Catching Up!

We have been busy, busy, busy with Christmas festivities...I am just finally catching up on here. I have back-posted a bunch of posts from our last few fun times, so you can look down for all our previous activities. I hope you all had a wonderfully blessed Christmas!

Christmas with the Calonder's

Yesterday we had Steve's family's Christmas. It was icy when we were getting ready to leave, so we decided to just try to get there and if it didn't work, it didn't work. By the time we had been out about 45 minutes, it got much better, so we continued. Unfortunately, it was headed the same direction we were. On our way home, it was nearly impossible to navigate on the major highway, none the less the minor ones we were going to have to encounter to get home. Thankfully, we were not far from Steve's sister's house, so we stayed there for the night. It was awesome of her and her family to put up with eight extra people for a night. By the time we left in the morning, the roads were much better.

It also happened to be Steve's 40-something birthday. I'll be kind and not mention how many. Early 40's, and we'll leave it at that...

Daddy and NoahGrandpa Kenny and HannahShane is so nice to put together one of the tractors the triplets got. (Trust me, they were frustrating to get together when we went to do the other two!) Noah is so happy it's together.

Aidan the Clone Warrior.

Daddy and his birthday cake - Noah and Aidan are "helping" to blow out candles.

Day at the Imaginarium

The Science museum had a neat demonstration today, so we took our oppurtunity to get out of the house. It was a Fire and Ice demo. For the price of regular admission, they got to go to the museum and then visit the Ice display. That had all sorts of ice-related activities. Then, later in the day, they had a Fire demo that we watched. After all that, we had some errands to run and headed home. It was a long, but very fun, day.
Noah on the turn thing.

Nathanial has his turn. Now it's Ethan's turn!

Aidan and Nathanial try the spinner thing together (not sure what it's called).Aidan, Nathanial, Ethan, and Noah play with the music pipes.

Mom, Hannah, and Austin join in the fun.

Nathanial and Ethan find the snakes fascinating.

Noah and Ethan find even more snakes!
Hannah's having fun!

Austin plays with the ball thing.

Setting the ball back down on it - it always lands right on top.

Austin and Nathanial inflating a hot air balloon.

Aidan having fun.

All five boys waiting nicely for the fire demonstration to begin.

It's Christmas!

Everyone woke up bright and early Christmas morning to find lots of exciting gifts. Even the triplets were getting into the hang of opening gifts. Hannah isn't quite sure of all the chaos around her.

Silly Nathanial - he took his hat to bed with him and wore it all day long. We had plenty of heat by that time, so I'm not sure why he did it?

Noah and Ethan opening up their presents.

Nathanial, Noah, and Ethan playing with various toys they got.

Steve and I made a really good, easy dinner. We even used the "good" china for us, Austin, and Aidan. The little ones still used everyday dishes, but it was fun to use the good stuff for a change. We made roast turkey breast, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, crockpot stuffing, freezer corn - our last two bags :-( - broccoli cheddar casserole, cranberry/apple/pecan salad, and rolls. Steve then made his extra special "Holiday Punch" (orange juice and Sprite) to go with it. It was delicious!

Our Christmas Table

Christmas with Grandma Janet

Christmas at my mom's was cancelled on Sunday due to really icky weather, so we went today. Prior to leaving Nathanial and Ethan had to go see the ENT due to the nasty ear drainage they've had for about a month. We've tried drops, then an antibiotic. Today she vacuumed both their ears out and then cultured it and put them on stronger antibiotics. Hopefully it will work. We came home to no heat, so had to call our heating/plumber guy over. Not looking forward to that bill at 10:30 pm on Christmas Eve! The day was great, though, and we all had fun.

Noah is a sticky, chocolatey mess! Nathanial is waiting to open presents.

Ethan's begging for more chocolate.

The two girls - Emma and Hannah

Daddy and Noah (I think I have almost this exact same picture from last year...)

Austin waiting patiently.

Austin and Uncle Michael all ready to pass out presents.Aidan opening his Leapster (I didn't get a great shot of him afterwards).

Everyone gathered 'round to check out the Leapster.

Christmas Programs

I'm combining our Christmas program pictures for ease. Austin had his school program on a night of a blizzard waring - it was crazy. We left right after he was done signing, so got home before it got too nasty.

Austin is in the red/white striped shirt. Most of the vocal group.

Nathanial and Ethan are convinced Daddy just left with Noah and isn't coming back for them...even though they're dressed and I'm still inside. Nathanial's hanging on to his offering money pretty tight, though!

Austin in the back with the chef hat (he was "Alfred" Brown)...Aidan in the front in the red sweater.

Austin getting ready for his lines.

Aidan talking with Lily.

Santa Claus

We went to visit Santa when he was in town last weekend. Noah decided he did NOT like the jolly big fella. We tried to get everyone's picture and it just wasn't happening.

Aidan telling Santa what he wants for Christmas.

All six with Santa - Noah was NOT having any part of being left on the Big Guy's lap. I guess he doesn't understand he wants to be friends with this guy.
The best one we got. Santa is looking at the camera; Austin and Aidan are looking into la-la land; Ethan and Nathanial are at least happy; Noah stopped screaming and put his fingers in long enough to get a somewhat decent picture; and Hannah is blissfully unaware of the trauma her brothers have just been put through.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow...

And it did - a lot. Here's some images from last night's snow storm.

Here's our table on the back deck - it was clean. Austin standing in front of some of what Steve got off the driveway.

Nathanial and Ethan watching Daddy shovel...he says it helps him excersize - but after almost three hours out there, I think maybe he's rethinking snow blower? Although it's been eight years, so maybe not.

Decorating

The trees lighted and the angels on top - all ready for Austin and Aidan. Steve making sure at least a few ornaments make it to the top of the tree. Austin and Aidan placing their ornaments. Aidan's conglomerate on the bottom of the tree.

Austin and Aidan in front of the finished tree (we didn't put on all the ornaments this year). This lasted until the next morning - we now have, oh, six ornaments on the tree total and the rest are carefully arranged under the tree. The guilty three shall remain nameless...