Christmas 2013

We had a great Christmas this year!!!  Both kids are at an age where they are really excited about Christmas!  They were excited about every aspect of it and it made it really fun for Kevin and I.   Check out our pictures from another great Christmas

Charlotte and Nate putting out their reindeer food

 Glittery oats...Rudolph will be sure to see our house!  

 Sprinkle Sprinkle!

 Charlotte putting out the cookies.. Please don't mind our hideous iCarly blanket that we keep on that chair (when no one is coming over) so that the dogs don't sit directly on the chair!) I bought Charlotte that blanket when she was obsessed with iCarly...she hated it from the get go!  

 When you have hungry puppies...the cookies go on the mantle!

 Yummy!!!

 Nate and his gorilla!!  Oh, the gorilla....  Nate started asking for a gorilla like 4 days before Christmas and it was ALL he was asking for.  He even asked Santa for one when santa came to his school.  I went to every store around...no gorillas.  The only thing we could think of was that Brookfield Zoo might have a gorilla...  Luckily, we know an "elf" who lives 10 minutes from the zoo.  He went there Christmas Eve morning in -5 degree weather to get said gorilla.  Then, the elf delivered it to our garage when we were away on Christmas Eve.  It's a Christmas miracle!  

 Char got a bike!  Another Christmas miracle.  Someone bought a bike a month ago for Charlotte..when the elves went to put it together 2 nights before Christmas, we realized it was WAY too small.  Luckily, Toys R Us was open for 48 hours prior to Christmas...because the purchaser (okay..me) had to run to TRU at 11:30 pm to get a new bike.  But...this beauty was already assembled.  Score!  

 Nate decided that if the fat man wasn't going to finish his cookies, he was gonna do it for him!

 Nate got a huge (Costco sized) dragon

 Charlotte got a Lambie from Doc McStuffins

 Nate and his bears set! (Helmet and Jersey)

 Lalaloopsy for Char!

 Char and her special fish.  Nate picked out that fish for her at his school's "Holiday House."  He was so excited that he picked out a special gift for her!  Charlotte also got Nate a gift at her school's "Kris Kringle" it was a little Green Lantern figure.

 Another Mo Willems book to add to our collection.  He's our favorite author!

 Rock 'em Sock 'em robots!  Nate was thrilled!!!!

Nathan's Visit with Santa

Santa came to Nathan's school!  He was a little unsure, but he waited it out...watched his friends go up first and then happily went up and told Santa he wanted a gorilla.  

Scuba Santa

Well, what a week I have had!!!  Being both kids room parent is no big deal...until Christmas when you have to organize, plan and execute two separate parties, teacher gifts, crafts, etc.  Friday was the day it all kind of came to a head.  I had to go to Nate's school in the morning because his class was getting a very special visitor in a bright red suit.  So, I had to be there to take pictures.  His class ended at 10:50 and I had to be at Charlotte's school at 11:15 to start their party festivities.  So, I dropped Nate off at home so Kevin could watch him and left immediately for Char's school.  After her party, we had to run home and get Nate ready for gymnastics at 3:15.  When I got home that afternoon, I was so excited for the week to be over!  I was exhausted. I threw on some comfy clothes and sat down to have dinner and watch a Christmas movie.  

However, all of the sudden, Charlotte looked at me and said, "What time is Scuba Santa?"  I had totally forgotten it was that night.  UGH!!!!  It wasn't until 7:00...and the kids go to bed at 7:30ish.  I tried to convince them it would be more fun to stay at home and cuddle and watch a movie in our warm jammies.  But, they were having none of that.  So, as much as I hated it....I got the kids ready to head to the YMCA for Scuba Santa.  What is Scuba Santa?  It's exactly what it sounds like...there are two Christmas trees in the pool...one in the shallow end and one at the bottom of the deep end.  The kids decorate the trees with ornaments and santa is swimming around the pool in scuba gear!  The kids were so excited.  Their swimming has really improved by leaps and bounds this year.  Their swimming teacher, Ms. Roberta was running it..so they really wanted to do it.  They stayed for an hour decorating the trees.  It was a lot of fun and I am glad that we went.  

The kids with their swimming teacher.  Also, can you see a blob of red under the water?  Guess who that is?  

 Swimming out to the tree

Charlotte putting on an ornament

 Doing some good swimming

 Nate swimming out to the tree

 Decking the Halls

 Waiting in line to go again!  The little girl on the left is in Nate's class.  He was happy to see a classmate there!  

 Trying to keep each other warm while waiting in line

 This poor kid was freezing, but he kept wanting to go again and again!  

 Making a heart out of candy cane ornaments

 Reindeer swimmer!  

 Waiting in line!

To view a video of them swimming..click on the link below to go to YouTube

http://youtu.be/QGi9QiHJec0

Another Random Post Coming Your Way!!!

Remember how I am both kids room parents?  Well, this is the week of hell with Christmas parties..so I  am putting up a quick post with some pics of the kids over the last week or so.

Norman trying to sneak some desserts...what a character!  

 Nate wearing a Rudolph nose he got at school!  We went out to Portillos with one of his classmates for lunch.  He was super excited to be eating lunch with "Little Charlotte."  They were so cute, they had half of the restaurant smiling...we were walking back to our table after getting our food. The two of them were holding hands while singing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and Nate had a red nose.  Lots of Christmas smiles from people!

 Adorable!

 Nathan and Little Charlotte

 Lunch obviously wiped him out!

 Charlotte getting a medal at gymnastics

 Charlotte with her friend from ACS

 Norman in the playroom with two little "elf" snow globes

 He also left them new Christmas jammies...he must have had a 30% Kohls coupon...

 This is what the kids look like when they wake up.  They also are obsessed with sleeping in their long underwear, aka...Cuddl Duds.  

 Helping me make Christmas cookies

 Honestly, they were really helpful!  They did a great job! It was snowing and we were listening to a kids Christmas station on Pandora..it was a great afternoon!  

 Char didn't even want to take time out to change out of her uniform prior to decorating!

 Yum!

 Nathan brought me home a gift from preschool

 A wreath made from his handprints and thumbprints...love it!  

Christmas is Coming!

Norman was pretty geared up for Sunday football!  The Bears won, so perhaps he helped!  

Norman playing a rousing game of ping pong with some Christmas friends

Serve it up, snowman!