Advent Calendar

Christmas is in full swing around here and it has been so much fun.  Gavin is a true believer right now and you can't help, but be excited.  We went and saw Santa this week and on our way to go visit, he asked " how are we were getting there?"  I said, "the subway."  He answered, "We are taking the subway to the North Pole?"  The conversation only got more interesting when he asked, "Did Santa bring his sleigh to Bloomindale's?"

We have done advent calendar's in the past, but they have been edible!  This year, following a good friend's lead, we are doing activities every day leading up to Christmas. We got a great advent calendar last year and it has 25 pockets.  It has been so fun.  Gavin pops out of bed every morning and heads straight to the calendar to see what we are doing for the day.  I didn't have it together the first day, so I only had the first's day's paper in the calendar.  He asked me why there weren't paper's in all the pockets.  I told him that they appear magically each day.  That has really added to the mystery and excitement.  Here is a look at our first couple of weeks!

Our Advent Calendar!

Day 1 Make Ornaments with Lucas and Sam

Day 2-Make Christmas Chains

Gav's prek friend joined us!

Gav's chain

Eli is very creative, wouldn't you say?

Day 3-Watch a Christmas Movie and eat caramel popcorn .. We watched Frosty the Snowman

Day 4-Make paper snowflakes

Gavin got to go see Elizabeth Mitchell perform that day as well!

Day 5-Christmas Caroling at Brick Church

Day 6-Get Christmas Tree and decorate it!

We have bought from the same guy 3 out of the past 4 years

Day 7- Go to Library and pick out Christmas books-Charlie Brown Christmas and The Polar Express
 

Day 8-Go see Santa

We went to Bloomingdale's this year and the Santa was super friendly and spent atleast 5 minutes with the kids

We went to eat after!

Day 9- Do something nice for someone else..Gavin helped a friend find her boot and Eli helped Gavin do something, but I can't remember. 

Day 10-Watch a Christmas Movie and eat popcorn-- The boys watched Rudolph.  It was also the day of Gavin's Holiday Concert at school!

Gavin got to ring a bell!

Day 11- Go to Ward Christmas Party and see Santa!

Day 12-Make a gift  (I won't say what or for whom, because they are reading) It was also our ward Christmas program.

The boys before church

Winter's Eve

Winter's Eve at Lincoln Center has become a tradition in our family. It is the 4th year we have attended and it starts the holiday season for us. It is held the Monday after Thanksgiving and is a tree lighting, neighborhood party! We had a great time once again. We mostly spent our time playing by the fountain in Lincoln center while listening to the live music nearby. The kids loved it!

More than just Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we traveled to Amarillo, Texas where my sister lives with her family. My parents sold their home in New Mexico before they left on their mission to Mexico, so we all gathered at my sister home this year to celebrate their return from serving a mission in Mexico and Thanksgiving. It was a great gathering --Mom, Dad, Anna Min and her family, Ben and his family, my family, my Grandma Call, Aunt Ellen, and Uncle John, and Jereme's parents too. We really had a lot to celebrate over Thanksgiving. We celebrated my parents return, my grandma's 88th birthday, Alyvia's 8th birthday and her baptism.

We really had a memorable time.  Anna Min's friend hooked us up with a large empty house to all stay at while we were there!  There were no babies amongst the cousins and the pack of cousins just roamed and played.  We can tell they formed some great cousin bonds.  I was able to play as a substitute on Anna Min's volley ball team and I had a blast.  It made me realize how much I missed it. We also got to play again with my siblings and spouses.  I have to find a way to play on a regular basis.  My boys love back yards.  Gavin kept telling people when we got back that his cousins had a back yard!. Thanks to Anna Min for planning such a great trip.  Thanks to my mom and dad for their service, and thanks to all my family to coming.  It had been 2 1/2 years since we have all been together. 

I should mention that we are luck to have Eli alive.  He nearly strangled himself on a rope, fell in cactus, burned his hand, and fell and nearly cut his ear off.  I so worry about him.

Welcome back Grandma and Grandpa!

The kids spent a lot of time on this

Grandma Call's 88th surprise birthday party

Opening gifts

 

 

 

Discovery Center Fun

Back yard fun

Thanksgiving at the Church!  It was so great. They kids had a blast in the gym.  Here are some of the cooks!

our pies

the kid's table!

After turkey slumber

after turkey church fun

Jump n' Jive

A little Texas fun.. Lazer Tag!  My sister and husband own a Laser Tag company.

Alyvia's baptism!

Hike in Palo Duro Canyon

Uncle Ben leading the kids into danger!

m/

Did I mention?

Did I mention that this cute girl is no longer living with us?




Sherilyn, Boyd's little sister, came to live with us in June for the summer. She came after she graduated from highschool and before she was to start college in January. She babysat for us as well and some of our friends. She ended up staying until the end of November! It was fun to see her come into her own while she was here. It was great to really get to know her and and understand what makes her tick. There wasn't a lot of space in our apartment, but we made it work. She was supposed to have Eli's bed, but Eli ended up joining her in bed for most of the time she was here. It was fun to watch her come to love the city and to experience all that is has to offer. She made so many friends while she was here. The boys, especially Eli, are going to miss her. With the boys, she played games, made believe with remote controls, solved puzzles, played tickle monster, made envelopes, and so much more. She is a very special young woman and we are excited for all that is ahead of her.