McDonald Family Pictures

I usually make us all pose for a family picture when we celebrate Christmas together.  It is always fun to look back over the years and see the kids change.  We took family pictures the week before Christmas so I didn't torture everyone on Christmas Day.  

My friend Kristi took these for us and I thought they turned out great! You just never know when you get a group of people together with 5 little ones how they are going to turn out!

I love this one of all of us holding hands! 

I thought we even got some cute ones of Grammy Sue and all the kids!

This was a bit of a chore to get everyone to lay down, heads together and look at the camera.  Well, almost everyone is looking but Shane's look is so his personality.  I love this picture of all the kids!

Zach is 2 and was done with pictures until the sucker came out.  Well once the sucker came out there was no way we were going to get it out of his hands.  So all the kids got suckers and I thought we got some cute sucker pictures as well!

(Photographs by Kristi Shanks)

Christmas Eve At Papa and Grammy's House

On Wednesday we got home from our trip to the cities at the start of what was supposed to be a huge snow storm.  The news was saying if you were not where you wanted to be by Wednesday night you probably wouldn't get there.  We decided to quick unpack and repack and head to Iowa for Christmas.  The kids were very excited to head to their cousins house with the hopes of getting snowed in even though they had no idea of what that kind of snow looked like. I have to say Eric and I were excited too and both commented on what fun memories for the kids getting to get snowed in at their cousins house.  The trip to my brothers was a little tense and the road conditions were less than ideal but we made it and then enjoyed playing cards with my brother and sister-in-law and watching the snow fly.

When we got to my brothers we parked our van safely in my parents extra garage and took my dad's 4 wheel drive Taho for a couple days.  My parents only live a couple miles from my brother's house and Eric's sister is only about 10 miles away.  We were hoping with all the snow we would still be able to make it from place to place for our Christmas celebrations. 

After Alexa was born and when we moved to South Dakota from Arizona we began to start our own family traditions for Christmas.  On Christmas Eve we have started the tradition of going to Christmas Eve service with the kids, having some type of yummy seafood dinner and then opening gifts.  This year since we went on our trip and weren't going to do other gifts I was looking forward to a nice quiet evening of church, dinner and playing games as a family.  Well the storm did stir things up a little and this year would be a little different!  

We waited to hear if Christmas Eve service was going to be canceled because of the storm.  My parents church was one of the only churches in town that had their service.  We piled in the 4 wheel drive vehicle and headed to church.  I was so glad we were able to go to the candle light service.  It was amazing to see God's power on display through the storm and yet sit in his presence at church and savor the sweet gift of the birth of his Son. 

After church we went back to my parents house for dinner.  Growing up we always had soup and carmel rolls on Christmas Eve and then would open gifts together.  It was fun to be at my parent's house and have the traditional Christmas Eve meal we always had growing up.  I think my parents enjoyed having us there too! 

Alexa thought Grammy's carmel rolls were the absolute best! 

Shane thought sitting at the big table was fun.  Usually when we are all there he has to sit at the little kids table.

Emma thought eating on Grammy's Christmas dishes was fun.  She thought is was especially neat that they got to drink out of the Christmas mugs!

It has been seven years since I sat by my parent's table on Christmas Eve! Sitting at my parent's table on Christmas Eve brought back so many great memories of our Christmas' growing up.  I am so thankful for the traditions they started and that they made spending time at Christmas with just my brothers and I a priority.  I am also thankful for the ways that they encourage Eric and I as parents and support us in starting our own family traditions.  They could ask us to come every Christmas Eve but they don't.  I know they would love to have us there but they also see the importance of starting our own family traditions.  They have supported us in starting our own traditions with our kids.  I hope someday my kids have special memories as I do of our family time on Christmas Eve.  I also hope I can learn from my parents and let go of our traditions as my kids and their families start their own. 

Every Little Girls Dream

On Monday we headed to the Twin Cities as our Christmas gift to the kids.  We decided it would be fun to get away, stay in a hotel and make some memories as a family instead of getting them a couple gifts.   We did have one special gift in mind they were each going to get.  Alexa and Emma's stop was The American Girl Doll Store.  

