Maelie was in Chorus this year. Her concert:
Sterling's tree hat he made at preschool. Feliz Natal!
There were a lot of Holiday parties. We went to some and opted out of others. We went to the dental clinic's Christmas party. There was a lot of great food! It was at the blue hotel (that's what the American's call it.) There is a blue hotel and a pink hotel close together in Angra.
Making gingerbread houses! They lasted literally one day. Within 24 hours most had softened so much from the humid air that they collapsed.
So proud of his licorice masterpiece.
We went to the Library on base to meet Santa. He read a story to us. He's probably the funniest Santa I have ever met!
Garrett didn't get a picture because he had hurt his leg really bad he couldn't walk. We went home immediately.
cookie baking!
We're all wearing aprons.
We only made 2 kinds this year. There was so much going on and so little time. We don't like being that busy around Christmas time.
Rainbows...
Christmas Eve dinner. We wanted it to be healthier this year. We had ham, whole wheat rolls, deviled eggs, caesar salad and LOTS of fruit.
Desserts: Jello with bananas, pumpkin pie, silk pie and cake balls.
Colson fell fast asleep on Christmas Eve, right before dinner.
Nativity time:
Deacon was asleep so we used a baby doll as Jesus instead.
Colson was a shepherd
Sterling was a wise man.
I was the narrator and piano player
Denver was the angel.
Christmas Eve pajamas
The presents under the tree. This year and last we started a new tradition. Each kid gets one Santa gift and then 3 from Dad and Mom (because Jesus got 3 gifts) and then a secret Santa gift from someone in the family. I LOVE doing Christmas this way because we give the kids more meaningful gifts and they're not overwhelmed with too many presents.
Maelie's pile from Santa (stocking stuffers and ipod nano)
Colson's pile from Santa (stocking stuffers and super heros)
Garrett's gift from Santa (stocking stuffers and a rip ryder)
Sterling's gift from Santa (stocking stuffers and a remote control car)
Deacon's gift from Santa (a little singing toy)
Crazy after-Christmas-morning mess!
Maelie and I made cakes with my new cake decorating stuff:
These pics got out of order, but oh well, here is the room Christmas Eve night after the kids went to bed and Santa came.
We went to the beach on a nice, sunny warm day (I think it was the week after Christmas)
Driving home we had to wait for some cows to cross the road. I will never tire of that.
The Mary statue with the sun in the background.
