Happy Birthday Jesus!!

What a great Christmas we had here at Casa de Anderson!  The kids were full of excitement the whole month of December and we made sure to do fun activities the whole month!

I made this advent wreath when we lived in California and every Sunday we lit candles and prepared our hears for Christmas.

Then, we had our advent calender.  I wrote out activities (decorate cookies, shop for Toys for Tots, read a new Christmas book, family game night, take a bath with Glow sticks, etc) and each day featured a different activity.  

We set up our Nativity Set.  This was gifted to me by my mom who set this up every year!  Unfortunately, the camel suffered a fatal injury when Chet's hands reached up onto the shelf.  Fortunately, Elsa replaced it with her white pet.  I am sure the three wise men were appreciative!

Elsa had a beautiful Choir concert at school the week before Christmas.  It was so cute watching each class from preschool up to 8th grade sing.

We went to mass on Christmas eve and it was PACKED!!  Elsa and Aaron went 45 minutes early and I brought Chet after he woke from his nap!  The kids were a little restless during Church because we had told them we were going to open gifts when we got home.  Chet kept saying "I go home" constantly for the last 20 minutes of Mass.

I used our tripod and FINALLY got a photo of us where both kids are cooperating!

Each kid bought the other a gift.  Elsa made this spider man bear at Build a Bear and Chet LOVES it!  Chet "bought" Elsa a locker for her American Girl doll Isabelle and she had it all decked out in about 5 minutes after opening it!

I was awake before the kids on Christmas morning out of pure excitement to see the joy on their faces!  Elsa peaked into the family room and announced "I think Santa brought us a PIANO!!!"

 They had to bring their friends down the stairs too!

 Chet's expression was priceless when he uncovered his new train table!  Sorry, Elsa, it was not a piano!

Elsa's face was equally priceless when I read the note left from Santa saying they made the "nice" list!

Chet had no interest in opening up presents after the train table!

Their "Something you need" was luggage.  And, let me tell you, they have packed for several "trips" since Christmas!

Because this is how you push the box to mom to open your present.

Even, Olaf got some goodies from Santa.  He was one good puppy this year….sometimes.

And, to keep our focus on the reason for the season….we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus….who the kids decided was 7 this year.  

 We hope your family had a Merry Christmas too!  

Busy Weekend!

Oh, my goodness.  We had a fabulous weekend and now I am slowly starting to feel back to normal!  I tell you, nothing tells you that you are getting older than trying to recover from a late night!!
My parents came in town Friday and left Monday.  We had a lot of fun!  We made the decision not to tell Elsa because she would have been asking nonstop the past month "Is today the day they are coming?".  They arrived just in time to pick Elsa up from school and I was told her expression was priceless!  I am sure my dad is still recovering from the kids climbing all over him….

Saturday we had 25+ of our friends over for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party!  Oh, my goodness!  I stayed up until 2:30!  I can't even remember staying up that late (or laughing that hard)…i think it definitely dates back to residency!!  I waited until the last minute and when I realized ugly sweaters at Goodwill were $30+ I decided to make my own!  Aaron even waited longer and realized that afternoon that the ugly sweater he was going to wear, was purged to Goodwill last year.  opps!  He had to settle on a T-shirt.  Here is my sweater in all of its glory.  Its a beauty!

I had to put the children to work cleaning prior to the party.  Shhhh, don't tell Child Protective Services!

My only job was to put together the wine pantry.  I had a chef cater in everything else.  Smartest. move.ever!

Some of the guys doing the Shotski.

Some even took it a little further and wore sparkly pants.

I miss our old neighbors!!!

 And, these Ugly sweater cookies for dessert made by my friend Karen…They were delicious!!

And, in a blink, its almost October

Wow!  September flew by!  We have enjoyed getting to know new routines at the kids' school and are starting to get into a comfortable routine of after school activities.  Although, I joke that Chet will be taking dance with Elsa to simplify the activities!  I don't know how y'all with more than 2 kids do it!
Between me teaching 3rd grade Catechism, two nights of dance (Ballet/Tap and Hippity Hop), and cello lessons, the week is full!

In the midst of the chaos, we had a great month!!

My practice holds an annual golf outing and we had such an awesome foursome!!  More emphasis was put on FUN than the scramble.  We may or may not have calculated our score correctly!

When I moved to Green Bay, I started the Greater Green Bay Women's Dental Society.  We meet monthly from September until May.  We do a mixture of professional and social gatherings.  This month, we went to the A.R.T Garage and had art instruction.  Let's just say I won't be quittin my day job!!  My print looked like I gave the paint brush to Chet!!  The first picture is what we were supposed to paint….

 My pallete…don't they make green paint??!!

 Progress was being made….but I won't even take a close up of the final result.

Olaf is getting SO big and starting to come around!!  Next time I want to get a dog, remind me to get a 2 year old dog!  This puppy thing is not for me!  But, he is so darn cute!

 We made time for a date night.  Aaron won the championship for his golf league so I made him take me out for dinner.

I am starting to pursue my Foundational Catechetical Certification.  Involves 60 hours of training (10 hours for each of 6 components).  I am starting with the Bible component.  Four hours down, 6 to go :)

 We recieved an update about Elsa and Chet's season Packer tickets.  In January, they were 108,383.  At this rate, they may get tickets by the age of 60.

 A candid shot of them playing in the hearth room while I finish cleaning up from breakfast

 We went to a Packer game with one of my besties and her husband.  I love living close to them!

 Elsa loves to show us what she learned at school and she is always asking to do "homework"

 And, Chet wanted to participate.  Notice this is his smile face.

 Note the smile face of Chet.  Maybe one of these days he will actually cooperate for photos!

 Elsa LOVES getting dressed for school.  With the uniform, we have eliminated the battles in the morning over what to wear.

We had a friend over to play and we baked cupcakes!

 They certainly love their dog!!

 Elsa loves Cello and dance!  And sometimes doing both together. Note the dance costume!

 Chet does NOT like bedtime!

 I created a job chart for the kids and so far, so good on doing their jobs.  I have a monthly calender that I put stickers on if they do their jobs.

 And, the biggest accomplishment of the month is Aaron learning how to do a girls hair!!  I often have to leave before the kids are up in the morning and Elsa often goes to school looking like she just rolled out of bed.

But, after A LOT of instruction, Aaron mastered doing her hair.  Okay, a small pony tail undo.  We still have to work to do on a  big pony tail, but I was pretty darn proud of him.  

 Now, if  only I can find a way to master the mound to paper work these two kids bring hone each day.!!