Christmas etc.

 Josh, Renae, Caleb, Chloe, and Keira came to visit for the first week of winter break. We met up at the bowling alley with the rest of the family. It was a giant affair.

 Carol, Cindy, Quinn

The gals- Barb, Carol, Cindy, Quinn, Denise, Renae

 The boys-Dave, Dave, Jer, Dick, Jerry, Josh

 Ops, forgot some boys- Tanner and Caleb

 The littler gals- Bella, Tessa, Keira, Victoria, and Chloe

 playing Empire Monopoly and having a tea party

 Christmas morning...

 

Bella wanted a Furby for Christmas. She didn't expect it to talk to her through the package.

Victoria was happy to get her new doll.

 Bella thanked Victoria for her new book.

 

 Jer showed the girls how to use their new bow and arrow sets.

 A cool new flying fairy doll.

 Christmas dinner at Caroland Dick's house.

 The girls performed a gymnastic play/dance for us.

 Getting out of the house for a walk.

Making Christmas cookies

 

 

 

 Marlee and Nico came over to exchange Christmas books with the girls. Victoria showed Nico her new bow. Bella and Marlee enjoyed a swing ride and "tried" not to get muddy.

 Play date at the park

 Who remembers doing this when they were a kid?

Merry Christmas!

Babes in Toyland, Christmas Parties, and Hookah

 Going through my cell phone pictures, I forgot our Girl Scout outing to see the ballet performance of Babes in Toyland. It was really a great production and Victoria's troop even got a back stage pass to meet the dancers and see what goes on behind the curtain. The kids had a really great time, which I was surprised, since it was their first ballet that was over two hours long.

 Little sisters Bella and Kate even got to tag along.

 Finally the ice melted and the sun came out in December! Victoria and Bella love to climb this one tree in our front yard, even if they occasionally get war wounds from branches poking them. I dyed laughing when Bella came out of the house with a bandaid smack center on her forehead (with a small cross draw in red marker on it).

 The girls sporting Dave and Denise's outfits from Christmas.

 Being room mom for Bella's class, I made a small tree for her teacher Mrs. Benne, complete with reindeer ornaments of all the kids fingerprints and gift cards from their parents.

 Bella said the best part of her school Christmas party was decorating the gingerbread men.

 I think Victoria enjoyed the "unwrapping game" with her class. Girls versus guys- who can unwrap the gift first with socks on their hands and a present with 10 layers of paper.

 Victoria's teacher Mrs. Botkin (math/science)

Victoria's other teacher Mrs. Wilson (reading/writing)

 Bella's teacher and class

After their class parties, Braelyn invited the girls, along with Kate and Abby for a slumber party at her house.

 

 While the girls enjoyed their slumber party, the adults enjoyed their time at the Turkish Café. This is my all time favorite new place. It's different and exotic. And you get to smoke a hookah- flavored vapor water only! (non addictive!) The grape and mint combo was amazing.

 

 

 The entire patio of the restaurant is covered in these romantic lights. There was a belly dancer, unusual food (humus and watermelon/feta cheese dish), dancing, and a laser light show. Just a different type place. I loved making memories with my family and friends at such a unique place.