the shooting gallery

We spent the 26th slowing down again. After a mad dash to At Home for some bathroom mirrors (which didn't end up happening), Mom and Dad came over for the afternoon. They read to the kids. Then, Michael left with Dad to have a boy's outing at the gun range.

The kids and Mom and I had a sort of gun range here too after David insisted on setting up nerf gun targets and having a shooting contest. Mom was a good sport!

a family Christmas

Cindy and Mark very kindly invited the Sr. Coles, the Sr. Weylers, the Paul Coles, as well as the Jr Weylers (us!) all over for Christmas lunch.  We had quite a feast!

And the kids enjoyed themselves opening a few more gifts: nerf gun for D, an Anna Coronation dress for E, and cinderella butterfly shoes for A.

Yeah for family time!  And Yeah that I did not have to clean up the house before or after; I just showed up with my allotted dishes!

a quiet 24th--the Year of the Lego

We celebrated our Christmas on the 24th this year since we had an extended family Christmas planned for Christmas day.  We stayed in our pjs way too late and literally did not leave the house. We relaxed in the morning and ate Christmas donuts.

After a late breakfast, we sat down to open gifts.  All the kids received a sterling napkin ring with their initials or name for identification at mealtime (made me miss Grandma K).  All got coloring books and water bottles.  A got some puzzles, an Anna dress, shoes and gloves, books, headband, and her big gift which was a pop-up princess castle tent.  She was also the only one not to receive legos this season.  E got a sparkly tiara, books, slippers and pjs, headband, and her big gift of an Elsa castle in legos.  Her first set of "big girl" legos!  David received a bunch of weapons (nerf clips, ninja swords, foam sword), magnet set, an audio book, star wars dress up, and his big girft of...you guessed it!  Legos!  His was an ultra agent set.  Michael got socks, socks, more socks, and socks.  He also got a tire gauge and a nerf gun and chewbacca mask that growls when you move the mouth.  Unfortunately he did not fit it properly, but David fit it quite well and entertained us all (or rather almost creeped us out; it was a bit too life-like!)  M also got his favorite gift--another lego set--this time Dr. Who!  M bought me a frying pan, a coloring book, and a few surprise gifts like a size large sweater (hah!), some cool bookends, and lots of bird ornaments for my bird tree!   David also picked out for the girls a wooden tea set that was very overpriced and I had been on the fence about keeping to give them.  I am so glad I did.  They have used it almost every day since!

David had a great time examining the lego sets and then he went right to work building.  As did E and M.  A sat down to her puzzles.  

The next day~ Christmas Day~...we opened our stockings.  The kids all received pretty similar stuff inside: ie toothpaste, candy, curly straws, and dollar store gizmos.  The kids also each got their annual ornament--this year there were two.  We wrapped up with one last joint gift for the kids: a keyboard.  Time to go...

...the celebrations continued at the Mark Coles.