Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!

Annual cookie party

Christmas morning

Puppy game

Ella got her blue cookie

Eating her blue cookie

Ella's loot

Allison's loot

Connor's loot

Clyde's last night

Bitty baby pjs.  Soo cute!

Playing together

The Constant Crew with the Alguires

One Happy Boy

Allison get her loom

New baby carrier

These two were super cute.  They walked around the house holding hands!

Allison 

Connor and Rosalee

Another game and new hat

Christmas Performance-Allison sings Over the River and Through the Woods

Our little Elf

Ella and Carli

We did not call each other to color coordinate!

Ella and Santa

Allison and her buddy Tanner

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!  With Craig working from Friday-Monday over Christmas I was prepared for a stressful holiday season, but all in all, it turned out really well.  With the help of my parents,  I managed to get to all the places I needed to be with three kids and a dog!  We began the weekend with our annual cookie decorating at the Ackerman's house.  Luckily my dad watched the dog all day so we didn't have to worry about her.  Then I was off to get my hair done and then drop the kids (Ella and Connor) to my parents to stay the night.  Allison swam with her cousins and then was off to grandma's house for a sleepover.  Craig and I went out with some friends and then went back to see their new house in EGR.  What a nice relaxing night!  Saturday I got up, took the dog for a jog and finished my wrapping.  Then I headed to Spring Lake.  We spent the day at my mom and dad's house and even opened presents with them.  Craig surprised us and joined us for Christmas Eve service at the Methodist church where Allison sang Silent Night.  Then it was back to EGR for the night. The kids got up, read their note from Santa (which Allison read to both Connor and then Ella) and the kids opened presents. I rushed around making food for two parties while the kids played.  Then it was showering and dressing everyone for the first party.  Craig managed to make it to the end of the first and was there for the second party, which was awesome.  The highlight was Connor getting Super Mario Galaxy 2!  I have never seen a child so happy!!!!  Ella loved her blue cookie which she had been asking for since November as well as her new baby and Allison enjoyed her horse stable and crafts.  We stayed the night in GH and then had our final party on Monday with the Jonas side which included lots of running around and a final present of pjs for the kids.  Very cute!  Christmas is my very favorite time of the year, but I am happy to have it over this year.  I am enjoying the time with the kids while they play with all their new toys!

Allison Turns 7!

  On December 15th Allison turned 7.  I'm not quite sure why 7 seems so old to me, but it does.  I couldn't help but get sentimental about this birthday.  It just feels so old.  In 11 years she will be out of the house....our baby, our first born, 7!  I remember her birth like it was yesterday.  It was one of the happiest days of my life.  She was the most adorable, perfect, LOUD little bundle of joy.  Allison is quirky, she's fun, she is kind, caring, thoughtful, a hard worker, a good friend, and a great kid.  

Here are some of the the things Allison is doing at 7!  She is on the swim team and swims 3 days a week. Her favorite stroke is free style.  She takes Yoga on Mondays and piano on Wednesdays.  She loves drawing, crafts, and all things American Girl.  She adores her dog, Miley and all things dog these days.  We are so proud of all that Allison has done and can't wait to see what the New Year brings for her.  

Allison opens her presents from us

A puppy just like Miley

American Girl horses

Allison presents her poster at school

Posing with her teacher, Mrs. Sayre.  Notice the lovely birthday t-shirt

Puppy party crafts

Animal drawing

Great Grandma and Grandpa Constant

Great Grandma and Grandpa Jonas

The birthday girl

She loves reading Frog and Toad to us and likes us to read puppy books to her.  She loves to eat cheese pizza without the cheese, Nutella, Watermelon, mini muffins, yogurt and ICE CREAM!  Cookies and Cream that is.  

Dear Santa.....

The kids worked very hard on their letters to Santa.  This year Macy's had a huge Santa mailbox and postcards for the kids to write to Santa.  So, we sat down one afternoon, wrote our letters to Santa and then went to the mall and mailed them away.  It was pretty fun for the kids to place their letters in the big red mailbox.

Allison writing her letter to Santa

The silly boy

Hot cocoa while you write to Santa

Mailing her letter

Happy boy

Big girl Ella

Clyde Returns

Four years ago we were told about one of our favorite Christmas traditions, The Elf on the Shelf.   We happened to name ours Clyde and he makes the count down to Christmas so much more exciting.  The kids can hardly wait to get out of bed and find out where Clyde has hidden in the house.  Of course, it is always nice to remind the kids of how Clyde is watching them and reports to Santa each night.  Last night we read the book The Elf on the Shelf to remind everyone of what would happen.  Last year Ella was just a baby, but this year she is really excited about it.  The first day of December Clyde comes to the house and is always in the tree and.....he usually leaves a little something for the kids.  This year he left place mats, cups, bowls and plates with Elf on the Shelf on them as well as two books for each kid in their Santa mailbox.  I had three happy kids!  The look on Allison's face when she walked down the stairs and saw the table set with all the Elf stuff was priceless.  A little side note:  Allison said to me this morning, "Oh Clyde came last night.  I better go find him."  My reaction was OH NO!!!!!  Of course I forgot.  I sent her to the bathroom to change before coming down and I had everything set up before she finished!  She is getting so much older that it is hard to pull one over on her, but I managed to do it and it is just so much fun!  I am hoping to get at least another year out of her:)

The kids at the table with their new books and Elf on the Shelf table settings

Allison shows off her new books

Crazy haired Ella shows her Dora books

Connor loves super heroes and Power Rangers

Such cute table settings

Where is Clyde?

I barely had time to get him on the tree.

Clyde left a note for the kids too:)