I have to say this has to be every little girls dream store.  It was so much fun to watch the girl's eyes and faces as they took it all in.  Two stories of doll and girly bliss! 

The girls were in awe as they walked around and looked at all the dolls, clothes and accessories. Alexa went to the Look Alike Dolls and knew within a minute who her Lex was going to be.  She had brown hair, brown eyes and had bangs.  She looked into her eyes and then took off the lid of the box and said, "Yes, she looks just like me!"

We then traveled downstairs to the Historical Dolls.  Emma saw Kit right away and said, "Mom, she even has freckles like me and her hair is exactly like mine!"  We walked a little further and found the blond Bitty Baby Twins and Emma had a decision to make. Did she want the blond twins or Kit who looked just like her.  She laid them next to each other and we discussed the pros and cons.  She went with Kit! We headed back up the escalator with Kit in hand! 

Emma also loved trying all the little girls accessories and clothes that matched the doll's outfits! 

Next we hit the doll salon! Emma really wanted to get Kits ears pierced but we'll save that for another trip someday! 

We had a reservation for dessert at the bistro with the dolls.  The girls got little chairs for their dolls to sit next to them.  Their dolls were given a menu as well.  The waitress brought out a tea cup with lemonade for each of the dolls. Alexa went with the BIG brownie sundae! 

Emma went with the Root Beer Float.  And her doll got a little bowl of whip cream with sprinkles! 

Shane and Eric joined us for dessert and they gave Shane a doll to borrow as well.  Shane thought it was so cool.  He told us he was putting an American Girl Doll boy doll on his Christmas list.  Shane enjoyed a Chocolate Shake with a cherry on top and also enjoyed sharing the treats that were brought out for his doll.

The girls had a fun afternoon and decided that this was their best present ever!

An Hour of Fun At Lego Land

Shane has been into his legos so we thought he would have fun picking out something fun at Lego Land for his gift.  Him and Eric were on the web checking it out before we went.  He wanted to look for a train.  

We had to stop back at Lego Land to snap some pictures to capture Shane's special treat for the weekend since I had the camera with me at the American Girl Doll store.

Shane thought all the Lego creations were pretty cool! 

Shane is the entry way at Lego Land striking a pose! 

Wow! Look at all of these Legos! One of my friends mentioned that this is organization at its finest! Hmmm how are we going to organize all of these legos?

Shane had fun showing his sisters all the legos.  There was also an area outside that you could build and play! 

Shane picked out this train.  Eric just happened to find this train laying around the store only to find out it is one of the hottest items in the store and they can't keep it on the shelf! Way to go daddy!  You made Shane's day!

A Little Fun At The Mall Of America

We had a fun little surprise at the Mall of America and got some free wrist bands for unlimited rides at the amusement park.  We weren't going to do rides on this trip so this was a fun treat for the kids.  

They started out on the slow moving, calm carousel.  

They then moved into the ride that would bring you up and drop you down.  Notice Shane's expression when he started and then when the ride started going.  They all had looks like this but assured us when they were done that they loved it! I think that is a look of fear rather than love!

They were then off to the little roller coaster! 

We all went on this big roller coaster! It was a first for our family.  Everyone was old enough, tall enough and brave enough to venture on the big person roller coaster!

 

Eric and the kids had ventured on another first.  Well a first for the kids but not for Eric!  They went on the big Dora Ferris Wheel! 

No tears .... just a lot of smiles! 

The kids giggled their way through the Swiper ride! 

The last ride the girls and Shane and I went on!  This ride went up and up and up.  Then around and around and around!  The girls loved it and went on it back to back! 

Shane on the other hand said "Mom, I fink I am going to frow up" in the middle of the ride! I quickly thought hmmm what can I do to prepare myself.  I was ready to take my sweater off as we started slowing down and dropping down.  We made it to the end of the ride but Shane was done with rides for the night!  

Dad and Mom finished with a stop at Starbucks before heading back to the hotel.  I love this picture of Eric and his two girls! 

