Family picture take 2

With picture taking comes the inevitable reluctance to sit and smile and conform to the mass. Kirsten is demonstrating this so well, but just wait.
Now Zachary couldn't be left out of the fun. Kirsten is trying to pass the time till mom has everyone dressed and ready to go.
Now even mom is joining in the grumbling. I didn't think that we could pull it off taking a family picture with a timer on the camera.
We were making some progress with the picture shoot. Camera would take one picture then Nathan would run after Caleb to the camera to reset it again and then race back to their places. On one such event, Caleb failed to stop running and tripped into the wall. Just our luck a goose egg began to form. We were getting out the ice to combat the growing problem.
Through it all Nathan stayed pretty optimistic and we did have fun! I didn't think that we got a keeper picture and so we went to Walmart, which didn't prove fruitful, but we bought 2 pictures anyway and the kids got a doughnut for their efforts. Now you know why we don't get family pictures that often (way too much work). Mom stresses way too much. The resulting picture is our opening picture on the blog... not too bad!

Family Pictures take 1

Caleb is the willing subject as Nathan sets up the camera on a the stool for a family picture shoot. What a handsome, barefoot little man!
Line them up, now Nathan has three willing and eager subjects to shoot the camera at.
The kids were really getting into it. I love the free for all pictures. They really catch their personalities!
Next we added a chair as a prop: Zach is really into body parts and functions right now...ugh! He thought he was being funny and we all thought these pictures were a hoot! We might live to regret this later.
This is the "up high and down low" picture. I guess it can be said the same about takin pictures; you definately hit high and low points.

Christmas day 2008

Christmas morning the kids got up around 7:15 am (not bad huh?) and we tried to stall them with breakfast while we waited for Aunt Camille and uncle Andrew to arrive for presents. We enjoyed all the breads and oranges that we made and received: amish, poppyseed, and etc along with the fruitsnacks that santa added to the feast!
Then it was presents time. We started out with individual opening;that didn't work so well. Here is Caleb being helped out with the playing of his guitar. Siblings can be so helpful.
All the kids got keyboards from Grandma/pa Gale along with the microphones for extra enjoyment. The boys were trying out the pianos along with their vocal cords.
The big gift that santa brought this year was a WII system along with Mario Cart game. Nathan and Kirsten are trying it out. Finally something that grown-ups and kids alike can enjoy. Caleb is on the sidelines stabbing uncle andrew with his knife that collapses with contact. (That's the last time Mrs. Claus will ask for help with stocking stuffers.)
Allie enjoyed her new bone. I think she actually stayed there for a full hour and chewed. This is amazing for allie. She is a quite active dog, but we love her anyway.

Back at home with dad

On Saturday the kids begged Nathan to take them out in the snow. They got all bundled up as you can see caleb looks like a little summo baby in his gear.
They had some fun in the snow and even chased allie (our 4 year old chocolate lab) around for awhile. Aunt Aubrey was over and volunteered to take pictures so I could finish the Christmas cookie cleanup inside.
The family pose with the extra snow on Zach. Brrrrr!
Then inside for hot cocoa before off to deliver the cookies.

zachary's Christmas program and party

We made it back from Washington at 8:30 pm Wednesday night so Zach could make his 2pm and 7pm performances. He worked very hard on his part and singing. His part as we all know it now was, " Christmas is children trying to sleep." Well done Zach.
Friday afternoon Caleb and I helped out in Zach's class Christmas party. We decorated snowman cookies and then ate them. These are Zach's table friends. Sierra, Caleb, Zach, Rylee, and Gavin. Rylee lives across the street from us and Gavin lives next door kinda fun.The kids also got to make a white and blue bead snowflake. Who knew that oriental trading had those too in little kits. Awesome.
Another mom did music time with nose makers; the kids were well entertained. Caleb couldn't decide if he wanted to finish his cookie or join in the fun. He just yo-yoed.

What else did we do at Grandma's?

The grandkids reinacted the birth of the Savior. A tradition that we have done with my cousins, but now that we all have kids they can do it.
We can only be still for so long. The boys started a sock war with Uncle Mike. I was a target too, but moved to a more neutral zone. Mike's such a good sport.
Being with family was so much fun! We planned another family get together this coming August 2009 in Wolf Creek in Utah. I can't wait.

What did we do at Grandma's house?

The boys had a blast with Uncle Joe and Uncle Chris. They built this fort that went right across the big room downstairs. Look at all those blankets. Good thing grandma still has some boxes to put away cause the fort building just wouldn't be the same with out them.
Uncle Joe took Zach and Caleb sledding down the hill in the backyard on one of the many snowy days. First Joe would sled down with Caleb and then...
he would carry him back up to the top of the hill. What service! Caleb didn't last long. He wanted to be out with the big boys, but man it was cold.
Joe is sliding down the hill on his snowboard. It was a work in progress. Zach waves goodbye for now. Kirsten was sick with the 24 hour flu that was going around and missed out on some of the fun.