Christmas Morning, December 2013

What it looked like before the kids got up.

 

I don't know what they were excited about more, the stockings or the bean bag chairs.

 

Hadn't even gotten past the stockings and already Calvin broke into the candy.

 

Calvin's favorite way to be, no clothes if at all possible.

 

Roc's favorite present next to his bean bag chair.

 

He couldn't wait to get the dishes out.  We all know what he is thinking.......

 

One of Porter's favorite cartoons and now he gets to play the game.

 

Porter really likes his magnetic fishing game.  He played it for hours that morning.

 

Our hello kitty obsessed girl!

 

 

On Christmas morning the kids had to wait until Ryan got home from work, what a major feet all within it's self!  It was a great day spending time together as a family.  It's always nice to start your own family traditions and be around those that mean the most on such a special day.

 

Christmas Eve, December 2013

The kids in their Christmas Eve presents (homemade pajamas).

It is funny how a nice picture of the kids can turn into a full throttle wrestling match!

 

The kids always look forward to Christmas Eve when they get to open their first Christmas present.  This year like most years the kids got cool pajamas to help them sleep.  It usually doesn't work because the overwhelming anticipations of Christmas morning trumps any effort to help them sleep.

 

Snow Day, December 2013

Porter enjoying the snow with the neighborhood kids.

Roc with a successful sledding run down one neighbor's driveway into another neighbor's yard.

One of the three snowmen built during the snow days.

Christmas lights also look better with snow.

Notice that Ryan's truck was the only vehicle that left the neighborhood during the week long snow party.

 

Finally an actual reason to cancel school!  Prior to this snow storm the school closed over every weather advisory even if the bad weather never arrived.  This time they cancel school for actual snow.  It feels good to feel justified for the kids missing school (now Stacie and Ryan went to LaGrande and Cove where in LaGrande you have to have enough snow to cave in part of the school's roof to get a snow day and in Cove where they didn't know that they could call a snow day).  The whole neighborhood had days off except Ryan who had an eight day stretch so while everyone was playing in the snow Ryan had to work.  But boy did the kids have fun sledding all day long!

 

Christmas Card Pictures, December 2013

Emma giving her best expression showing how excited she is about being there with all of her bothers for pictures.

A great example of the kids' personality.  Emma with her "sassiness," Roc with his humor, Porter who obviously thinks he just got away with something, and Calvin who is deviously trying to escape the stroller that holds him captive!

We had a family friend taking pictures which allowed us to have a family picture taken.

 

 

We had a successful day at the park and got all our pictures taken for our annual Christmas card.  Anytime we go to the park and get our pictures taken without any of the kids falling into the pond we consider that a success! Sometimes it is good to have low expectations.

Christmas Tree, December 2013

Ryan was sent back to the truck to get the camera and Roc was in charge of cutting down the tree.  By the time Ryan got to the truck Stacie had cut down the tree and dragged the tree back to the road.

The final product!

 

 

It is always fun to go out and cut down the family Christmas Tree.  This year we thought we would let Roc cut down the tree, he gave a good 30 seconds of cutting before he passed off the cutting of the tree to Stacie while Ryan was getting the camera.  I am sure some day Roc will be able to cut down the family tree but it is not this year.  After getting the Christmas Tree we came home and broke out the decorations.  Fortunately, Calvin took a nap and allowed us to finish the decorations before he started rearranging everything. 

Halloween, October 2013

We must have taken 20-30  pictures to get one that everyone was looking at the camera and the funny part was as we scrolled through the pictures Roc looked like a statue that never change his expression.  Next year mask for all the kids!

 

 

We had another successful Halloween.  We toured town where the local business provided candy for the children, we also went to the local charter school for a Halloween carnival.  Both events went smoothly and the kids had a blast dressing up and of course the candy never hurts!

Calvin's 2nd birhtday, Octorber 2013

Calvin opening a present from Grandma Lynn.

That was nice of Grandma Lynn to get Calvin and the other kids presents that are noisy.  We will have to misplace that present.



Calvin digging into his other presents. But you will also notice Porter doing his very first photo bomb!

Calvin showing his approval of the cupcake.

Porter has an unusual method of eating his cupcake, he is one of the few kids that prefers not to get his hands messy (at least with this cupcake, other things he will dive in hands first).

Calvin celebrated his 2nd birthday.  Calvin is way ahead of schedule, he has been in his terrible 2s for at least 6 months.  Calvin had a great birthday, lots of presents, surrounded by family and no party would be complete without cupcakes.