The Weekend Lens

Merry Christmas Eve!

Lots going on this weekend! I have kids bouncing off the walls here and I would guess my computer time is limited before I am called away to get someone a drink, break up a fight, clean up a mess, or help someone in the bathroom. So lets just get right to the pictures:

On Friday we went to see This is 40 with the Peterson’s. I like it very much. I am still 5 years away from 40, but I could relate.

After dinner we stopped to get a bite to eat. I am so glad this guy is feeling better!

Snowball, our Elf on the Shelf, has been busy too!

Saturday we were at church practicing for the Christmas Pageant that would be held on Sunday.

There was also napping and hanging out at home. Zooey and Owen have a cold right now and there is a lot of coughing and runny noses going on here.

The kids finally got there email video message from Santa. They have been waiting! I have a post nap messy bun going on here.

Zooey watched her video at least 4 times. She loved that Santa said her name and showed her picture. She was into it.

Ethan and Owen found out that while they have been good – they have had their moments of not so good. More specifically, they need to listen to their parents. They are on the “watch list”.

Ethan was a little concerned about his rating. He has been working very hard to be super good around here ever since.  Sweet boy. He has such a gentle heart.

Right before Santa stated if Owen was on the nice or naughty list, Owen said “This is not going to be good!”. This kid is so funny.

He just found out he was on the watch list (below):

Saturday we went to a Birthday party!

Here is the birthday girl, Mary Kay!

Mary Kay is my Grandmother’s first cousin.

So that makes her my third cousin? Is that right? I don’t know, around here we just call each other Cousins and call it good.

Ethan was happy to assist in blowing out the candles:

Zooey made Dimitri be her patient as she played Doctor.

Ethan took a drink of coffee and he thought that was way cool!

Zooey sat the high chair I used as a baby!

And thanks to his brother, Owen ended up in handcuffs.

Birthday’s are very exciting with our Birthday Crew around!

Sunday was the Christmas Pageant at church. Ethan was Joseph. Owen was a donkey (really it was a bunny costume that he said was a donkey. It was very odd). And Zooey, the Christmas Star.

During the practice, Zooey was being shy and didn’t want to walk down the aisle by herself. So I wasn’t sure if she was actually going to do this.

We strategically put Dimitri in the back of the church and put me in the first pew at the front of the church so that Zooey would have one of us on either end to direct her.

Here comes the animals:

Including the weird donkey/rabbit. The Donbit? The Rabkey?

Dimitri had to hold Zooey back while the animals went and when Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus made their way to the altar. She wanted to GO!

Here comes Ethan as Joseph.  He did such a good job!

And then Dimitri released the Christmas Star. She made a pit stop to say hi to Yia Yia, but other than that she did great! She wasn’t shy at all. She marched down the aisle and to the altar with the biggest smile on her face.

And she sat perfectly during the whole program. Pretty good for a two-year old!

All the kids did very well! It was very cute and touching and what Christmas is all about. A good reminder before we dive into presents starting tonight.

There she goes…

After the performance, Santa showed up to visit with the kids. They were very excited!

I didn’t ask the boys what they told Santa. At this point – their Santa gift list is done.

Zooey was not going to sit on Santa’s lap.

She liked a little distance between her and the big man.

Ethan did ask me if that was Santa’s helper and not the real Santa. I was a little worried that he was starting to figure it out this year. He has been asking lots of questions, but he still believes. He even made this little reminder note for himself.

I love it!

I hope you have a Merry Christmas!