Christmas 2010

and then it was Christmas!
Even though, everyone knows "when" Christmas is going to arrive, we all still manage to not be ready for it..

As kids are getting older, their demands and wishes get more and more expensive too.

I took a week off between pre-Christmas and a New Year, as I try every year.  This is my chance to spend more time with the kids while they are home on a Winter break.

Thursday morning Jon and I managed to sneak out of the house for an early breakfast.  His choice - IHOP...  at first I wasn't too thrilled, but went anyway, and I was pleasantly surprised with their menu's improvement. 
Jon chose mixed fruit bowl and a side order of turkey bacon (kids totally love it).  I got some eggs and ham with a side of banana bread french toast.  It was actually good.

While at breakfast, Jon and I decided to stop by the Dollar Tree store next door and get  some prizes for the Christmas eve or New Year's eve games.  I don't think Jon realized then that "he" might end up with some of his choices...  later about that.

On Friday we cooked up a bunch of finger foods and deserts.  Kids helped me decorate Oreo Balls, which we dipped into melted chocolate and covered with whatever we felt like.  Kids kept adding sour worms to it.

 We finished the night playing Kinect games.

Larissa left Santa some milk and freshly baked mint cookies...

It payed off, Santa left some presents for the kids

Even the big ones...

By the way, getting all dressed up for Christmas Morning was NOT my idea.  Kids surprised me with the shirts and ties on.

Later in the weekend I made two sets of hand warmers, one for Larissa and one for me.  They sure feel nice, I am wearing mine right now, as I type.

December 18th weekend.

On Thursday night we all went to see Miranda sing in the Liberty High School choir for a Winter Holiday performance.  As expected, another smooth performance, thanks to Ms Eucker (their teacher).

Friday afternoon I helped out at Gabe's school, decorating gingerbread houses, that school later plans on donating to the local shelters.  None of the houses looked the same or like the picture on the kit's box, but all the kids had fun making them:

Same night the whole family went to a Mandolin Orchestra concert.  It was another sold out performance.  We all had a great time listening to the Christmas music.  Jon was determined to fall asleep (being that it didn't even start till 8pm) and Tim was determined to keep him awake.  That was pretty fun to watch.

On Saturday we had a quiet lunch at Panera Bread then later went to a Christmas party at the neighbor's house.  We finally got to meet and talk to some of the neighbors.  Looks like most of them are retired, stay home couples, which makes me happy, because I know that there is always someone at home if my kids need assistance.


On Sunday we decorated our gingerbread houses and displayed them at the kitchen table:

Only to find them looking like this on Monday:

I made kids re-add the new layer of candies to the houses.  Let's just say, I was not happy that night!!

December 11th weekend

No doubt, the Oregon rainy season has started.  I think it rained the whole week, on and off.

Saturday started with some heavy showers.  We all got up early for the Elementary School's Chess Tournament.  Both Larissa and Jon are in the club, and they were both scheduled to play non-competitive games.  Just as I was afraid, Jon refused to play any games with strangers, despite his teacher's high praises.  How frustrating (for me)! I decided not to push the issue, even though on the inside I was pretty pissed off.

Larissa played a total of six games.  Some against kids on her level, and some against a higher level.  In total she lost three and tied three.

After a while Jon worked up the nerve to play one game.  I think he just wanted to make peace with me...  The game was pretty quick, Jon lost, but I didn't really care.  I am just glad he tried.

On Sunday I took Larissa out for lunch.  We ate at what is now becoming our traditional lunch place, Hot Pot 'n Sushi. Followed by a quiet evening at home with a great slow cooked chicken dinner.

December 4th weekend

I took off a couple of days around this weekend, to make it a four day weekend for me and because kids didn't have school on Monday.

Friday was a "Civil War" game and kids wore "Oregon Ducks" color and t-shirts to school.  I bought Gabe a shirt to wear on top of a t-shirt for the "Ducks" day, but when he put it on in the morning, I found out that store forgot to remove a plastic security tag!  So much for wearing that...  of to the store I go.

Since Jon didn't have school on Friday, we went out for breakfast and did some light shopping.  When we stopped by the Old Navy he noticed a mannequin and immediately asked me to take a picture of "me and Dad.  Just make sure his head is not in the picture"...

Can't say that I did much though over the weekend.  We did get and then decorate a Christmas tree.  Larissa also put together a small Christmas Village on a coffee table.  At some point I had to stop her, because just like with anything else, she tends to go overboard.  When she started adding a foot tall angels to a village with 6" houses, I had to intervene.

On Monday we went to see the Megamind movie.  It was pretty cute.  Thanks to Intel it didn't cost us a penny!

I tried taking a picture of all the kids, but Jon realized I was doing it and tried to run out of site.