Christmas Celebration

Olivia, Evelyn, Gavin, Aleigha, and Whittney posing for pictures...The littlest ones were not so excited about it, and needed a little persuading (Evelyn and Aleigha had crackers to help).

Our Fabulous Family of Five!


Uncle Andy and Aunt Holly's turn... They came on Friday too, with Uncle Tom and Aunt Megan. Uncle Andy and Aunt Holly went swimming with the kids Friday night. Gavin talked all evening about Uncle Andy throwing him and playing in the pool with him.

Aleigha, Grandma Suzie, and Whittney are looking at the beautiful Christmas tree.

Grandpa Pat is all smiles with both Aleigha and Lilly! Lilly is only about seven weeks older than Aleigha. They seemed to get along well.

Gavin and Whittney were anxious for this day to arrive. They missed Tyler, Chloe, and Haley (from the ocean trip this summer). We had a count down on the refrigerator to let the kids know how many days until we were going to see Tyler, Chloe, and Haley. Our children were waiting by the glass door waiting patiently for them to arrive. As soon as we saw the boys, we just laughed. They were wearing the same sweater (thanks Children's Place)! No, it was not planned. The boys thought it was funny too.

Aleigha could stay awake no longer! It was a busy day playing with all of her cousins!

Whittney and Chloe opened their presents from Grandma Great...activity books and crayons. They kept Whittney entertained on the way home, and she has been using them to play school.

They boys ditched the warm sweaters...now they are showing off their gifts from Grandma Great!

It was great to see Grandma Great, our aunts, uncles, cousins, and their children. It was also nice to meet more members of our family (this time from Wisconsin). We arrived Friday just before lunch, and headed for home Saturday afternoon.

Until our reunion in July...

A Night at the Hotel

After spending the afternoon with Grandma Great, eating lunch, visiting with her, and running some errands, we headed to the hotel. The kids look forward to staying in hotels only because they LOVE swimming in the pools!

The kids snuggled into bed with a television show and a bag of Combos (they enjoy the special things they can do while away from home). I couldn't resist the photo shoot.

Aleigha and Gavin in the pool. She sure loves her big brother!

Whittney, Mommy, Aleigha, and Gavin enjoying the pool!!

Visiting Grandma Great

Aleigha is sitting at the kitchen table reading books while Gavin and Grandma Great make lunch! She was not going to miss out on the fun.

Whittney was busy reading a book. She loves books and always seems to have one in her hand. She thought it was neat that she was reading a book that grandpa had read when he was a boy.


Grandma Great and Gavin are still working on lunch!

Cutting up carrots to add to the peas...Aleigha is interested! Gavin enjoys visiting Grandma Great. He learns more and more about her every time we go. This time was devoted to learning what school was like for Grandma Great...he could not believe she didn't go to kindergarten. He was even more interested to learn that she went to a school that only had one room for kids in grades 1-8...and there was no school bus to take her to school. Boy, how things have changed over the past 90 years!!

Whittney is too busy reading a book!

Grandma Great has heat registers in several of the rooms on the main floor. The kids LOVE to stand on them when the heat is blowing out. This is Aleigha's first encounter of the register...Boy was she entertained!! And her hair was hilarious...

Thanksgiving

Our first stop on Thanksgiving Day was to Uncle Keith and Aunt Beth's. Whittney enjoyed playing with Audrey' dolls and Audrey even sat down and dressed the dolls too!

After lunch and playing, we headed to Aunt Jo's. Many of the family members had left, so we didn't stick around long and we were off to the last stop.

The final stop was the circus...okay it was Paul and Denise's house. Alex was balancing on his head...he even did no hands at one point.

Ta-da! Aleigha can do it too!

Whittney found a "car thing." While we were there, I asked Whittney if it was a cash register and she quickly corrected me.

Gavin was waiting patiently to play Guitar Hero. He enjoyed watching Ashley and Jonathon play. Even though Gavin played the "beginner," he really had fun!

A Saturday Afternoon

Gavin started basketball this past weekend. He joined 29 other kindergarten and first grade boys and girls to work on basic basketball skills. Aleigha, Whittney, and mommy went to watch. Daddy worked with his buddies in the butcher room making deer snack stick.

After naps, the girls were playing babies...Aleigha was the baby and Whittney was the mommy. Aleigha is sitting in one of Whittney's baby strollers, with a bib on, holding her own baby, and she has a sippy cup (Whittney was using it as Aleigha's bottle). What a sight to watch these two girls zoom around the house...playing babies, when they are still babies themselves!

While the girls were busy playing, Gavin decided he would like to roast marshmallows...Mommy had the idea to roast them over the gas stove. It worked perfectly! Okay, so we ate marshmallows before our supper...

Our Hero

Gavin was chosen by the Lutheran Children's Hospital Child Life Specialists as the Hero of the Month. He was awarded a medal, t-shirt (that says Hero), a certificate, and a gift card to Wal-Mart for $200. He purchased a bow and arrows, a dart board, a Leapster Game, and a Spiderman mask and gloves for recess. We are so proud of him for being awarded this! He has went through quite a bit, but remains with a positive attitude. Whittney was happy to help hold all of his items. He wanted to purchase a Leapster for her, but Daddy told him that maybe he should wait and Santa might bring her one for Christmas. Gavin has half of his original balance on his gift card. We hope he chooses to purchase some items for those in need over the holidays.

WHAT A HERO!

Aunt Chasta's Babies Shower

Whittney and mommy hosted a babies shower for Aunt Chasta at our house. There were many family members there! Here Whittney is helping Aunt Chasta open a present while Aunt Chasta and Angie listen to someone tell a story...

You can see Aunt Chasta behind the lamp...Angie, Aunt Karen, Aunt Beth, Aunt Maribeth, Grandma Till, and Reva. Maelei is in the middle (Angie's daughter).


Whittney, Grandma Till, Reva, Judy, Aunt Alice, Nancy, Maelei, Cindy, Aleigha, and Kelsey's nose and arm.

There were many games played at the shower. One of the games was to guess how big Aunt Chasta's tummy got...Yes, Whittney is collecting the answers in the belly mold. It was painted camo on the outside and hunter orange on the inside...with the boys' names inside. Dianne, Great Aunt Avis and Great Aunt Max added their guess.

Whittney was loving it...two babies to hold and love!

Aleigha taking her turn!!

Denise was talking and didn't realize what fun Aleigha was having...

Denise brought this outfit...it used to be Tonya's. Whittney put it on and paraded around the house the rest of the party!

The Marble Tower

Gavin and Whittney built this magnificant marble tower...The were so proud because it was very tall. That is why they are standing on the table next to it!

Mommy started hleping with the tower, but her and Aleigha decided to lay in the reading chair...Max was not going to miss this!

Our Mummies

It all started with Aleigha going to get some toilet paper to blow her nose...only she brought the toilet paper out, while it was still on the roll in the bathroom.

Whittney and Gavin loved being wrapped in toilet paper. They were excellent mummies. They really didn't seem to mind having their face covered...don't worry, it was mommy's idea.


Aleigha could not miss out of the fun! Gavin posed for a picture with her.

The mummies didn't last long, and then it was toilet paper throwing for everyone! Toilet paper went flying...

...then the kids were trying to gather the most toilet paper under themselves.

The kids never knew you could have so much fun with toilet paper!!!