The Last Christmas of 2010

The Last Christmas celebration was with Aunt Barb, Uncle Jim, Terry, Brycen, and Jenny!

All the kids LOVE these folks!!  love-- love-- love!!!!

Terry does his own shopping----and we hear he loves to shop!

He is awesome with birthday gifts and Christmas gifts!!  

Terry asked MONTHS AGO if he could buy the kids Pillow Pets!

Of course!!  Well, nearly EVERY store in Wichita carries Pillow Pets.

And every time we would see them, ALL 3 kids would beg for them!

So---needless to say....

THE KIDS WERE MORE THAN THRILLED to open Pillow Pets!!

Christmas 2010 is over!!  Once again, we are  blessed beyond words with

AMAZING family!  We have so much to be THANKFUL for!  I pray our kids will 

never take for granted what they have!

Christmas Morning

Jesus' Birthday....has FINALLY ARRIVED!!!

The kids were up at 7:45am---mom and dad were SUPER happy with this time!!

Grab the camera, get the video camera, throw on a sweatshirt....

What did SANTA BRING?????

PAPER JAM guitars for EVERYONE!!

( I think this is Tyler's "rock-star"/serious face!)

They were all excited and Santa even picked out the EXACT ones they had wanted!

Santa also brought:  books, fuzzy socks (big hit), card games, lip gloss (Paige), Webkinz, and more treasures to fill the stocking!!  Santa did much better this not getting too much "little junk"!!

If you asked the boys after looking at Santa's gifts---I think they might have been a bit disappointed.  They REALLY wanted iPod Touches and we told them they were "WAY TO MUCH MONEY" soSanta would have to buy those.  And, they both TOLD Santa that is what they wanted!   Well, Santa didn't get them!!

But, thanks to Craig's List---

THEY BOYS GOT iPod Touches!!!

Jaden's first words were, "how much did these cost mom???!!!!!!!"  

They were, of course, SO EXCITED!!!

So---what did Paige get???

A Nintendo DS!!!!!!!!!!

WOW---she thinks she is BIG STUFF.  

More bargain shopping on mom and dad's part----we bought Tyler's DS from him for Paige.

**She got a NEW Dora case and NEW Dora game!!  She was thrilled!**

And, because Paige is 4, SHE HAS NO CLUE!!!  And, Tyler still has not told our secret!!  

(At this point, I don't care if she finds out----I just didn't want her to know Christmas morning!)

The other BIG hit of Christmas morning was---

Fleece blankets for each of them!

The boys got K-State.  Paige got zebra print and butterflies!

Steve and I made the 3 for our kids and then Taylor and Mason each one. 

 Good quality bonding time for us!!  

When Mason opened his K-State blanket ....this was my conversation with Jaden.

Jaden---I want a blanket like that

mom--Well, it's too late buddy, Christmas is tomorrow.

Jadne--WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS AN OPTION!!!!!!! 

mom--maybe I can make you one sometime

He was still talking about the blanket on the way home from Grandma and Grandpas.

So---Jaden was QUITE EXCITED to open his OWN blanket!!!  

The kids also each got a pair of shoes! 

 The boys got matching blue tennis shoes and Paige got pink boots!!!

We are blessed beyond words!  We purposely cut back on Christmas gifts this year. 

 We did 3 gifts each----just like Jesus got 3 gifts form the Wise Men!  

We decided there is no need to just "buy gifts", to buy gifts.  They kids get SO MUCH from their grandparents and aunts and uncles!!  They are spoiled!! 

I will admit though----it is fun being spoiled at Christmas!!!

We are BLESSED!!! and THANKFUL for what we have!!

Christmas in Newton

Christmas with Grandpa and Grandma Balzer's always starts at Druber's Donut Shop!

Then, home for Brunch at Grandma's, crafts, playing, acting out the Christmas story, a short nap, eating chili, church, and home for presents!!!  A fun-filled, event-filled Christmas EVE Day!

Yikes!!  Aren't they cute!!  

A Shepard, A Wise Man, and Mary

The cousins!

Jeremy and Sydney couldn't join us this year for Christmas----it was weird without them!

