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.