2014 Christmas Recap

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! 

I don't think it's too late to wish you good tidings. I'm squeezing it in under the "I haven't put away my Christmas decor yet" deadline, although the tree is already out because you know, fire hazard and all.

Here's how we celebrated in 2014.

I commissioned Audrey to do the chalk art. Didn't she do a lovely job? Take note: washi paper tape is not strong enough to hold a strand of seven vintage ornaments. The three big bells did not survive the fall. 

We spent the day before Christmas playing games and decorating cookies and generally having a good time. All that was missing was opening gifts. My Sour Cream Cookies are a must at Christmas. It pretty much goes like this: no sour cream cookies, no Christmas. The same is true for Valentine's Day so grab the recipe now.

For the past two years my side of the family has celebrated at Adventureland Inn. We all get rooms (gifted to us by my mom), bring in our supper and hang out for an evening. This picture wasn't even posed! They were all climbing on each other's back so I told them to look at me and it only took two shots to get it. I know! It's a Cousin Christmas Miracle!!

 We headed to Texas to celebrate with Bill's family. We spent the days talking, putting together puzzles, playing games, playing non-stop air hockey and foosball (Ben, all day long), going on walks (and runs), worshipping, visiting the Gainesville Zoo, and stopping at a motorcycle store. They were thrilled to see a pile of people come through the door but unfortunately, we left them sorely disappointed as we didn't purchase a thing. 

The day we visited the zoo was the only day I pulled out my big camera and as it turns out was the day my niece came down with a fever so she and my sister-in-law are missing. However, I mentioned that Tayla might like a Capybara and now I need to see if Amazon sells them. 

Part of the zoo has an elevated walkway to watch the animals from above. It was fun to see zebras, camels, kangaroos and more all in a large space.

This reminds me that I should direct you to Denise's blog The Animal Bridge. She and Roy traveled to the Dominican Republic and Haiti for week and a half. I think you might enjoy reading their stories but beware, However, I must warn you, Denise is a vet. Vets are very used to looking at animal wounds and such and marvel at them. They also take pictures of them and naturally think the rest of the world is enamored by such things. It's not really that bad but I feel it my duty to warn you there are some slightly grody pictures. 

We are thankful for our families and God bringing us together for another year of celebrating Him. 

Lucy loves everyone. And this beanbag. 

Counting Cousins

Remember a way back this past summer when we had the Epic Cousins Day and I left you dangling with this picture that I swore I would tell you all about at some later date? 

Today's that later date- WooHoo!

I took the idea straight from Martha again. (Martha has been my inspiration long before Pinterest and the internet came full throttle.) I picked up a bunch of t-shirts and a couple packages of printable iron-on transfers from Hobby Lobby. Washed and iron the t-shirts before doing the next step. Print out whatever you want on the appropriate side of the transfer. If you accidentally print on the wrong side, it ok. Just flip the transfer over and print again. Obvs, I wanted numbers. Cut out the transfer, trimming around the design and iron on to the shirt. I think you need to cover it first with an old towel or something. Done. These couldn't be easier!!

So what's with the numbered shirts? Scroll on down...

We needed to practice our counting, of course!

Nah. We lined the cousins up in birth order against the fabulous, oh so easy garland for some memory capturing.

It was met with great enthusiasm.

And total cooperation.

And everyone participating.

And they all smiled and looked at the camera the whole time.

Thank God for digital cameras!

In the end, we got a couple of good enough shots and called it a wrap. 

I couldn't tell you about it earlier because I took these pics and the others and made a book for everyone for Christmas.

AND... my mom is getting a big canvas of this one for her birthday!!

Watching Cousins

We watched my sister's kids a couple weekends ago. They were going to Minneapolis for the Vikings/Niner's game. We had just gotten back an hour before they arrived from Minneapolis (of which I still haven't blogged- kids are cuter). 

We had a pile o' furniture from IKEA and Bill was determined it was going up that night. So with ample help, commentary, and a few foremen on the job, it all got done that night. (It was a late night.)

Bill had this much help!

He obviously has put together IKEA furniture before.

"Me and Uncle Bill will have this bed together in a flash. Good thing, too, 'cause it's waaay past my bedtime (but don't tell Mom)."

The next day it was time to watch some dirt bikes and do some other stuff.

"Uncle Bill is pretty much awesome. He has tools and can teach me how to ride a dirt bike. I love him."

Valor is taken with dogs. He would stand at the window, climbing his little legs up the wall to pull himself to see out and see Lucy. Or we'd be eating and he would hear her bark and then say "uh", which is "woof" in 13 month old speak.

 "The best place for me to see you, Lucy, is in Uncle Bill's arms since I do love you but not your enthusiastic kisses."

