Michael had his Christmas Preschool program the week before Christmas. He was totally focused and participating, I felt so grateful for how far he has come from the beginning of the year when we were crossing our fingers that he would stay in his seat for 1 minute. Michael has really grown up a lot and loves to play with friends.
Christmas dinner of fish, shrimp, punch and side dishes. We put as few dishes on the table as possible to spare the mess Jacob makes when he gets antsy to get down from the table. And now Diana joins us at the table too in her high chair and rice cereal!
Nicole enjoying her crab leg. She had fun trying to get the meat out with tools.
Our Christmas program was very professional-looking this year thanks to grandma sending the costumes. The kids each wanted to be several parts and unless we have 10 kids or so (not happening) that wish is granted. Here we are reverently being Joseph, Mary and Angel (ironic, that one).
Here they are as shepherds getting a little tired of daddy reading the Christmas story and us singing Angels We Have Heard On High. You can picture the beautiful sounds that were definitely heard loud and clear in our house.
Jake our little shepherd boy, with a part of the shepherds crook. We had a big "discussion" on how to share the crook and not everyone was pleased.
Michael showing his appreciation of Mommy and Daddy's singing "Silent Night."
The kids LOVED this part. Especially the beards because they tickled. Jake Jake was so cute and he knew it! He is one of those kids you could just gobble up they are so cute and cuddly!
Nicole couldn't get hers to stay on. I think we need professional help next year. Overall very fun, but they were so wound up it was hard to calmly enjoy the story. Any advice on how to get a more spiritual experience for the kids would be appreciated, although I don't expect it to be perfect. Just slightly more peaceful? I now have a greater appreciation for how hard it was for my parents, I can still remember being so wound up it was practically impossible to concentrate.
Christmas morning lined up youngest to oldest!
We took some toys to the stake center and the kids put on a little show for us.
Jacob couldn't find his way back after they were done and eventually crawled under.
Diana playing with our new pet. I love how for a split second it looks real. The kids LOVE it.
Nicole rocking out on her karaoke. Her favorite song comes as no surprise to any of us: "Born to be Wild." She knows all the lyrics and does a pretty good job. The boys are her backup.
We took a 5 hour straight flight to AZ to see our families and it had been almost two years since we made that flight. Everything went well and we had a wonderful time. Michael kept shouting "cactus, cactus!" and he was absolutely thrilled each time he saw one. Here is Michael picking oranges from Grandma and Grandpa's trees.
Jake and Nicole in on the action. We were putting lunches together for a men's shelter and the kids had the assignment to get the 80 or so oranges.
Each time Jake got one he brought it inside. I was amazed that he actually got some!
Jake was very thirsty after all his hard playing so his uncle Daniel got a shot of how he gets drinks. He hoists his little body up until his ribcage rests on the counter, flips the water on and leans forward to get a drink.
Michael helping Benjamin make smoothies! These tasted sooooo good!
We opened some presents from the family and gave our presents for the family too.
Nicole shared her candy jewelry with some of her funny uncles. She really adores them and it's fun for me to see the love and respect she has for my brothers.
Daniel had gifts from Ukraine for us. Mine was a toy where you move a wooden ball hanging by strings in a circle and the hens will peck the corn. Jim got a cool wooden mace and Nicole got some nesting dolls. The boys got these cool pop-up toys that they take everywhere with them.
Michael is THRILLED to see what Nicole's gift was. They each got Pez dispensers and the candy was gone in about 10 minutes. Jacob especially was very quiet and focused as he opened and ate each package of candy.
I've been working on figuring out what allergies I have. I'm sure about dairy, still figuring out soy, gluten and nuts. But one of the best days has been finding these chocolate chips!
Sweet little D has really picked up growth. She is almost 7 months old now! At her six month checkup she was 14 lbs (12th%), 26.5 inches (75th%), and her head was 16.75in (51st%). She has made a lot of progress from being in the 4th percentile for weight and 33rd percentile for height. Last night she ate a whole can of peas! She is very socially aware and is rolling all over the place. She sits up by herself just a little bit but is much more interested in smiling and cooing at her family. On the plane flights she was an angel, rotating through toys and food and only requiring me to rock her a few times (that were thankfully when the seatbelt light was off). Diana is so much fun to have in our family!
We had a great time with Jim's family too! Nicole prayed to have snow for Christmas and her aunt Kelly made that come true with some sno-balls from Bahama Bucks and the kids (and adults) had a great time having a snowball fight. Diana and I watched from the inside as the kids scrounged every last bit of snow off the ground. My favorite part was watching the kids try to get Jim and the look of glee on their faces. I hope we get snow this year in NC, although with 73 degree weather like tomorrow I doubt it's coming anytime soon. At least we got one good snowball fight in! The kids had a ball with their cousins at a gymnastics center open house, jumping into ball pits and all over mats and trampolines. Kelly, Jim and I had fun dancing and watching the hilarious replays with her Xbox dance game. We played at parks and got all the Del Bianco cousins together- all 10 of them 6 and under!
