doing what he wanted and I love this picture all the more because of it.

Crafting

My neighbor across the street had a friend who was a serious quilter. When she passed away her husband wanted the fabric out of the house. She thought of me right away and hauled it all back to her house. There was no way I could take it all, but she did insist I take a huge portion of it.

sorting colors

It is a crazy amount of fabric. I will probably never get around to using all of it, but I'm going to respect the lady who had it all and take care of every bit of it.


Sharen grabbed the bin of felt thinking of doing crafts with her grand daughters.


I was excited when they asked me to join them.
We got out scissors, glue, sparkles and the bin of felt and sat down at Sharen's kitchen table to make some ornaments.

Master Crafters

 We had fun sorting the felt and picking out the best colors and cookie cutters to use. Kallie, Kendell and I traced and cut out some shapes and Sharen took them into her sewing area and sewed the two sides together.

Kendell adding some sparkle

At one point I didn't know where Kallie disappeared to and then I figured it out.

She had followed Grandma into the sewing room. Pretty sure she half wanted to sew some and the other half spend time with Grandma. That girl needs her won sewing machine - I'm just saying. Hey, maybe she can be our next quilter in the family and I can hand down the fabric to her. Pretty sure Carrie would have a problem with that, but time will tell.

I was manning the glue gun. Both girls wanted to try it. Kallie got through it smooth, but Kendell stuck her finger in the hot glue (more than once) and with her drama voice asked me to finish for her.
I can see some Carrie in her for sure.

TaDa the ornaments

Each girl made me a heart shaped one for my tree. They each made one of a bone for their dogs. Kallie made the Harper one and Kendell, one for Tank.


It was great fun hanging with my twin and her twins.
I have 2 ornaments on my tree to remember the day.


State Champions

Sharen has been bragging (with good reason) how good Kendell and Kallie are at cheer and dance.
Last month Carrie asked me if I would help her out and pick up the twins from their cheer practice.


Well I snuck in a little early and watched them.
I was surprised at the attention all the girls put into their practice and the attention they paid to their coach. No chit chatting and no sitting around. these girls were all business.


I got to witness their dedication at the State Championship.
These girls walked into the Sears Center arena with no fear. Showing anyway, they did admit to me after that they were a little nervous.


Carrie didn't know I was coming with Sharen and was happy to see me. As we sat there with Sharen on her left holding her hand and me on the right with my hand in her death grip the girls rocked it.
No tumbles, no falls, and Kendell flipped down her tumble run flawless.




Kallie posing on top

Kendell cheering from above

 

 After the show the girls were so excited. Hugs for everyone. And a few pictures.

Twin Power

It was a long day with numerous teams from around the state competing.
Sharen and I left and waited for a text with the results.
The girls took home their second state title in 3 years.

Kallie and Kendell Champions

Breakfast with Santa

So we celebrated our last Santa breakfast at Res.
It's been 8 years celebrating with the staff at the daycare at AMITA Resurrection Hospital having breakfast with Santa.
Owen will be heading to Kindergarten next year.

posing with Santa

I'm pretty sure it's the same Jolly old St. Nick. Then again they all look alike.

Santa asking what they want

No surprise that they all wanted Pokémon cards. They all came away with a present.
Owen made the rounds and talked with all the parents and hugged all his classmates.
It was so sweet to watch him. He even had the nuns laughing.

Group Picture

We corralled Owen for a quick picture and then he was off (with Bryan in pursuit) to greet all the people eating in the cafeteria.
His teacher had tears in her eyes when she posed with all 3 boys. She's been a teacher for them all.
I didn't get a shot - sometimes you just have to watch and enjoy the moment.