Christmas Morning

 Christmas came early for these traveling kiddos. We had a slow morning opening and playing with new gifts, cinnamon rolls for breakfast and fun day watching some favorite Christmas movies. The kids were gifted with a few extra gifts this year as we aren't going to be taking our typical Christmas experience trip.  I'm so thankful for this sweet little fam of mine! 

 

 

 

Coco's stocking favorites included color changing nail polish, glitter markers and flip flops.

Cruz's stocking favorites included a watermelon chapstick, new batting gloves and bat weight.

Row loved the bat weight and teeny tiny rubik's cube which he immediately took a few minutes to solve.

Books!!! 

This year, instead of buying for both of their siblings, the kiddos wanted to do a Secret Santa exchange. With only the three of them, it wasn't too hard to figure out who had who but they still had a great time! Cruz spent SO much time in Claire's contemplating what to get Cora. Cruz loves to give the perfect gift and its just so sweet to watch. 

Gift giving is NOT Rowan's love language but he had an easy time choosing these drawing books for Cruz.

Cora got a taste of how hard Rowan is to shop for, ha! We let her in on the secret that he would be receiving Daddy's old refurbished air pods so she got him a case for those! 

AirPods!

His long awaited for Playstation!

 

Fancy sneakers!

Her #1 gift was the Luciana American Girl doll! She loves the purple streak in her hair.

Another gift that we incorporated into their Christmas was a "video game setup" for the boys. See below for more pictures of the process but Roger built them a fun little area, with their own TV and video game console so that they can play together and with their friends. We do limit their time and video games are most definitely not my favorite but I do love hearing them FaceTiming with their friends while they all play together. It's definitely a very social thing for the boys so we all work hard at keeping a balance. Their beanbags are on backorder so they're looking forward to those to complete the set up! 

Wonderful December!

 We just finished up with our last day of school before Christmas break. I can hardly believe we managed to safely stay IN PERSON for an entire semester. This has been such a blessing for our whole family. 

Art:

Both boys finished up their first semester elective which was art. I loved that they got to bring home a few items as I don't get as many "papers" home from them in these middle school days. 

Santa: 

Even though its 2020, I couldn't let us skip this yearly tradition! Masks and a cheesy heart from Santa made this picture even more memorable! 

Elementary Christmas Program: 

Coco Bean is our last elementary student!! Crazy! This year they broke the elementary school program into two smaller programs to allow for fewer people gathered. Each child was only allowed two guests as well. Even though it was different, we felt so thankful to get to celebrate Christmas in this way! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Side of the Mountain Day: 

Second Graders read the book "My Side of the Mountain" and then get to celebrate with a fun day at school. They made acorn pancakes, jam, roasted hot dogs, went fishing and built stick forts in the woods! Our school grounds are beautiful and so was the weather on this particular day! Since this event was outdoors, parents were invited which was so fun! 

 

 

 

Grandpa Puzzello's Memorial: 

After a rough couple of months, my sweet ninety year old Grandpa went to be with Jesus in early December. In spite of Covid, we were able to celebrate his life as a family. Everything was small but perfect. In fact, I think that's how my grandpa would have wanted it, Covid or not! I am so thankful for so many beautiful memories with my grandpa. He was a hard worker, always made sure everyone was properly fed and was known to pull out his wallet when we would visit as kids! 

 

 

 

Obermayer Family Christmas:

We celebrated with our extended Obermayer family a little bit early and differently this year! It was still fun to catch up with everyone and hear how their years have been! My cousin's daughter, Summer, organized a fun Christmas scavenger hunt and chat for the kids on their own Zoom! 

Rowan Youth Group: 

I love this sweet group of middle schoolers who Rowan gets to do life with!

Diamonique Christmas:

Parents have not been allowed in the dance studio since before Covid began so it was such a treat to be able to attend a quick performance of Cora's company doing a Christmas dance! Each dancer was allowed one guest and we had to sit in the taped off, socially distanced squares just like the dancers, ha! It was so fun! 

Girl Friend Christmas Celebration: 

We managed to squeeze in a fun celebration with some of our sweetest friends. The girls had ice cream, pizza, did a gift exchange and painted pottery! So thankful for these girls and their moms! 

 

Phase I is Done!

These two finished up the first phase of their ortho treatments. It took a little longer due to Covid delays but their expanders are finally out! Cruz was supposed to have braces after his expander but he no longer needs Phase I braces as the expander did its job and allowed his teeth to naturally move into place! Woo hoo! 

School Parties: 

Only class moms were allowed at the Christmas parties this year. I just happen to be a class mom so that worked out well for me! I had so much fun making an ornament with the second graders as well as eating yummy snacks and playing Snowman (Hangman). 

The Intermediate and Middle Schoolers had their quarterly pep rally. Each class, fifth through eighth comes up with a cheer or chant. They perform these cheers/chants at the pep rally and the class with the most spirit wins the "spirit stick" for the next quarter. Seventh grade pulled out a win today which Rowan was super excited about. They finished up the quarter with hot chocolate, donuts and a clean version of Home Alone.

I'm so proud of these kiddos! They worked so hard this quarter and were quick to remember how thankful they were to be in school even on the long days of homework and studying. We are so looking forward to a break to focus on the birth of a Savior! 

Christmas Tree 2020

 Christmas, 2020, lets do this! The kids pretty much handled the tree by themselves this year. Rog helped and I stood back and soaked it all in. Love these kids so much- they're growing so fast and I want to remember everything. 

 

Rowan's 2020 ornament was a cell phone.

 

Cruzy got a bowl of Mac and Cheese as that's his current favorite food and he eats so much of it! 

Coco Bean got a bottle of nail polish to commemorate her very first "real" manicure and pedicure this summer with Grammy.

Row isn't in as many pictures because true to his personality, he put up his share of the ornaments quickly and efficiently. It was hard to get pictures of him because he was so quick! Cruz and Cora took a lot longer to decide on the perfect spot for each ornament.

Sweet Elsa Baby! 

We love Christmas music! 

This year we added a tree to the family room to hold all of our ornaments from travel. The kids decorated this one by themselves as is clear from the ornament placement! This was so fun to put up though as each ornament brought back such fun memories!