Our Christmas Get Away

We stayed at the Water Park Hotel and had tons of fun swimming and on the slides!    

Wouldn't you know it! The first person we ran into at the Water Park was Santa! The kids couldn't believe that Santa actually was at the Water Park! He asked Shane what he wanted for Christmas and Shane said, "I already told you!"  So Santa asked him if he changed his mind! Nice come back Santa!

Alexa was in her glory because she was tall enough to go down the slides by herself.  She went on the tube slide over and over again.  She also was a brave girl and went on the body slide! She loved all of them.  She is a little fish with no fear!

The kids coming down one of the smaller slides!

You never knew how Shane and Emma would come down those slides.  Here is Emma spinning around! 

And Shane making his feet first appearance on his tummy!

Here are Eric and Emma coming down the double tube slide.  We all loved this one but loved the big family tube ride too.  It was nice to all be able to go in the same tube together.  We also enjoyed the lazy river and warming up in the hot tub.

The hotel was a hit with the kids and mom and dad.  To our surprise there

 was a separate room with 2 sets of bunk beds. Shane thought it was so fun that he got to 

sleep on the top bunk as well.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another

John 1:16

On Friday I spent the afternoon helping at the girl's school with their Christmas parties.  I started out in Alexa's classroom.  

They had fun making "Happy Birthday Jesus" cupcakes.  They used the items below to explain the Christmas story using a cupcake!  

Happy Birthday Jesus Cup-Cake Instruction:

Round cup-cake represents Gods everlasting love no beginning or end.  

The chocolate cake represents sin and the white frosting that represents Jesus’ purity covers the sin.

White colored sparkles to represent Jesus’ goodness and beauty.  

Green sprinkles represent everlasting life.

The gold star represents star of Bethlehem

The angel represents the angel Gabriel who talked to Mary/Joseph and the Shepherds about the child who was to be born and who was to be Jesus) 

Put a candle in the middle.  When the candles are lit they represent the light Jesus brings us through the whole year through

They also designed their own ornament and then wrote about why they drew what they drew.  Alexa drew an artist because she loves art and wants to be an artist someday!

They had green bags of goo and they used q-tips to write in the goo.  They had to come up with as many words as they could in the word Christmas.  The winning group came up with 26.  How many can you come up with?

We finished the party off with a unwrapping the present relay.  I was in charge of the game so Eric had the joy of helping me wrap 24 boxes.  3 sets of 8 that fit in each other.  Alexa and I made little clips for their backpacks with their name in beads and a heart on it.  We talked about how we all love opening gifts but that we want to remember that Jesus and the gift of Jesus is the most important.  We also talked about the only thing Jesus wants for Christmas is our heart.  The key chains are a reminder that Jesus wants our hearts.  

It got a little crazy but the kids had a blast with the relay and hopefully they took something meaningful away from it as well.

Alexa's teacher game them 3 special gifts.  One was some candy because they are sweet.  The second was a glitter pen to encourage their creativity.  The third was a musical note ornament to remind them of all the praise and worship time and music they did in 1st grade.  Alexa's teacher loves music and Alexa loves that they spend so much time singing and praising God.  What a great way to start each school day!  I know Alexa will always remember Mrs. Odens and all the singing they do in the classroom!

I got to sneak in at the end of Emma's party.  I missed the cupcake decorating and cupcake eating station.

They had fun decorating Christmas bags for the crafts they made!

They also made frames for a picture of Emma and her teachers. Emma loves her teacher so I know she will treasure this picture in the years to come.

Very proud of her finished product.

Emma was very excited to open her gift from her teachers.  She got her very own little tree.  This will be a fun reminder of her Kindergarten year each Christmas season when we take it out!

The girl's Christmas break started on Friday.  Shane is supposed to go to preschool on Monday since his preschool follows the public school schedule.  I am not going to be able to capture any pictures of Shane's Christmas party this year because we decided to take off for a family Christmas get away as the kids Christmas present this year.  I can't wait to post pictures of our Christmas fun over the next couple days.  I think Shane will get over missing his Christmas party at preschool and enjoy our Christmas family fun!