 "Uh!"

 "If only I knew how to pull down and lean forward at the same time."

 Smore's are our go-to dessert

"mMmfgh" which is yummy in 6 year old, mouth full of smore's speak

"Is it done yet?"

No, we're not done yet... Uncle Bill had one last thing for Valor to do- learn to walk. He, meaning Uncle Bill, was determined to get his nephew walking. So in one good training session, Bill, Ben, Valor and later a cheering section got to see it happen.

Now we're done!

Epic Cousins Day

This was a cousins day party to end summer, start school and most importantly say good-bye to Cora, Obi, Gavin and Athan. They are moving to California for 6-8 months as Philip's job has him working a big project out there. 

I almost always start with some ideas and a color scheme. Hobby Lobby is practically a one stop shop- I came away with everything needed for the party except for the candy and other food items. 

Getting ready to blow up balloons. I found this little hand pump at HL for $3 and it was well worth it. Then, instead of cruising the web alone while balloon filling, my friend Jenn stopped by and helped me! WooHoo!

At HL, I found inkjet iron on transfer paper, so after the kids went to bed, I started this little project.

I had seen an oh-so-awesome and easy garland and very badly wanted to make it. Jenn asked me if I would have time. I said sure, why not? I mean, I had only been up since 4:30 (for some crazy work-out session) and I didn't yet have the materials to make it. But what's that to stop me? Audrey had to be taken to church for youth group and so I just happened to stop at HL again that night. The next morning I scrambled a text to Jenn and Angie and asked if they had a cutting mat, straight edge and rotary cutter and could they please, please, please come help me? Angie could! So before I knew it, the strips were cut and we were on our way to tying it all together. Then the first batch of cousins came and I  put Cora on the job to finish it.

I put Gavin in charge of labeling all the cups. He put a smiley face on each one, too! (Athan got the job of filling the veggie tray but no picture as I was helping to keep the veggies from hitting the floor.)

Ben and Obi handled the water balloons. Ben and I had started with 70 filled the night before and I was hoping for a lot more, but for some reason the balloon didn't last over night. Not sure why? Do they start disintegrating immediately?

After a few other party set-ups, including the garland and the canopy we were ready for some watermelon. It was only going to be 100 degrees that day!

I left this picture in not to show I can still do the crab walk :) but the fabulous garland hanging on the fence!

The game of the day was an obstacle course. Raise your hand if you love obstacle courses!! Here Obi and Ben are obviously talking strategy. 

Under the balloon table and please try not to pop as many balloons as possible, BEN!

Obi never recovered from the army crawl under the balloon table and, I guess, decided to take the tires the same way.

Who remembers these from P.E.? Yep.
Also to be noted is that Ben ran alongside Obi and yelled "C'mon, push it, push it!" adding to the hilarity.

These boys take their obstacle course running seriously!! The very first event is to lay down a paper sack, step on it, pick up another one and place it down, step on it, etc. Any kind of footwear is appropriate- socks, shoes, barefeet.

Athan loves the balloon table. We all love the balloon table! 

Good thing we've kept all these motorcycle tires! 

Here's Gavin on the balance beam. It's made from a 1x4 and two wood stumps. The wood stumps make it nice and wobbly.

Right after the paper bag walk was the balloon slalom. Bat a balloon with a pink plastic light saber (leftover from a past cousin's Christmas gift) around three plastic cones. Turns out 100 degrees hot can also be windy and Ariana had to get another balloon as her's blew away.

Oops, missed one. I guess not all of us are ready for the NFL combine.

What is it about wee little sizes that makes them so adorable? Chiara making a giant leap to the next bag!

We modified the plastic cup walking to bunny hops for the smaller ones. 

The balloon table is fun for even the biggest kid.

But here the biggest kid doesn't want her picture taken any more. So let's notice the garland on the fence, instead.

Expert softball/soccer player and the wind gets the best of her.

So here was the order of our obstacle course: paper bag walk, balloon slalom, balloon table, tires, balance board, plastic cup walk, crab-walk.
Then we busted out water balloons!

Valor found his own balloons to play with.

He's outta here!

Time to feed the bunch: slider burgers, veggies, chips, watermelon and ice cream sandwiches.

Time for a little guy to open a birthday present. He's been one but we finally had a chance to see him.

All that's left...

Yikes!

This was a million times fun! I found the idea for an obstacle course from an old Martha Stewart Kids magazine and took a few ideas from other online sources via Pinterest, too. If my friends, Jenn and Angie hadn't come over, I would have been sunk, so thanks a lot you two!

Oh, in case you're wondering what those iron-on numbers had to do with anything, well, I can't tell you yet. Sorry. :)

WE LOVE COUSINS DAY!!!