A very Merry Christmas...

We had a wonderful, but busy Christmas day! The kids got up right about 7am and were ready to open their stockings. They got some fun things including slippers, undies & candy.

After stockings we had a quick breakfast of cinnamon rolls (from a tube!). And then we opened gifts. A few highlights:

Henry got a new gears toy

 

Mo got a Star Wars lunch box, Legos and Wipeout Wii

 

Emma got an American Girl & Cat and Just Dance Kids

Bud got Legos, Books and Lego Harry Potter Wii

N8 got a new GPS watch

After presents we got showered and dressed for Church. We all wore our new Christmas outfits!

When we got home from church we assembled Legos, changed doll clothes, packed and packed some more! I loved that Christmas fell on a Sunday and we got to attend church, partake of the sacrament and feel the Spirit. The choir sang beautifully and really brought the Christmas spirit to life.

On a mission....

Fourth graders in the state of California study California Missions. Over the Christmas break Bud was assigned to make a model of the San Juan Capistrano Mission (he will be writing a report and doing an oral report as well). Luckily one of the books we checked out from the library had very useful information on building a model!! We started it yesterday and finished it up today Woohoo!

Bud using an exacto knife and hot glue gun was interesting, but we made it through without any injury!

Measuring:

Cutting:

Assembling:

The mission before roofs and grass:

More gluing:

And cutting:

And it's complete!

Let's hope the report goes this smoothly!

School Christmas Program...

Today was Bud and Emma's school Christmas program. I was excited that N8 was able to come this year. He had taken a few hours off this morning so he could go. Unfortunately when we got up this morning we found that Mo had thrown up in the night (he tried to deny it, I'm not sure why! It was pretty obvious by his bed, I know gross!). So N8 stayed home with Mo and Henry and I went.

The school cafeteria was packed with parents and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to see them perform. But I snuck up to the front and was able to video Emma's class and get some pictures. Her class sang "Do you hear what I hear" and also signed the song. Her teacher drew sticks for the parts and Emma's stick was drawn for the part of Mary. Both she and I were very excited. She did a wonderful job! She knew all of her signs and singing. She also had to move to the front at the end and place the baby Jesus for everyone to see. It was really beautiful.



Bud's class recited the poem "Twas the night before Christmas" different parts of the 2 fourth grade classes recited paragraphs. Bud has been practicing for the last 2 weeks and knew his part very well and did a great job. All of the kids knew their parts and it was easy to understand them as they recited.

Mo's birthday happenings...

On Sunday we had homemade pizza and bread sticks for dinner at Mo's request. Then we opened some birthday presents. This was good practice for Christmas. He's still a little tentative with his unwrapping, but is always super excited by what he finds inside!!

Henry was also super excited. He also loves to smile as soon as he sees the camera nearby!

After opening we played with some of his new things and Paqo decided to join in the fun!

Our little Joseph (aka-Mo!)...

On Wednesday for Mom Preschool the kids reenacted the Nativity. Mo was cast as Joseph. Here he is asking if there is room for he and Mary at the Inn:

Mary was not in the mood for participation so Joseph waited patiently for the wisemen to come with their gifts for the Baby Jesus:

He did an awesome job!

They also each made their own salt dough nativity:

Crazy Cub Scout Day

Saturday was Crazy Cub Scout day!! It began with us dropping Bud off at 9:30am for the annual city Christmas Parade. The whole district is together and the boys walk, ride bike or sit on the float. this year Bud was right up front so we could get a picture of him walking along.

 

 

Mo, Emma and I walked directly from the parade over to McDonalds for a birthday lunch "Birthday Party" for Mo. Our timing was a little off. We estimated the parade finishing earlier and also did not plan on the entire city stopping at McD's after the parade! Mo had a great time and hopefully so did his friends. Everyone got a Happy Meal,we opened some gifts and they played on the playland.

After lunch we came home for a total of about 5 minutes before N8 took Bud and Emma over to the church for the annual Cub Scout push cart races. I forgot to send Bud's bike helmet so I left right after to bring it and left Mo to enjoy the races.

Henry and I did some quick grocery shopping and a breathing treatment then headed back over to the church for a Cub Scout Pack Meeting.

As we drove home N8 and I discussed our lack of planning for Christmas cards. As we pulled in everyone ran in and changed into a solid colored shirt and then we were off to check out some trains parked in the desert. We hoped to make it out quick enough for some light to take some family pictures that we could use for a Christmas card.

 

 

It was a very full, but fun day!!

Happy Birthday Mo...

Today Mo turns the big 4!!!

We love Mo and his fun personality. He is silly, loving, funny, helpful and just a joy to have around!!

This year he has started preschool and loves it. He has lots of friends and love to play. He loves Star Wars, playing the Wii and playing on the computer. He is looking forward to Christmas and going to visit Grandma and Grandpa as well as his cousins in Phoenix.
Here are a few of Mo over the last 4 years!