Whitelaw Christmas

Saturday, December 26th, we gathered with the Whitelaw gang to celebrate Christmas. There was joyful-stocking-opening-pandemonium!

Thank you Santa! 

Kellen LOVED his "very own hanitizer!" He's excited to put it on his backpack for school!

So many nice gifts - Grant used his time and Christmas present on Christmas day to make Jenna and Kellen a paracord bracelet. Legos, calico critters, bears, and painting gifts from Papa and Mima.

Heather and Geremy brought some wine to share. Mima didn't think she had a corkscrew, so this screw was used to improvise.

But, then it was impossible to get out! After watching and laughing at the effort of these two, we did a more thorough search and found a real corkscrew! Ha!

 We enjoyed a fabulous fondue lunch!

After lunch, we enjoyed the gift of being together. Jenna headed the entertainment committee by organizing a "12 Days of Christmas" rendition and she dictated this play to Papa and he typed it out for her.

The angel and Mary 

"Angels We Have Heard on High" 

Angel, Baby Jesus, and Mary

We were too full at lunch to have dessert, so we enjoyed a late afternoon dessert fondue. There was apple pie and pumpkin cobbler, too. Oh, My! It was a Merry Whitelaw Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Christmas morning: Jenna woke around 6:30 am, but Kellen didn't wake up until 7:15. Jenna patiently waited and let him sleep! They broke into their stockings first - always a fun part of Christmas morning.

Kellen loved this two headed dragon from the tube of dragons.

Jenna asked Santa for a history book and a Royal diaries book. 

Kellen asked Santa for a Darth Vader watch. 

On Monday, while we were getting Kellen's 5-year-old pictures made, Mima and Jenna had a sewing lesson. Little did I know that after Jenna finished her apron, the rest of her sewing lessons have been spent working on a project for me. Monday afternoon, she was very insistent that she put her own laundry away (which she usually does) and then the next few days, she kept asking if I had put any laundry away for her. She had hidden my present in her bottom drawer and that's why she didn't want me putting any laundry away! She picked out fabric and made an apron for me that's like hers!

Such a special gift! 

Ninjago sticker book 

 New backpack/suitcases

Kellen picked out some fuzzy socks and a pony eraser for Jenna. 

She picked out finger lights for him. It was fun to see what they would pick out for each other. They know each other well.

Kevin made a hunt for each of them for their last present. Kellen's was in the coat closet.

A Ninjago Lego set. Turns out after we bought this one, he saw one that he liked better. So, we may brave the return lines in a few days.

Jenna's present was in the trunk of the car. 

A Calico Critters Tree House. A little secret: I found this for $3 (new, they cost around $60). It was missing a few parts, but I had a fun time thinking up and making replacements. I don't think she know the difference!

Kevin got me a selfie stick. He thought it would be funny if I took a selfie of myself while holding the selfie stick!

First trial pic

Then Jenna got a hold of it and had some fun!

And she thought we should take a picture of ourselves in our aprons. 

Kevin made us some eggs and we ate the yummy cinnamon rolls I made. Then, we face-timed with Grandpa and Grandma. And then the kids played and played with their new treasures. They both said, "This is the best Christmas ever!"

Later in the afternoon, we went to Papa and Mima's house to visit and for all of us to spend the night for fun. Mima made us a delicious turkey dinner. After the kids went to bed, we played cards and then played with my new selfie stick.

This is the picture Kevin was taking while I was figuring out how to take my picture. So funny!

Christmas Fun!

On Tuesday, December 1st, we put up our Christmas tree. We had a fun time decorating and listening to Christmas music!

They found their Rudolph noses from last year and wore them while decorating.

Kellen trying not to be silly, ended up kind of frowny. After the tree, they each got a present of new Christmas PJs and our very own copy of "The Very First Noel." (I found it for $1 at the consignment sale - yay!) Then, we changed into PJs and watched it. A fun way to kick off the Christmas season!

On Wednesday, December 16, Kellen's music class held a special seasonal songs class. Thanks so much to a friend and fellow class member for taking pictures and a video (see video 2611 in "Christmas '15" folder). We had fun "making it snow" to "Let it Snow!"

And, Thursday, December 17th was Jenna's class Christmas party.

Each child could bring their favorite holiday treat to share. Jenna wanted to bring Peppernuts. So, we made them together and brought them.

Her teacher had printed their pictures so they could make this cute elf craft. It was a fun time!

Saturday, December 19, was the warmest day before Christmas, so we decided to make one last trip to the North Pole.

Jenna and I had a fun time riding the sky ride together 

And she talked Daddy into riding the umbrella ride. Not so fun for him. 

After the North Pole, we enjoyed a free lunch thanks to a gift card from one of Kevin's students. Then we were invited to go with Papa, Mima, and the cousins to the Zoo Lights. We didn't go home first and Kevin hadn't brought a warm hat. Kellen had brought 2, so Kevin wore Kellen's monkey hat. Ha!

My favorite of the Zoo lights - a stream with a fish jumping into the bear's mouth.

Sunday, Dec. 20th, some friends invited us to go see an open house of a man's train display. It was truly amazing - taking up the entire basement!

They had several of these undercuts where you step down and then up to go under the track.

The murals and attention to detail! The pictures truly do not do it justice!

After the train display, Jenna started working on her weave blanket craft that the Wards gave her for Christmas! So fun! Much easier than the tie blanket, but we're going to tackle that one over this break, too!

Monday morning, December 21st, we took Kellen for his 5-year-old pictures. Not so fun! But, he ended up doing a great job.

Some fun sister/brother shenanigans Monday afternoon. It was a great help that they entertained themselves while I did lots of laundry, Kevin and I cleaned the house, and I made cinnamon rolls for Friday morning. After all that work, it was nice to be treated to a dinner out at P.F. Changs thanks to Kevin winning a gift card at school! To top the night off, we went looking at Christmas lights after dinner.

Tuesday morning, December 22nd, Jenna was able to fulfill her dream of participating in the KYDS Radio recording at Focus. Jenna and Grant did the reading parts while Madilyn and Kellen provided the sound effects.

So. Much. Fun! And, when they figured out that these kids were from two different families, they gave us two copies of the CD. So nice!

Tuesday afternoon - new water heater. Not so fun! But, glad we did it before being surprised by a flooded basement. Later Tuesday afternoon, Kevin and I were able to have a Christmas date while all the cousins had a Polar Express sleep over at Papa and Mima's house. We went to see Star Wars - it was fantastic!

Wednesday, I took Jenna on a date for free Chick-fil-a breakfast and then shopping for her to buy Kellen a gift. It was great fun and we decided we need to do that more often. Then we met back up with Papa, Daddy, Kellen, and the cousins for a short trip to Chuck E Cheese. And, later in the afternoon a trip to the Pioneer Museum. We didn't take any pictures today, just soaked it all in.

Thursday afternoon, we rounded out the season with the highlight of our Christmas fun (for me anyway) - Christmas eve service. Then we had a nice dinner at home, read the Christmas story from the Bible, watched Santa Clause 2, and called Norad Santa Tracking to see when Santa would arrive at our house. I've never seen two kids get ready for bed so fast!