We did talk with them through SKYPE and Sydney did participate in acting out the Christmas story via computer.  It just wasn't the same!

Mason was an ANGEL---don't all angels wear purple tutu's!!  Paige was an angel too, in her tutu.  These costumes were my dance recital costumes, years ago.  At least my mom is still getting good use out of all that money she spent on dance and recitals!!!

CRAFTS!!

Grandma Balzer always has some craft for the kids to do and they LOVE IT!!

This year we made ball ornaments using quilt squares of MY Grandma Clifton's. 

They were fun and pretty easy to do and I love that the material has meaning!!!

These will be so cute on our new FAMILY tree next year!

We are going to have a tree in the basement next year with all the kids' ornaments they have made, etc...  The basement is where we hang out as a FAMILY so this is where we are going to put all our ornaments that are MEANINGFUL!!!  I am pretty excited for this!

After church----we have to HURRY and take family pictures before anyone changes clothes, opens gifts, eats or does anything.

PICTURES FIRST!!!!

And, it's always an easy, no crying, "no problem mom" situation!

OK, OR NOT!!!!  

There might be a little yelling...."hurry up", "smile right", threatening, and the such!

This year was actually pretty quick, with less threats than normal!!

AND, THEN YOU CAN OPEN PRESENTS!!!!!

Tyler made this candy-cane at church and took it with us to each Christmas gathering.  

It was completely his idea to read the poem that went with the candy-cane...

explaining that Jesus was the reason for the season.

He was SO EXCITED to read his poem at Christmas!  

Legos, Marshmallow shooter, Wimpy Kid book, games, K-State b-ball jersey, I-Tunes gift card...

Football, K-State b-ball jersey, marshmallow shooter, lots of crafts supplies, games, I-Tunes gift card...

Bouncing Baby, stamps, crafts, games, matching PJ's for her baby, Easy Bake oven, leggings,...

This picture explains how Christmas was....

Paige was THRILLED for her bouncing baby, but everyone 

loved all their gifts!  We love hanging out with family for an entire day!  We are blessed beyond words!  

Breakfast with Santa

I still have several PRE-Christmas photos to share before we can start on the actual 

CHRISTMAS photos!!

After Paige DANCED for SANTA---we ate pancakes with Santa and got to sit on his lap!

PAIGE (4) asked Santa for a Bouncing Baby

JADEN(5)  asked for a football and an I-pod Touch

TYLER(7) asked for an I-Pod Touch

We shall see what Santa brings!  This Santa is NOT the REAL Santa--I was informed!  

The REAL SANTA comes to Druber's Donut Shop in Newton----he knows the kids' names!!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas or Happy New Year...

 from US to YOU!!!

We decided not to stress about our Christmas cards this year!!!  So--this is your Christmas card!  It's not that we don't love and appreciate all our friends and family that we would send them to.  We just ran out of time this year and I have learned over the past few years not to stress about little things... like if we got Christmas cards out or not!!!  It's more important to play with our kids and have FUN than stress over silly things!  There are enough BIG things in life to stress about.... I am NOT going to stress over a Christmas card!!!


We had a wonderful Christmas!  We are so blessed.  Blessed beyond words.


Today we went to a friend's dad's funeral. As most funerals do, it makes you think about what is important.  It makes you grateful for your parents, and family, and friends!!!  We are BLESSED to have all 4 of our parents close to us to enjoy the holidays with and have them involved in the kids' every activity!!!  


We could not imagine losing one of our parents!  I pray that will not be for a long, long time!!


We are remembering to be GRATEFUL for what we do have.  Things might not always be as we would WISH, but we have so much to be THANKFUL for!   We are looking forward to what 2011 is going to bring us and what we will LEARN and grow from this year!!


For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. .. Jeremiah 29:11

Dancing for Santa

Paige's first "recital"

Dancing for Santa--at the YMCA!

The cutest Snowflake of them all!!

And, every dancer gets FLOWERS after a recital---

well, really I think only 1 other girl got flowers!!

Thanks Grandma Roth!  Paige got to put her flowers in her room on her dresser and 

thought that was so cool.

