Work Christmas Party

Yes here we are in a parking garage, but I thought I had better grab a picture while I was thinking about it. And I had to document Victors hair cut and the fohawk that he wanted to wear.

Troy's work had a family christmas party this year so we all did our hair and headed out Monday night to the dinner/party. Ana asked 100 times if she could eat a lot of Keek! We realized she was expecting there to be cake at the party and that is what she really wanted to eat. I think she believes all parties have cake. She was not disappointed for there was many different types of keek.

Ana has been dying to meet Santa Clause and she could hardly hold herself together when she saw that Santa was in the building. Tanya who doesn't believe in Santa was first in line and wouldn't let Ana go in front of her. We have had so many firsts this year and here are a few more.
First Christmas tree, first time putting up ornaments, first time shopping for Christmas gifts and wrapping gifts, first time seeing Santa and this will be our 2nd Christmas party.
Tanya asked for a field of horses that she saw. Whenever we try to talk to her about her emotions she just tells us she wants a horse or asks why we don't have a horse. We've tried to explain city ordinances... just doesn't' cut it.
Morgan asked for an Ipod.
Victor asked for an airplane.
Ana asked for everything Hannah Montana.

Ethan asked for . Grant wasn't there due to basket ball practice, but he's been asking for a new camera or an I-home.

Santa left presents for all the kids and this is the unwrapping of those presents. This is the excitement that Ana shows almost everyday about Christmas! It is precious! She has played with this barbie since Monday night.



Victor got this huge lego set and had it completely put together the next day.
Morgan received a barbie also, not quiet excited as Ana, but Tanya has played with Morgan and her barbie since she brought it home. HUGE STUFF. It's the first time Tanya has played dolls with Morgan or Ana. She will play next to them and copy them, but has never played with them. So this barbie is special in that she is helping Tanya learn how to play. Plus all three girls love to wash and color her hair.
Tanya got a gift card and still doesn't totally understand what it does, but I'm sure she will love it when we take her shopping.
Ethan got this awesome army tank. He had it out of it's box before we got home. When he's not playing with it it's up on the highest shelf so no one will touch it.

Thank you Huntsman for a Merry Pre Chirstmas and keek.

Cookie Trains

We went to Grandma's house to make cookie trains. It's a tradition. We don't make ginger bread houses we make cookie trains. I did put the cookies together, there being 6 kids and I knew I couldn't help them all at one time, and then they did the decorating.



This is how helpful Troy is when it comes to putting up the tree, wrapping presents and decorating cookie trains. It's ok, because I enjoy doing those things.
Aunt Tricia was a great helper. Helped me put the cookies together and helped Ana work her frosting bag.
Ethan made "crazy gumdrop train"

The kids finished their trains really quickly because I told them they couldn't eat the candy until everyone was done decorating their trains (so we have enough for everyone). Now to give them all away. We never keep them, we give them to neighbors and teachers. The kids were very worried at first, but after a few yummy treats from neighbors they were excited to deliver the trains to people.

More Snow

Last weeks snow and concert

Last week we got a lot of light and fluffy snow and the kids were very excited to go out and start shoveling while waiting for the bus. It was so light they could push it around with a broom. This weekend we picked up a few more snow shovels so that all the kids can help shovel the snow. I hope the newness doesn't wear off too soon, I might get away without having to shovel this winter : )

Morgan plucking her Viola and Victor singing in the 5th grade choir. Ethan and Ana's class sang The Night Before Christmas and it was too long to upload, but it was really cute and Ana kept up with the parts she knew. They all did a wonderful job!

Ward/Church Christmas Party

Tanya wasn't too excited to go to the Church Christmas party after being overwhelmed with the Church Halloween party so she opted to go to Grandma's house instead. Troy and I are over the parties so we don't really have the opt out choice. All the rest of our children participated in the program during dinner and did a wonderful job.

Grant read a scripture, Victor rang bells during a couple songs and did great, Morgan performed a song with the girls her age, Ethan sang a solo and Ana sang with all the primary. Everyone did a beautiful job. We had about 40 more people than we planned for, but that is a good thing, especially since we had the focus on Christ not Santa. In fact I was a little nervous since we were the first year not to have Santa come. All in all it seemed to be a success.

Decorating the kids christmas tree

First week in December started off with decorating the tree, getting all the Christmas decorations out and putting a few lights up out front.

The kids (Ukraine kids) have never had a Christmas tree. Ana said they had one at the orphanage, but had never had celebrated Christmas before that. Ana has been so excited about Christmas! She has had tons of questions about Santa, Christmas trees, elves, candy, presents, etc. So when we started to get the tree out she was bouncing off the walls and being a great helper. All the kids enjoyed putting the ornaments on the tree and getting all of the Christmas decorations out.

Victor helped me put lights in the trees outside and they look great! I'll have to get a picture to post.

Thanksgiving

Percy started Thanksgiving off with a lovely turkey bone. I never let him have people food and this year gave in. He was probably in Heaven.

We had Troy's brothers family over and my sister's family and our adopted (not really because she was in her twenties when she joined the family ; ) sister's family come. So we had 22 people and it was noisy and loud and lots of fun. The kids just played and played downstairs, it was fun to have them all together.