More Family Parties

 Christmas Eve we always spend time with the Jenks side. This year Ashley and Mark were kind enough to let everyone come to their new home. We ate and the kids acted out the birth of Christ (the girls were angels this year) then Santa comes and all the kids get one last time to tell what they want. Madie said she wanted a electric scooter, Morgan The squinkies mall, Natalie a real little chihuahua house dog, Brooklyn would not even sit on his lap.

 Brooklyn hated him...............

 But did enjoy some candy from him

 The Nativity

 This is the Don McGary Christmas party, this was the first year without Grandma McGary since her death in February. The night before the party I just keep thinking that she would not be there this year and how I would miss seeing her there enjoying all the grand-kids and saying we have over 100 grandchildren ( I think there is 105 now). I think if you look up the meaning for the word PARTY you will see a picture of her. She knew how to put on a good party.

 The famous fishing pond that my kids look forward to every year. They each get to go about 5 times. It's a big hit for all the kids.

 This is one of the games we played at the party. Games are always really funny when it comes to the McGary's. It was a little strange just me and the girls were the only ones from my family there. Garrett had to work and the rest were at the cabin. He worked all the family Christmas parties this year, it makes it hard on me to handle 4 kids all by myself.

Brooklyn was sad almost the whole party I don't really know why. If it wasn't one thing it was another. I guess she is all PARTIED OUT !!!

Piano Recital

 On Thursday before Christmas Madalyn had her first piano recital, she played "Go tell it on the Mountain". She did a great job, she didn't mess up at all. She had the song memorized but got a little nervous so she took up her music with her. Great Job! I really hope she keeps it up. I love to hear her play.

 She started taking lessons in September from Lisa Benites.

All of the piano students that played in the recital.

Ward Party

 Madalyn 8 and Santa

 Natalie 4

 Morgan 6

 Waiting in line to see Santa. No pictures of Brooklyn Garrett took her home sick after the dinner. The girls were kind enough to get her a bag for candy from him.

We were to decorate our place on the tables where we ate. We took the little people Nativity set that we have, all the kids loved it. 

Eppich Family Christmas Party

 Family Christmas Parties are one of my favorite things about the Christmas season. I just love to get together with family and cousins and get caught up with everyone's lives. On Monday was the Wayne Eppich Party. We ate dinner and then went Christmas Caroling this has always been a tradition.This year we went to 8 homes it took us about 1 1/2, my kids just loved it.

 The girls enjoying playing with Tia and Dustin's kids, they just live in Richland but we never see them.

 Natalie is sure glad that Sarah is home from school. It's been really nice her boyfriend Dexter Allred is in Hawaii all week with his family so we have actually got to see her more than normal.

 Me and Brooklyn (18 months) That's right she gets to go to nursery this week.

 Opening gifts from Grandpa Eppich and Grandma Anita.

 Brooklyn loves her little bag, who cares about what was in it. She just wanted the bag.

 Grandma Anita and Madie and Taylor

Madalyn and great grandpa Eppich. The party was a lot of fun. My kids are so fun to watch at this age. We missed Garrett this year, he had to work at the Fire Department. That night we got home from the party I had the funniest conversation with Natalie.
Natalie: "Mom I thought we were going Christmas Caroling tonight?
Me: "What are you talking about Natalie we just went, we went to 8 different homes"
Natalie: she stopped and thought for a minute then said " I thought Christmas Carol was the spanish word for Ice skating, I thought we were going Ice skating tonight mom".
I just laughed, it was so funny. She had the most puzzled look on her face. The funny thing behind that story is she is always asking Garrett how do you say this in spanish? or what does this mean in spanish dad? I called Garrett that night at work and we both got a good laugh. She thought she got robbed she was planning on going ice skating all night.

christmas baking

 This year I have not done as much Christmas baking as in the past years. I did get together with my mom and Emily and we did do a little one day. Natalie enjoyed doing the caramel pretzel sticks. I think she ate 4 that day.

 Brooklyn and Wyatt also enjoyed there far share of the goodies.  I gave Brooklyn a plain pretzel stick to eat, she look at Natalie eating one with the caramel and chocolate and no long wanted just the pretzel she wanted one just like Natalie. SMART KID!!! she knows the good stuff when she see's it.

crocheting

 We have been learning how to crochet, this is not something that comes easy for me. But I have learned how to do a few different flowers. It's fun once you get the hang of it.

Daddy's Girls

christmas dresses 2011

 Madalyn 8

 Morgan 6

 Brooklyn 18 months

 Natalie 4

 This time of year I just love. For many different reasons. New Christmas dresses is one of my favorite things. I just love to dress the girls up all cute for church. I love to try and find just the right dress for each on of them. Natalie and Brooklyn has matching dresses for their dolls.

The stool

 This stool has become Brooklyn's new best friend, she packs it around everywhere with her. She has become quite the little monkey.

Bitter Sweet

We had a Bitter Sweet moment today. We took down the baby crib, this piece of furniture has been set up for the past 8 1/2 years.  It has never come down. It will be strange not to have it around the house. Brooklyn has decided that she no longer wants to sleep in the crib but prefers the bed. For the past 2 weeks since we got home from Thanksgiving she wants to sleep in a bed with someone. So today we took it down and rearranged all the bedrooms. Madalyn and Brooklyn will now sleep in the Queen together in one room and Morgan and Natalie will be in their own twin beds (this is a first for them to have their own beds) in the other room, and we finally have  a playroom again. We will see how the sleeping arrangements go tonight. I guess it kind of hit me today that we no longer have a baby around the house. I guess I better cherish the moments.

Our tree is up

 We are all ready for Christmas, Garrett still needs to put up the lights outside but other than that we are set. I have about 75% of the shopping done. A few weeks ago we got about 3 inches of snow, Natalie was especially excited she said "Ya now Santa can come tonight", she thinks there has to be snow for him to come. Our snow is now gone, it would be nice to have a little for Christmas.

 I talked Garrett into putting up the tree before we left for Karena's for Thanksgiving. It was nice to come home and have it already done. Christopher pop-in-kins has come to our house once again. The girls were so excited to have him back. He brings a great spirit of Christmas into our homes. It's always fun looking for him each morning.

 Brooklyn loves the tree. I have never had a kid get into the tree as much as she does. She love all the ornaments, the red and gold balls especially. She pulls them off and carries them around she has broken at least 4 ball so far. We might have to buy more balls next year.

Merry Christmas from our crazy family life to yours.