This "recital" consisted of 1, 20 second dance!  But, none the less.  Paige had fun!!!

Jaden's Program

10:45am Kindergarten Christmas Program

11:00am Christmas PARTY in the classroom

This is Jaden's Christmas cookie he decorated himself.  

He only ate 1/2 of it---I think it was TOO SWEET for him!!!

What to wear??  Red or Green??

A note home said kids should wear RED for their program-- if they had it.  

Jaden came home and said they were told they could wear RED OR GREEN.

Good for us, because Jaden didn't have a red shirt, of any kind.

I get to school early, the day of the program,

 (Because I am the room mom and had to set up, etc.)

I see a SEA OF RED and then Jaden in his Green sweater.

Jaden was PRECIOUS CUTE, but literally the only student  wearing Green, in his class.

So, as any good mom would do...I called DAD!!!  HELP!!!  We need a RED Shirt!!

SO---Steve ran to Target and bought the only 3 shirts they had in Jaden's sizes.

I pick the one I like best.  

(In the back of my mind, I am thinking Jaden probably won't even care and

 will want to keep his sweater on.)

I pulled Jaden aside and said, "hey, Dad brought you a red shirt if you want to put it on so you match all the other kids."

"NO!  I I like this," was Jaden's comment!  without any hesitation or 2nd thought!

REALLY??  Did he not notice he was the ONLY KID in GREEN!!!!

So---he stayed in his super cute Green Sweater.  It is easier to find him this way in the pictures!  So, I guess I hope Jaden will always have the self-confidence and not care about what 

"everyone else is doing"----like his mom does!!!!

The Last Preschool Christmas program

It's sad to say.... This is our LAST Pre-School Christmas Program!

They're all growing up!

At Home---before we left for school

When Paige walked into the auditorium she was wearing an angel robe!  My first thought was, 

oh...she gets to be an angel.  My 2nd thought was...OH....her cute outfit is covered up!!

A few songs with the Angel Robes---then they came off.

Merry Christmas!!!  

A Candle Light Dinner

With only 8 days til Jesus' Birthday---

We decided to have a CANDLELIGHT DINNER!!

A couple of my friends have done this in previous years as part of their count-down to Christmas, but we have never braved it!!

And I'm so glad we did tonight!

**Yes, I know my table is not fancy!  But, I didn't think a centerpiece or table decorations were a good idea with candles!  And, this was probably a smart call on my part.  The toasting kept the kids quite busy picking up their glasses, putting them down, toasting across the table, over the fire, putting glasses down, and on and on.  Maybe in a few years we can add a fancy centerpiece**

It was SO FUN!!  We had the kids go to their rooms until we were ready.

We "called their number" when their reservation was ready!

They couldn't believe the lights were OUT.  They couldn't believe we were eating at the "real table".  (We always eat around our huge island).

So---what goes into a candle-light dinner....or a FANCY DINNER.

Fancy plates --our Christmas plates---not our plastic plates or paper plates

Fancy cups---GLASS CUPS, oh  my....

Wine and wine glasses---or Sparkling Grape Juice

Toasts --and lots of them

Dessert---and Fancy dessert---we had brownies cut in shapes of Christmas trees

(We never have dessert right after dinner....so this was a treat!) and...

A chocolate treat by your fork when you sit down

OH---and at a FANCY DINNER you have you use a quiet voice

---this was the best part of the night!!

and what was for dinner??  Nothing Fancy...

Biscuits and Gravy!  Funny huh!  But, it was already on our menu for tonight and we KNEW the kids would all eat it, no complaints, no struggles.  And, we were right.  

There were LOTS of SMILES this evening!!

"I'd like to make a toast...."

This was the cutest part of the night...

we toasted to our awesome family, to Jesus' birthday, to the lights being off, I can't remember what all, but it was FUN TO MAKE TOASTS with our FANCY GLASSES!!

I love these Christmas wine glasses and I don't even really use them---they are more for decoration---if I get them out.  So, I decided I would let the kids use them.  I gave myself (and Steve) a little pep talk in case they did break the glasses.  We were NOT going to be upset!

BUT---no breakage.  There really wasn't even a close call.

