Christmas continued

I forgot!!!  Jubal was so sweet!!! He gave me a box full of candy and empty candy wrappers and this picture.  Made my mom and me laugh so hard.  However, knowing how much that boy loves candy, even with all the empty wrappers it was still incredibly thoughtful that he gave me all the candy he did from his class party.  This is him and me in the picture, btw. And a Christmas tree in our house.  And I have to say, Ana gave me a tasty present too--a gift card to Timbermine.  Yum!!!

My sister Megan bought this for me for Christmas too!!!  Best sign ever!!

We had to deck out Smaug's house with a background.  

These were all for Jubal's kindergarten class Facebook group.  I love Kindergarten here.  It's the best!

 

Ice Skating

Kayli and Brett came with their kids on New Year's Day and the kids played a lot of xbox.  We played some games but it was last minute and had I known we could have rented skates the day before and gone ice skating.  And I should take more pictures (of Kayli and Brett et al).  But instead, we went ice skating the next day when they weren't there.  So sad.  There's been next to nothing as far as snow this year (blah) but it's cold enough to go skating.  So fun!

 

CHRISTMAS!!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!  I love best of all buying presents and watching my kids open them.  It is my favorite thing in the world.  And I also love our pretty sparkly tree. I actually lit the candles on it this year which caused a lot of alarm for Leo and my Mom.  Leo promptly blew them out after the kids came in.  Rude.  

Sebastian got his heart's desire--a bearded dragon named Smaug.  

Opening stockings. 

Efraim loved his watch.  All the younger kids got watches, they always want one every year, and they always only last about a month.  Silly kids.  

Sebastian loves Smaug.  

And Elena loved her t-shirts.  Good job Santa.  Elena and Isabel actually got going to kayaking class this summer as their big gift.  Sebas and Isabel got some t-shirts too, and Ana got socks and a flannel shirt.

I did not take good pictures.

But it was an exciting morning.  

Ana and Smaug.  

Efraim had Ana's name and chose a necklace for her. 

All the kids got body wash because they're stinky.  Just kidding.  

Ana's big present was a loaded leather wallet.  

Books!!  Books are the best.  

And I didn't get a picture but the three youngest boys got a battle ship, helicopter and submarine.  

More books!

Leo got a hiking backpack and I got jewelry from Afghanistan and Nepal, because I love it.  

ALL the books.  I also got some cooking and canoeing books.  

Ana helped Sebas set up Smaug's tank and they did an AMAZING job of it.  

AND the family got a new kayak.  It's big enough for Ana or Elena to ride.  

And a puzzle that the little boys got.  The boys got Risk from Abuelita and Abulelito and the girls got a pillow for the tub.  It's heaven for reading with.

And then we had our traditional fondue dinner with chocolate fondue dessert.  I'm really am terrible at pictures because I should have got a picture of the kids with Grandma and Grandpa.  Shame on me.  But we really did have a wonderful time.