Christmas, day 6

Day 6? I can't remember.

Nora spends a lot of her time coloring intricate pictures. Today she got a buddy.

These boots won't stay on but she loves them

Gingerbread houses

The kids were dying to eat the pre built gingerbread houses. Not me, but sure.

Nativity Play

Isi consented to be baby Jesus. Nora is St Joseph.

Now we switch roles and Lucy is Mary. The wise men bring gifts in clever magnet tile packaging.

Next they covered in blankets and said baaaaa. "Jesus" responded baaaaa. 

 

Being One is hard

If everyone goes outside, you have to go too. Everyone knows that. But standing up in winter clothes is hard. 

Phew! All ready for 4 minutes of chilly fun. 

 

Making use of the gifts

Two girls got painting sets and were generous, so all those who wanted to paint got to.

Isi got bedding for a big girl bed and moved into the girls' room. Hard to believe she's so big! She's excited about the kitty blanket, say a little prayer it goes smoothly.

Presents

We had fun opening presents. Toddlers are always great at tearing and being confused. She ate her apple as she went.

Each kid draws another's name for secret Santa (it doesn't stay too secret) and Nora's for Lucy was a particular hit.

Boots

Everyone got some kind of boot for Christmas this year.

Max and Tessa are ready to hike.

Isi is very proud of the cowgirl boots

Merry Christmas!

Ubiquitous family photos

Nature walk

Justin had Christmas Eve off, so we went to the riverside park and walked around. It was chilly but sunny.

Isi's hood covered her eyes, so she kept pushing it off, but she wore her mittens!

Cool dude

Mass used birthday money to buy some sunglasses. He has been counting the days til they arrived.

Also today, Justin gave him a pile of stuff to put away and Tessa a pile. Max put his stuff on Tessa's pile and said now it was all hers.

M A X

It took 6 kids but we got an east-to-write name 😂

Bob the Giant Snowman

It's snowed several inches! They made Bob.

Kitten helper

There's a new helper in school

Little sister

Someone might help you warm up your feet

You might accompany everyone to the dentist and get your own waiting room movie (hidden: the only time she ever wanted to wear mittens 🤷🏼‍♀️)

Warmed up

After the bath they sure enjoy being wrapped up 

She does not look adoringly at him when he is trying to sit in my lap which belongs solely to HER

St Lucy

The downstairs bedroom organized a parade. Then we had cinnamon rolls. Happy feast of St Lucy!

Strong girl

The boys put the third mattress on the floor (don't ask) and now the top bunk has pull up bars

Gingerbread Houses

For the feast of Our Lady of Loreto, we built gingerbread houses.

That's not an attractive habit, Max.

I love how concentrated she is here. Mostly she was just mad because she didn't know what was going on and didn't get to do everything. 

Girls' house

Boys' house

 

Sunday

Here's another server:

And Isi's Sunday, in a dress 5 sizes too big, mopping.

Junkel diner

We got wonderful service from the good-looking staff at the Junkel diner. 3 courses!

All the kids

Here is a picture of all the kids. The advantage to having so many is that if you don't look too closely you don't notice the one who refused to cooperate.

End of hunting

They went out for one last try at a deer or elk but still saw nothing. Big plans for next year, though! Lucy didn't hunt but she was excited to go.

Max's Birthday Activity

 Max wanted to go back to the Missoula Library for his birthday activity. Obviously, this was excellent news for me. (Free? 40 minutes away? Full of books?) It did have a good selection of car books, his main motivator, but it also has a big STEM area like a children's museum they had a blast at.

Since it was a special occasion, I let them try the hurricane simulator. Max was not interested.

Aren't these fun little reading cubes? Or for tag, if you're my naughty kids. 

This water table section also had a crank that you could put a ball on. It went to a track on the ceiling and then fell in the whirlpool. Eventually Isi got soaked, but they could have stayed here all day. 

Life sized lite brite!

Learned a little anatomy. Hopefully to prepare for being a surgeon and not a serial killer. 

Gears are always a win. 

We got lunch and ice cream while in Missoula, but here is Max's cake (and beloved new RC fire truck) at supper. I just noticed this is the third year I've done a sheet cake with cars!