Dear Santa...

Yesterday the kids took the note out of the Advent Calendar and it read "Write letters to Santa".  So, after I picked up Allison from school and Ella was down for her nap, we wrote our letters to Santa.

Allison's letter to Santa:

I want to tell you what I want for Christmas.  I want a Barbie and anything American Girl.  Love, Allison

Allison's letter to Santa

Finished with her lettter

Connor working on his stocking

Connor's letter to Santa

Connor and Ella told me what to write for Ella

Allison made a present for Santa, which Clyde took to him last night

Fun Stockings that the kids made with Foam stickers

Last year Ella lost her beloved pink swanky blanky.  I replaced it with a smaller version b/c she loved it so much.  Today a package arrived in the mail for Ella. A new blanket!!!!  She was so excited to have her blanket.  She carried it around all day and is thrilled.  What a fun surprise.

Busy Weekend

Photo by: HollyAnnStudios

This is one of the many shots from a photo shoot that we had a few weeks ago.  We got some great shots of the kids and managed to get two decent shots of our family too.  The others we are holding out until the Christmas cards go out:)  

 It was another busy weekend at the Alguire household.  Allison participated in her second swim meet on Saturday.  Craig had to time, so I packed up the other two kids and headed to the EGR pool.  Luckily my parents met us at the pool and helped with the kiddos.  Allison swam in three events and got a ribbon, so she was thrilled.  

Friday afternoon Allison and Connor played in the snow

Our first snowman of the winter.  It was tough to gather enough snow to even make this one....it was starting to melt and the snow was not good for packing.

Silly kids

Another look

Allison is in the lane closest to us.  She was the youngest swimmer in the meet

Go Allison!

Back stroke

GG keeping Ella busy

After the swim meet  we dropped off Allison at a birthday party, stopped at home

 for food and then we were off to Craig's cousin, Holly's baby shower.  Craig then picked

up Allison from her party and dropped her off at the shower.

Holly and Kristina

Ella, hanging out at the party

Kristina and Ella

Anna Marie and Ella

Allison before her swim meet

Clyde Returns

After a long hiatus in the North Pole with Santa, our elf, Clyde has returned!  The kids were really happy that he was able to find out new house and could hardly wait to tell him all about what they wanted for Christmas and how good they have been.  Connor could hardly contain himself when he walked downstairs yesterday and Clyde was sitting in the tree.  Even more exciting was the train that he left for the kids only to play with after Thanksgiving through Christmas.  Today the kids dressed quickly and ran down the stairs to find Clyde on the shelf in the family room.  Too exciting!  We also started our advent calendar.  The kids look each day and find either a note, a treat, or a toy.  Today was a treat and tomorrow a note about something we will do Christmas related.  Tomorrow's note reads: Go to the library and pick out Christmas books.  In addition to the thrill of having Clyde back in the house and the advent calendar, the kids got their presents from my brother, sister in-law and kids who live in Texas.  We usually get gifts from them when my parents return from their visit there in late November and we let the kids open them early.  They seem to really enjoy getting an early Christmas present and they get a ton of stuff on Christmas day, so this is a nice way to space things out and truly appreciate the gifts that they are given.  We are having a lot of fun this year with the kids.  Some of the things we plan to do this Christmas season are:

1. Bake and decorate Christmas cookies

2. Go see Santa and get a picture with him (check)

3. Put of tree and decorate (check)

4. Make a gingerbread house

5. Wrap gifts together for our adopted family

6. Go to the library and get Christmas books

7. Drive around and see Christmas lights

8. Go to the Breton Mall and see the trains (check...already gone 4 times!)

9. Watch the Polar Express (I already bought each of the kids a silver bell to be placed outside their door on Christmas morning from Santa himself:)

Allison is thrilled with her new tap outfit for her American Girl from Uncle Chad, Aunt Kimberly and her cousins.

Ella loves the new train from Clyde our Elf

Connor shows off his new puzzle, Mac and lots of new Disney Cars from 

Uncle Chad and Aunt Kimberly

Clyde always starts off December by finding the Christmas tree

The new outfit is on

Connor LOVES his new cars

The kids make a pillow walk way

Having fun

Ella enjoying herself

Day 2: the family room shelf

Our advent calendar from last year with notes, treats, and little toys

The train brought to the kids by Clyde

Last night we read this book to kick off the Christmas Season

One more look at the new train

10. Make Christmas cards for the cousins presents

Thanksgiving Weekend

    We definitely have a lot to be thankful for this year.  We are so thankful to be closer to family, to have a new "old" home in EGR, for Craig to have a great job, for our health and happiness, and for Allison to be loving Kindergarten.   Although Craig was on call on Thanksgiving, he was done in the early afternoon and was able to travel to Grand Haven to Brad and Katie's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  He did have a few pages, but luckily non of them were urgent and we were able to stay the entire time.  On Friday morning I hit the sales and 4:00 am and got back by 7:30 for Craig to get to work.  We managed to make it to the tree lighting ceremony in EGR, but it was really cold so we didn't last long.  The kids were excited to see the reindeer and santa.   Needless to say, Friday night was an early one for me.  Saturday, Craig and I took turns working out and we met Brad, Katie, the girls, and Craig's parents at the GR Public Museum to see "Bodies Revealed".  It was amazing, but not a place for kids.  Craig and I spent most of our time keeping the kids away from the bodies, so we would like to return on our own one night.  Sunday was spent swimming with the kids, working out, running a few errands and cleaning up the lawn.  The winter holidays are my favorite time of year.  I just love all decorations, family traditions and fun that is involved with Thanksgiving and Christmas.  With Allison's birthday in just over two weeks, the next month is going to zoom by.  

Allison and Ella playing dress up on Thanksgiving day

Goof balls

Allison and Connor at the Thomas the Train exhibit

Connor was "IN LOVE" and didn't want to leave

My three little elves

I had to put this picture in....notice Connor's face.  It is VERY difficult to replicate

Connor with daddy

Big buds these days

The girls trying to stay warm

Checking out the reindeer

Allison enjoyed petting the reindeer

Genevieve and Connor at the Grand Rapids Public Museum