Lego Exhibit

We are officially getting into Lego's at our house.  When we were down in Vancouver visiting my Aunt and Uncle my Aunt found that the Portland Children's museum was having a Lego Castle exhibit.   We went to check it out and the boys loved it.   The Children's museum has lots of fun hands on stuff to do there besides the Lego's. Seth had a great time with Uncle Ted in the 3 and under area.  Noah really loved the play Vet's office and Grocery store/Restaurant/Kitchen area.  Andrew and Joshua loved the play theatre/stage area.  I found it super amusing when Joshua was trying to hush the "audience" of adults sitting in the theatre area while there kids played on the stage.  Andrew also really like the area where you could build something with Lego's.  We are planning a trip to a Lego Store in the near future.  

Three big boys on the Lego Castle thron

Seth, Andrew, Joshua, Noah

Andrew and a Lego knight

Joshua and a Lego dragon

Noah and Joshua with the Lego dragon

Seth checking out some big Lego's

Seth trying to build with big Lego's

Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas 2011!  It was a long night.  Shortly after Santa came to our house Joshua was wide awake with excitement.   We had all ready told the boys they could not get up until 6am at the earliest.   So Joshua and I struggled to rest and finally fell asleep at around 3am.  I should add that Joshua had a bit of coffee in his hot chocolate on Christmas Eve.  This combined with his excitement kept him awake most of the night.   Andrew was wide awake at 6am and filled with excitement.  We got everyone up and ready to check out what Santa left us.  First it was on to stockings.   Seth was excited to see that Santa left his favorite treat - Yogurt Melts.   The three big boys quickly ripped into all things that had their names on it.  Since this was the first year that Seth was able to participate he was busy getting into everything.   After all the presents were open I quickly got our traditional breakfast of monkey bread going.  Baron prepared a yummy feast for dinner that night of Turkey, potatoes, green bean casserole, and rolls.   We were very blessed on Christmas this year.  

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve!  We started the celebration out by making gingerbread cookies.  This was the first time I have made gingerbread cookies or the royal icing to decorate them.  It was a lot of fun for all of us making them, decorating them and eating them.   We ate our traditional meal of tamales and beans.  After dinner the boys received one gift to open, which was new PJ's.  New pajamas on Christmas eve is a tradition that started with my mom giving my sister and I new pajamas on Christmas Eve.   Once in the new PJ's we settled in to watch Polar Express with some hot chocolate.  After the movie it was time to drive around the area looking at all the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations.  The whole day we were tracking Santa on NORAD Santa Tracker to see Santa's journey around the world and make sure we were home in bed for his arrival.

Christmas Break

We started out the Christmas break with a little fun.  The two big boys slept out on the sofa bed with movies.  In the morning the two little ones joined in the fun.   After we finally got up and got dressed I had a fun idea.  We took two of the kids mattresses off their beds and brought them downstairs for some jumping fun.  The boys really had a good time jumping on the mattresses!  What a fun way to start the break.

Santa Photos

Wow we saw Santa a lot!  I found out the local high school photo club was doing Santa Pictures so we did this.  Found out that Seth did not like Santa!  We still managed to get a photo.  Then when we went to see my Aunt and Uncle we went to two events that had Santa.  Then we also went to the Breakfast with Santa party at Baron's work where we all got in the picture with Santa.   Noah also got to see Santa at the mall when Baron's parents were visiting but I did not snap a photo.  Noah did talk with the mall Santa for quite some time since there was no line of kids waiting.

Santa photo taken by local high school photo club

Santa Picture at movie event hosted by Knights of Columbus

Santa photo at Uncle Ted and Aunt Rosemarie's Church breakfast

Santa Picture taken at Baron's work "Breakfast with Santa" party

Festival of Lights

Went to Vancouver, WA this weekend and we sure kept busy.  Saturday morning we were up early to see a movie and Santa at a nearby theatre hosted by the Knights of Columbus which my Uncle Ted is a part of.   We got to see Santa and saw the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked.   We enjoyed the cute movie though Seth and I spend a lot of the time walking the lobby and halls.   That evening we ventured into Portland, OR to the Festival of Lights held at the Grotto.  The lights were so beautiful.  We loved that they had the story of Jesus's birth playing as your walked through the lights.  The even had a beautiful Nativity displayed.  We also went into the chapel to here some beautiful singing.  There was even a petting zoo with some aggressive goats!   Poor Seth was up most of the night with what we later found out was a double ear infection.  Since Seth did not sleep much he and Daddy slept in on Sunday.  The rest of us headed out to church and then breakfast and Santa after the service again hosted by the Knights of Columbus.   We headed home in the afternoon.  

Our family at the Festival of Lights

My Aunt Rosemarie and Uncle Ted at the Festival of Lights