Sledding and swimming with the gang..we also invited cousin N along for the day of fun!!
N & Tuki
The older 4 & Ve playing with snow in the trees
The sledding troupe
Tuks on the frog slide
Mim
and ve
We also went out to eat at Chinese Buffet and later spent the evening playing and talking at W's home. It was a fun day. We came home late and slept in real real late this morning...ohhh so sweet.
CHRISTMAS EVE DAY
Tuki and Ve playing make-up dressing room
CHRISTMAS MORNING
Tuki & Ve received LeapFrop Leapster2
Leapster game & silly bands
Mim is at an age where she loves money for presents
our little tree...little but adorable and we were good with it this year, esp since the Aussies and cats did it no harm
CHRISTMAS EVENING AT MY SISTERS
Ve receives more play make-up from Grandma
the wee ones trio
Mim pleased and enjoying her second Christmas home
My brother W, his girlfriend J and W's son C (the American 10k record holder, yeah we are a little proud, esp., since he stays so humble)
My niece M (W's eldest child, also the race car driver) and her boyfriend m
My sister M and her husband J
Another Leapster game (the two received 6 total)
beautiful Tuki
Tuki and cousin N playing real nice together all night, my eldest two got sucked up into a movie playing in the other room
Did you see the Moon last night around 10:00pm, Huge yellow half moon real low in the sky...my picture didn't do it justice, but it was a conversation point in our car the whole home from my sisters...and on Christmas Day eve too...
Mim and her Basketball HOOPS team. She received these photos in a Christmas card today. Aren't they sweet!!
The weeks preceding Christmas I was able to make and send out cards and letters, start making cookies and bars, buy and wrap the presents, put up a Christmas tree, BUT with only lights on it. Tomorrow we hope to finally put decorations on the tree and finish baking. The tree is also very small since we wanted to test drive the two Aussies with a tree. So far so good. I placed all the presents from me under the tree last night, and now tonight Santa will be coming.
We, Grandma and us, went to the Christmas Eve service tonight at church, came home and ate an original homemade squash soup...very good I must say so myself, and now we are awaiting bedtime. Tuki is spreading reindeer food outside the backdoor, I am am trying to think of ways to make it look like the food was eaten by the reindeer, Ve keeps stating "she can't wait until Santa comes" and Mim is in her room doing some sort of teenage thing, don't know for sure because the door is always closed.
Tomorrow we will get up early, far too early, open our presents, eat cinnamon buns and then play until we leave for my sisters later in the day.
I must admit I am struggling a tad with my Christmas spirit, not sure why. I think I just need some down time, but probably won't happen until after Sunday. I am grateful that we are not hosting the family Christmas this year. It just may have pushed me off the "over the top" edge. So I guess I still do believe in miracles, most especially the miracle of having a low key day tomorrow....Wishing you and your family one too...
Tomorrow is Ve's birthday, but Marly had shared with us a month ago that Haitians celebrate Christmas on the 24th, and last year we had already decided that Christmas eve would be the day that Ve received presents from me and her sisters. She received many of the same type of items as Tuki simply because she can rarely come up with her own ideas of what she wants. This is one area that I hope Ve will grow into. Knowing herself well enough that she knows what she does and doesn't want. Tho similar to Tuki's, she was way overjoyed at her dress-up clothes and play make-up. Happy Birthday Veve!!!
Birthday girl posing her new Ariel outfit-she did ask specifically for this dress
the two posing together...Ve states when I am taking the picture "We are twins" love it!!!
Mim had a concert on the 20th. Kiki came over to either stay home with the wee ones (bedtime at 7:00pm, concert started at 7:30pm) or go to the concert. Mim decided since he was making a real effort to be here for us, he could go to the concert and I stay home. It was a great idea. I did miss her concert this year, but Kiki took pictures for me.
Mim in the background
Mim has crush on this boy, Bee (that is his real name) on the right, Shhhhh don't tell her I posted this picture...she took it at the concert. I think this is sooo cute. I hear from other teachers that he is a nice boy.
I was on a small blogging hiatus since my computer died and was in the shop. It's now back home in its appropriate parking spot. I have also been extremely busy at school with the 8th graders and the weather unit. Great Unit, BUT very challenging. Starting at 2:55 pm today we will be on our break for 11 days....11 days. Can hardly wait. The one thing I long for the most is to sleep in past 5:00 am for me and 5:30 am for the girls. Slumberland here we come!!!!!!
