Christmas

 Looking to see which presents have their names on them.

Flashback to Christmas.  It seems a long time ago already. 

We spent Christmas Eve in Chassell: the kids were pretty excited about the presents, as you can see from their faces.  (Well, Clare's face is excited enough for all three of them.)

Nora in her Christmas dress.... and mittens. 

 Before Christmas we let the kids open their gifts from Aunt Cathy.  They'd arrived in the mail and ever since were tempting the kids as they sat under the Christmas tree.  At least once a day Karl would take his present out and stare longingly at it, wondering what was inside.  So finally, on the Saturday before Christmas, we let the kids open them.  They would be overwhelmed with gifts on Christmas eve and day, so better to let them enjoy a few things beforehand. 

Christmas morning

Reading some of his new books.

The easel Matt made - one side is magnetic and this side is dry erase.  There's paper that pulls down too.

Clare's wearing a comb she got in her cousin exchange.  We decided to do either gently-used gifts that the kids were tired of playing with or something from the Dollar Store.  Next year we'll draw names; this year we didn't.

Nora loves being outside.  She doesn't last very long but if you suggest going outside, she grabs her hat, her jacket, snowpants and mittens and tries to put them on.  She's actually better than Karl at getting herself dressed to go out - probably because Karl usually does not want to go.  This little blue sled has an upright back and all the kids have used it at this age. 

It's fun to see Clare and Karl actually playing together outside. (Trying to build a snow fort with the little snow we had over Christmas break.)

Building her Christmas puzzle with some help from Mom and Dad.