Hard to believe this ambulance baby has been making us smile and laugh for 7 years! She brings such joy to our house. I love her creativity, her confidence, and her love for others.
We enjoyed celebrating twice with her – once the weekend before her birthday (with family and friends) and on her actual birthday.
No school for these kids because of cold temps means they get to see their cousin and aunt today!
The Bartz brothers did it again! This year’s snow sculpture is an enormous whale. I took the Shecklets to see him on their day off today.
Afterwards, there was a request to stop at the Blue Sun Soda Shop, so I happily obliged. The $0.25 pinball machines were of particular interest. We may have to go back just to play a few more games sometime.
My cousin and three of his boys stayed with us last night on their way to Green Bay for the Packers/Seahawks football game today. The fact that our kids haven’t seen each other in years didn’t phase them – they had fun playing video games and having nerf battles. Hope we can connect with them again, soon.
We’re in the middle of a weather rollercoaster. Warmish (for January) yesterday, single digits today, and potentially close to 40 tomorrow. Shecklet #4 had fun with fleece blankets and the dry air tonight, filling her hair with static electricity.
This kid. This independent, carefree, confident, and loving kid.
She is currently playing in the snow by herself (because her siblings didn’t want to go outside) and she is having no problem entertaining herself. Maybe it’s personality or maybe it’s the practice she had during the two years when her other three siblings were off at school. I don’t know what it is, but she’s great at it.
I love to just sit and watch her play, to listen to the stories she tells as she “teaches” or plays with her dolls. Her imagination is beautiful. I’m so thankful that I am her mom.
We started the day by attending Christmas Day mass. One of our friends was able to capture a great photo of us (she’s our go-to Easter picture taker, too.)
After we returned home (and changed into comfy clothes) we opened gifts. The kids each opened their “read” gift first, then their “need” gift.
Followed by their “want” gift.
There were a few extra special gifts from Great Aunt Deb & Uncle Steve as well as Shecklet #1’s tutor, and Shecklet #2 & #4’s godparents. Then the kids opened their “shared” gifts – things to do together or share with each other.
Lego set building lasted throughout the day.
Shecklet #4 worked on one of her craft projects from Grandma & Grandpa.
Christmas “dinner” wasn’t anything fancy. We decided to keep it simple and just to heavy appetizers. The kids didn’t seem to mind. After dinner, we opened the Shecklets’ new game, Dixit, and played and laughed together. We ended the evening by finishing the newer animated version of the Grinch. It was a perfectly peaceful Christmas Day!
That’s not a typo in the title.
The Shecklets made ninja bread cookies (with a gingerbread mix) and decorated them for Grandma Lois’ Christmas today. They also cut out dog bones and dinosaurs because they totally make you think of Christmas, right? 😂🎄🦕
Each Shecklet gets an ornament, chocolate coins, mini jars of Nutella (because they are so cute!) and cereal and orange gum to share. I know oranges are what St. Nick actually is known for, but my kids are hit or miss with them. So I stuck with what I know they’ll all enjoy.
