Hana is 8!!

It is always hard to believe when a baby of mine gets older!!
This year it was Hana's turn for a birthday party.  So we had a PJ party!  The kids came over in the morning in their Pjs, they had breakfast, and did some pajama party games and actives :)

Hana on her Birthday!! Sooo grown up!

the party food

we had pancakes and yummy toppings, cereal, and donuts! 

Her birthday "cake" 

 making bracelets 

 Sisters enjoying the party treats with Mimi!

decorating pillow cases with Nana

riding her new bike!!

Happy 8th Birthday Hana!!

Christmas!!

After school was out, we headed to Greensboro to celebrate Christmas.

getting ready to go look at lights... in the dark

a VERY tacky house...

All of the cousins dressed up for Sunday morning :)

 A family picture on Christmas Eve :)

some more lights after the Christmas eve service

Saying good bye to Steve on Christmas morning!!

 time for PRESENTS!!

Merry CHRISTMAS!!!

Happy Birthday Jesus :)

Other December activities

Brooke had a project in school where she had to do a presentation on an animal.  She picked the horse.  So we sewed one :) It was cute!

The kids made cupcakes with Daddy

 

We went to see some lights at "Enchanted Arilie" with some friends

Madeline's Happy Birthday Jesus party

Madeline's class... yes, she is the short one!

Wishing Jesus a Happy Birthday!

Hana's class project... Christmas around the world :) She studied England.

 Her passport

"Steve" the Elf

This year we had a new addition to our Christmas family, Steve the elf! The Elf on the shelf had not previously visited our house, but he saw that the kids were having a hard this following directions and decided to join our family.  I will say I was skeptical at first, but he really did help! He did get into some funny situations during his stay...

His first spot

 playing in the beans (Madeline had played in them earlier in the day)

Changing the "days til Christmas"

Sewing

Doing a google search... "gifts for reindeers"

He also wrote "Be Good" in M&Ms... but I can't find that picture 

Steve was quite fun for the whole family :)

Our Christmas tree!

I soooooo love Christmas! I look forward to it each year!! I start thinking about it MONTHS in advance, so when it is time to "officially" start it... I do it AS SOON AS I can :)

We had to get a fake tree this year.  Brooke is allergic to trees, which we had known for a couple of years.  But this year I felt strongly that I couldn't knowingly make her allergies worse! At first I was VERY opposed to having a fake tree.  I had visions of a horrible green plastic thing that wouldn't look anything like a tree.  But welcome to 2012! The tree was great! It was easy to put up, not at all messy, and could have either white or colored lights.  The kids like the color and I like the white... so I could switch it each day!  I will have to admit that I am an official convert... fake trees are the way to go!! Just add a "tree smelling candle" and you would never know the difference!

 White :)

Colored

Thanksgiving 2012

I know Thanksgiving has come and gone (by a lot!), but it was still fun and worth sharing!

The girls got to help Nanny cook... which they always enjoy!! They were very excited to have the "green pie" again :)

On Thanksgiving day the kids got their own (very nicely decorated) table. Some how I missed getting a picture of the adult table... I guess I was too busy eating!!

We did pose for a family photo... which had to be edited.   hehe :)

In the days after thanksgiving...
We had a fire in the front of the house (which I totally love!).  We grill out hotdogs with the kiddos... so fun!  And the kids played in the leaves (something we can't do in Wilmington!)

They also got to go to the Natural Science Museum... which was kool

 And made Christmas ornaments!

Madeline's Thanksgiving 2012

Madeline had a thanksgiving day at school. The dressed up and got to play some "drums".  Of course she was cute!