December 2024

Henry the Elf came back! He brought Elf pajamas just like Grant asked for last year.  The kids were very excited our elf came back.  Christmas is going to come quick this year and the kids are so excited!

Grant had his first basketball tournament in Perry this weekend and it was a rough tournament.  The head of the program put us in the 3rd grade division and the boys weren't ready for that yet.  They got beat pretty bad every game and Grant had some rough games but played really well the 3rd game.  Blake and Claire hung out with Grandma in the afternoon so they didn't have to sit and watch Grant's games all day.  It was beautiful outside so Grandma took them to the park to play!  They had so much fun with Grandma!

Claire got this doll from Grandma's house and she loves it.  I think it looks like a girl Chucky but Claire has to sleep with it every night since she got it from Grandma's house!

We went to see Moana 2 in theatres.  It was Claire's first movie and she did great!  I was impressed she lasted the whole movie.  There was 30 minutes of previews so the kids were getting ansy and I was worried it would be too long to sit but once the movie started they were locked in!

If Greg lays on the floor, he is a magnet to the kids.  They immediately get up from wherever they are and climb on his back.  He doesn't love it, only tolerates it, but the kids love it.

Henry brought gingerbread houses to make and the kids had so much fun putting them together.  They did not come with many goodies so many next year we will have to get some extras when we make them!

Blake had basketball at Recplex this session with his friend Jack from ACW.  Blake learned a lot the few weeks he was there with Greg teaching him at home.  He had a few games of tears because he wasn't scoring and Dad promised him xbox time if he score.  Once we got that squared away (don't ever promise xbox time for baskets again) he played great!

Greg took Blake and Claire to Hy-Vee and got to see Santa!  Blake was excited but Claire wanted nothing to do with it.

Claire did a dance performance for the moms and she loved it!  She has shown every one her dance and loves to watch herself dance.  Now if only she listened and performed as well at actual dance.

Claire had a Christmas concert at her preschool.  I only have a few minute video of her because she performed the first few seconds and then just stood there the rest of the time.  She did a fair share of picking her nose too.  Hopefully next year is a little better!

We did Christmas cookies at Grandma's house this year and it was a success.  The kids loved decorating the cookies!

We went to Hope for church service on the 22st.  We wanted to go early to avoid the crowds and it was successfull.  We had plenty of space and no one was there!  Way better than being crammed in there.  Plus-Claire was still able to go to the daycare so we didn't have to keep her entertained during the service.

We went to Santa's last night at DMGCC.  The food was good and the kids did great.  Santa was giving out full candy bars!

We spent Christmas eve morning at the Chalik's for our first Christmas and then Uncle Mit and Uncle Peter came over to help the boys learn how to play their new pokemon games.  Then we headed over to Aunt Randis for Christmas eve dinner.  We had to get home early to make sure Santa did not miss our house!

Christmas morning was a success!  The kids slept until around the normal 6:30 time.  We opened presents in record breaking time and the kids were all happy with their presents!  Then we just hung out all day with the new toys until Greg's family came over for dinner.

The Young's came over for Christmas day dinner and for gifts.  The kids all got along well and had fun playing.  They were happy with their gifts!  We are sad Christmas is over.  It was a short and quick season this year and just didn't feel very Christmasy.  The weather has been warm and he haven't had any snow so I don't think that helped.  The star of the show this year was definitely Henry, our elf.  The kids loved searching for him each morning to see what crazy thing he did.  Overall, it was a successful Christmas and the kids said "it was the best Christmas ever!" and that is the best compliment I could have received. 

Claire was tired from all the activities of Christmas and fell asleep on the couch.  She has basically given up her nap but will fall asleep some afternoons if she is tired.  Bedtime is way better if she doesn't nap but evening time can be rough if she didn't nap. 

It has been a long Christmas break this year.  We have over a full week after Christmas until the kids go back.  It has been cold so we have gone to a few Recplex open gym/turf to burn off some energy.  I am hoping next year we are some where warm this week!

We had a fun end of year celebrating Grandma Young.  We went over to her house on New Years Eve day and make homemade pizzas and have cake.  Then she came over to our house and we had tacos and played some games.  The best game was bouncing the ping pong balls into an egg carton.  The boys loved it!  We will have to think of some other games for next year!  It was a good year this year and we are excited to see what next year brings!