Sparkling Grape Juice.  $3.  Jaden wouldn't try it--that is SO Jaden, nothing unusual or different for him. Paige didn't like it.  Tyler liked it the next day when it wasn't so bubbly.  Tyler did keep his in his cup and did drink it for the toasts.  Jaden and Paige had water in their "wine glasses".  But, it was cool to hold the new cups!

We started out just toasting those close to us.

Then, Jaden starting walking around the table so he could toast EVERYONE!!!

It was so fun.  We will for sure do this again---and probably before next year's countdown to Christmas.  The kids loved it.  When they read.... "Have a Candlelight Dinner" on their countdown strip...they had no idea what it meant!

YEA!!!!  For Countdown to Jesus's Birthday!!

AND---I have decided that I know a night was a success when one of the kids prays about it at night.  Jaden's prayer was.....

And, thank you that we could turn out the lights and eat with the candles tonight!!

And Paige said...

Thank you for, what was that called tonight mom, (I tell her) 

oh yea..thank you for our candlelight dinner!!

SUCCESS!!!!  

We did great getting our Christmas decorations out this year!

We did it the day after Thanksgiving--I think!

Last year our house was on a holiday home tour---which was A LOT of work.

This year we didn't even put out all our decorations.  

I am leaving Jan. 2nd to head to Michigan for 4 days and didn't know WHEN the decorations would come down---so I thought less is more this year.

On a side note---Steve was just as into decorating the house as I was.  He wanted more up than I did.  I would say, "I wasn't going to put that up this year" several times and he would just shrug his shoulders or say, "it's not that hard to do"!  It makes me happy that he likes all our decorations too!!

Our tree!

I love our Christmas tree!!

The one upstairs is a "pretty" tree!

As kids are making ornaments and such from school, we will have a 2nd tree in the basement

with all of our SPECIAL ornaments!!  

These snowmen are NEW to our house. I bought them after Christmas last year! 

 I think they are SO CUTE!  

I used the sled up where the snowmen are this year---

so another new arrangement, with old things!

This sled is the sled I used  when I was a kid!!!

Our count-down to Christmas!

I made this countdown calendar at least 8 years ago....

I think it was before I had Tyler! 

I have had to re-glue a few of the pieces, but it is holding up well still!!

And our favorite Christmas tradition!!

The Christmas chain with something "fun" to do each night as we count down 'til Christmas!

This year we were smart enough to color code the rings.

Red is Paige

Green is Jaden

White is Tyler

Then there is no fighting over who's turn it is to cut the chain.  And, whoever cuts the chain

also gets to take the piece off the other calendar!!

What we've done so far on our rings:

Shop for our angel tree gifts

**This year we adoped 3 kids off the angel tree at church, around our kids' ages.  We all went to Wal-mart and only bought stuff for these kids.  Our kids took their billfolds and each bought 1 of the toys for the boy/girl they adopted!  This was awesome!  They used their own money, paid themselves, got the change back, etc.  I think it really helped them realize these gifts cost money!  And all of their gifts they get, cost money!

 We will for sure do it again this way from now on.**

Read a Christmas book

Make Christmas ornaments

Read the Christmas story out of the Bible

**This was so cute---we asked the kids if they knew where in the Bible the Christmas story was found.  Tyler got his bible and was looking and Paige kept saying, "Luke 2:11"  She kept saying this over and over and we just kept ignoring her because well....Paige talks A LOT"

So---Steve and Tyler took turns reading the story from the Bible and sure enough we come across the verse Paige has been repeatedly saying....

She said, "That's the verse..."

She had been learning it in Pre-school this week!

Well, at least I know our money is being well spent at Pre-school!!

Write a letter to Santa

Make cards for someone else

Go look at Christmas lights

Go get Ice-Cream

Watch a Christmas movie

Spend the night at Grandpa and Grandpas (mom and dad's favorite so far!)

Go see Santa

Tonights was Sleep under the Christmas Tree --  

or in the same room as the Christmas tree!

So---as you can see---we have been BUSY here at our house!  But, it's FUN and these things make us remember to spend time as a FAMILY having FUN 

during the hustle and bustle of the holidays.