Penn State Chics Dig Nerds

Christmas day started with us reading the Christmas story and the kids opening their presents.  I'm sure Jesse was dying to know all week what was in that big green present for him.  He was probably disappointed to unwrap it and find out it was a pillow :/  At least I surprised him! The kids got quite a few flashlights this year for Christmas.  We are ready for a blackout! Here's a short video of the kids opening some presents- and using them. Brady testing out his new walkie talkies  We had a relaxing Christmas Day (atleast as relaxing as it can get with three kids and Christmas presents involved).  It was very enjoyable and exciting to watch everyone open their gifts. After the kids opened their gifts from us, Todd, Kate, and my grandma, mom and dad came up for the morning.  We had our Christmas breakfast before we opened our gifts to each other. Amie asked for a bean bag for Christmas, so she was thrilled when s...

Christmas Eve was spent with my mom's side of the family.  Of course, Pap was on everyone's mind. He sure is missed, epecially when it comes to praying for the meal and telling stories.  Or should I say laughter.  Most of his stories had more laugh than words! After dinner, the kids got to pass out and open their gifts, while everyone gathered around to watch.  Then, we all gathered at the table again for the adult white elephant gift exchange. Billy the Bass seems to pop up every few years.  Of course, the Obama Chia pet was re-gifted again this year. Dad sporting his awesome glasses. Brandy made these tree ornaments in memory of Pap.  She used one of his old flannel shirts.  I think it was very sweet of her to make one of these for everyone. Brandy wrote this up and gave it with the ornament

Every year, we make some Christmas cookies.  This year, we had a two part cookie baking session.  One day, we made the cookies after school.  The next day, we put on the icing. Amie was very excited to use the rolling pin. These days, we have to take a goofy picture in order to get cooperation for one nice picture! Unfortunately, I don't have any finished pictures.  They were pretty!  I found some colored sprinkles that use natural dyes (i.e. red beets, spinach, etc.).  We had discovered that Brady was apparently having some negative reactions to artificial dyes.  He was extremely pleased that he could have colors!  I also made cookies and sent in the icing and sprinkles to Brady's class so that he could have the same thing as everyone else.  Making green icing using natural colorants did not go well, but eventually we did get some icing that got sent to school!

This weekend we did a lot of activity, which left me exhausted!  Friday night we saw the Lights on the Lake at Lakemont Park.  We went in a big van with the Ruckers, which was a lot of fun for everyone- just a little loud! On Saturday, I made a Christmas swag at Shavers Creek.  Then, Natalee, Jesse and I went to a Penn State women's volleyball game.  Natalee had been wanting to go.  This game actually started a little bit earlier than normal, so it was a good time to go. Then came Sunday.  I was so tired I nearly decided to take a nap instead.  However, I'm glad I didn't because it was really a nice holiday open house at Greenwood Furnace. They had lots of different crafts for the kids to do.  I do not have any pictures of this-- I was a little busy assisting with their craftiness!  They made several more ornaments to hang on their already full little trees. We also went for a carriage ride pulled by two beautiful Belgian horses. ...

Lately we've been doing a lot of Christmas activities.  Each day the kids look forward to opening their advent calendar.  Sometimes it's an activity like a place to go, a Christmas movie, or a craft.  Other times it's a piece of chocolate or a small gift, like Christmas socks. One day we made salt dough ornaments and then painted them.  One activity the kids participated in was the decorating of trees at the historical society with their school class.  This was not part of the advent calendar. Even the Little House was decorated for Christmas  Brady's class was the first to decorate.  They made cute jingle bell ornaments. Natalee took turns with the other first graders in helping to decorate their tree. Natalee's class made cute snowflake ornaments out of pasta.  Afterward, we took a picture with Will.  The first grade tree is on the left and the Kindergarten tree is on the right.

Our first snow of the year was a very, very wet snow.  That meant it made great snowmen.  Since it was almost lunch time, we did not put on all of our snow things.  Silly me thought we wouldn't get that wet.  Yeah right! In the afternoon, everyone put on their snow things.  Brady came outside, too.  He's a little lazier when it comes to putting on all of his snow gear. Everyone tried to sled.  There wasn't really that much snow.  What was there packed down really well but it did not make a very fast path. Natalee made some little snowmen.  Even though it was not the fastest path for sledding, Amie still enjoyed it immensely .  She was all giggles and laughter.  She was able to coordinate how to jump onto her sled.  Even when she tipped over, she still thought it was great fun.  Her poor little legs had to be really tired with how many trips she took up the hill! Oh, the laughter!

One day while everyone else was at school, Amie and I had fun jumping and running through leaves.  It was really the best day to play in the leaves.  On days like this I wish I could keep the older kids home!

We spent Veterans Day in the woods.  It was a beautiful day to go for a hike.  The kids were very excited to go hike The Thousand Steps again.  This was Natalee and Brady's fourth trip up this trail.  They have always enjoyed this hike a lot. You'll have to bear with me here- I took a lot of good pictures today!  There were so many pretty pictures that I had a hard time narrowing them down to just a few. Everyone always comments that Amie looks like Natalee.  Except for the red hair, I've never really thought so.  Now, imagine Amie has brown hair in this photo.  Who would she look like then? These two climbed everywhere!  They had boundless energy today. I think they probably hiked TWO thousand steps instead of one!  The steps are marked at every hundred step.  On the way up, it is always a game to find all of the marks. Natalee at step #1000. All of us at the 1000th step.  We continued up a few more ste...