Phoebe was invited to dinner and to see the Lights at the Sedgwick County Zoo with our friends. They had a great night together eating, drinking hot chocolate, and looking at the bright, creative animal lights at the zoo.
Sarah was invited to attend the Lindsey Stirling concert/show with her good friend, Ava, for Ava's birthday. Sarah enjoyed the evening and was very impressed with Lindsey Stirling and the whole performance. Lindsey Stirling is an American violinist, songwriter, and dancer. She presents choreographed violin performances on her YOUTUBE channel and live on stage performances across the country.
Sarah made the high school basketball team. YAY! Great job, Sarah! Games began in December. In December she played for our freshman and JV teams.
Below, it is Phoebe's last year to play basketball coached by Daddy. Next year she will try out and play middle school basketball. Below her team for this season.
Silas's basketball team, coached by Daddy as well, consisted of all 3rd grade boys and one 4th grade boy this season. Silas's team is pictured below.
Sarah and Phoebe attended our youth group Christmas get-together. They had a food scavenger hunt, played games, built gingerbread houses, and exchanged gifts.
Our cat, Lucy, really liked laying under our Christmas trees this season.
Sarah was exhausted one weekend afternoon.... I found her taking a nap with the cat curled up beside her napping too.
Phoebe, Shawna, and Haylee sang in their choir's Christmas concert.
After the concert the girls spent a little time talking with some middle school teachers and petting the therapy dog, Groot.
Below, are some of our 2021 Christmas ornaments. I get a yearly Breyer Horse Stirrup ornament. Phoebe picked a Jim Shore Grinch ornament while we were at Silver Dollar City. Silas picked at Christmas lights fish from Dick's Five and Dime store in Branson, and I ordered a Smore's volleyball ornament for Sarah.
Below, is a special ornament that we had made. The snowman drawing was done by Phoebe in her art class at school.
Eric received this funny shirt from Lindsee, EP, and Will. It has one of his favorite lines from the Christmas "ELF" movie on it, "Bye Buddy I hope you find your Dad."
We got a good laugh trying to get our dog, Jessee, to keep this Christmas elf hat on her head.
Phoebe and her friend's, Haylee and Raina, did a gift exchange one day after school.
Silas made some great Christmas projects in his classroom in the days leading up to Christmas break.
The day before break, his class played some fun games together.
One Friday evening before Christmas, we went out to eat at Chick-Fil-A then went to look at some Christmas lights together.
Below is the most lighted house I have ever seen in person! It was crazy!
We parked, got out and walked and looked at it closer.....
This house even had photo ops and a guest book for people to sign and take pictures set up set up around their house and in the driveway.
Below is the lighted house's neighbor's house. Hilarious!
We also found some fun lights in town to look at.
Below, Silas made the elf, snowman and owl drawing.
Below, are some of Phoebe's art projects that she made the first semester of school. She really enjoyed her art class and can't wait to be in it again in 7th grade.
Below is a Christmas drawing that Sarah made.
Eric's cousin, Venus, sent us a box of cookies for the kids to decorate. It was fun and delicious. Thank you Venus!
Popee and Sarah both love the movie, "A Christmas Story". I found them some matching pajamas that they both wore A LOT in December and for our movie night together when we all watched "A Christmas Story" together.
We celebrated Mom's 73rd birthday in December.
Happy birthday to my Mom! She has always been the best mom to Matt, Lindsee, and I. She has put us in front of herself over and over. She has loved and supported unconditionally. She has always listened and helped solve our problems and given out hugs and pats on the backs when we all needed them, and her the most. She is always in her kids and grandkids corner. I love my mom so much! She is simply amazing. Amazingly loving. An amazing teacher and friend. An amazing woman. We have been blessed with the best Mom and Nanee!
A friend that I work with made this cool Christmas cup for Phoebe. She is a huge Grinch fan and LOVED IT!
On Christmas Eve we attended our church's candlelight church service.
After church we let the kids open their gifts from Uncle Matt.
Golden State Warriors and 49ers gear... Thanks Uncle Matt!
Silas left out a few OREOs for Santa with this cute and funny note...
His note says, "there is milk in the refrigerator! have a merry christmas! PS if your real leave me a blue banana. from Silas"
Below on Christmas morning, before we started opening our gifts....
We also had a few gifts from Grandma Sharon, Uncle EP, Aunt Lindsee, and Will to open that morning.
THEN for our BIG final gift.... Eric got a new chainsaw from me, and he told the kids he wanted to try it out. They were to get dressed and come outside to help pick up branches and logs that he was going to cut up... But, we had a our BIG gift hidden outside just waiting to show it to them.... Silas was the first to see, and he could hardly believe his eyes! Phoebe saw next and then Silas directed Sarah to LOOK! Eric's trick to come help him chainsaw had worked. He had made them mad and told them he was putting them to work, and then SURPRISE! MERRY CHRISTMAS! A brand new two-seater GO-KART! We all took turns for hours riding and driving that afternoon.
Welp, the first Go-Kart accident occurred a few days after Christmas when one child was driving too fast and turned to sharp, flipping the Go-Kart. A little trip to the ER for the driver to make sure nothing was broken in her leg/knee and we were on our way back home with someone's driving priveledges suspended for awhile.
A couple days after Christmas we enjoyed some time for Christmas with Dad and Mom.
We exchanged a few gifts.
Phoebe received a gift a few days after Christmas in the mail from Uncle EP, Aunt Lindsee, and Will...a cute sloth tshirt! She loves it!
Sarah invited two of her friends over to exchange gifts and hang out for an afternoon. Eric helped her make some Christmas treats to eat with her friends.
Sarah and her friends enjoyed snacks, gifts, and time together.
