Christmas Activites

Yes, I'm behind already in 2010! I have told a few people I would post a couple different things so these are a few things that we did before Christmas.

Here is our wonderful Christmas tree. Max is the only one in the picture because this was our second time decorating it and Blake was already in bed. You see, the first time, we were just about done and Max was at the back of the tree hanging up a really old ornament of mine (hence the back of the tree!) with a very long string. He had been warned not to reach up too high, but guess what...he did it anyway, and the tree came tumbling down! Luckily, the stand was the only thing to break...so after the Nebraska game was over of course, we went looking for a new stand. I was really wanting to get a new tree but decided that would wait until next year. I didn't have the interest to go out after Christmas to look for a bargain...oh, and it was snowing!

We decided to go to the Festival of Lights parade in East Peoria this year. It wasn't terribly cold and it is an amazing display of floats. We got there about an hour early and had to wait at least another hour for the parade to get to us. By the end of the night, we were a little chilly. We ended up sitting next to a family living here from Northern Ireland. It made us really miss our good 'ole Irish friends in England! Miss you Glenda, Warren and family! We'll bring you with us sometime!

Blake had his pre-school program on the 14th. It was the most popular event in town! They combined all of the classes that attend on Monday, Wed, and Friday. It seemed like a hundred kids! Each child must have had parents, siblings and grandparents all come as there were not enough seats in the gym! What can I say...there were 5 of us for Blake! He did a great job and I just love hearing him singing about Jesus. We were in the grocery store a couple weeks before the program and he was just busting out "I love Jesus yes I do, I love Jesus what about you??!!" This is Blake's teacher, Mrs. Hansen. Our parents are longtime friends so I was thrilled to know that she was going to be his teacher this year. She is just a little bit taller than the kids (hee, hee)....and is wonderful!

My mom and dad went to visit my brother, Sara and Clyde over Thanksgiving and brought back presents for the boys. They started a countdown on the 15th of Dec. Each day until Christmas they opened a numbered present. The boys had a great time with the game. Thanks Craig, Sara and Clyde!

Max also had a Christmas program at school. The Kindergarten class always does the Nutcracker. We actually took a field trip to Bloomington a couple weeks before so the kids could see the ballet. Max was Fritz and really did a fantastic job. He was so animated and played his part very well. We were so proud!! Max's teacher, Mrs Elsas, was my pre-school teacher and also a longtime friend of my mom's. She is about the same height as Mrs Hansen! Good thing my kids are used to short people!

Do you think they will still love each other this much next year??!! Hopefully many, many more! They really are the best of buddies! Love you guys!