I wanted to get these ornaments done and put them in the kids' stockings, but didn't quite make it. I finished them up today and gave them to the kids. This is Ava's...
Here's Andrew's...
And Zach's...
I'm really pleased with how they turned out and the kids really seemed to like them. Definitely better late than never! 
Here we are in front of the largest man-made tree in the United States. We're far enough away that it doesn't look too big, but it is! And, we couldn't forget our hot cocoa!
Did I say that the kids love the popcorn?
Warming by the fire and roasting marshmallows...
Most of the characters were already gone since it was the 26th - Santa, Mrs. Claus and the reindeer had already gone back to the North Pole - but, there were still a few penguins hanging around! 
Greg and the kids hanging out in Mrs. Claus's kitchen...wonder what they are whipping up?
Thanks for another fun night Bentleyville! 
We did something kind of unique this Christmas...we waited until about 1:00 to open gifts! We went to church and then came home and pretended it was Christmas morning. The kids changed back into their new Christmas pajamas, got back into bed and pretended to be asleep. Greg and I came in and "woke them up"...then it was Christmas morning!! Here is Ava "sleeping"...this is so, so cute to me!
Zach "sleeping"...
And of course Andrew "sleeping"...
Here they are waiting to come down...we get this picture every year!
Ahhh...the excitment of seeing what is under the tree!
There are seated and ready for their presents!
We always take a long time to open presents...we go one by one and spend a good amount of time thanking the giver, enjoying looking at the present and being happy for the opener. I love this picture because Zach is full of joy and Ava is being super, super, crazy excited for him. She is borderline scary excited for him (okay, maybe she crossed that line). I love it. 
Andrew was excited about his gift from Zach...
Beth sent me a series of books that we had when we were kids. They have been reprinted to look exactly like they did when we were kids. I cried when I opened them because they brought back so many memories. I can't even guess how many times I have told my kids that my favorite book growing up was 'The Saggy Baggy Elephant'. Now I own it again. This was their first time hearing the story. We all loved it. 
Andrew looked at his goggles, adjusted his goggles, wore his goggles and now is ready to go skiing in his new goggles...did I mention he liked his new goggles??
Ava was really excited to get her present from the boys. They got her those little (and I mean little) squishies, squeekies, somethings...you know those things that come in a gum ball machine plastic bubble...I avoided those things for a long time, but not anymore! She was thrilled! 
Look at this beauty. Well, beauties...Greg and the vest. This is a special present I picked up for Greg at the Good Will. It is a lovely size medium women's vest. Nothing says "love" like a vest. I'm going to see if I can get him to wear it to church on Sunday...a perfect way to start off the New Year! 
Here Ava has on every ring that she got in a little pack. She was so excited to get jewelry...she is her mother's daughter!!!
Here is Andrew with his "big present" from Greg and me. He has been taking lessons for a few months now and uses Greg's guitar to practice. Now he has his own. He was really, really excited. It was so much fun to give it to him...
Later (the next day), Greg and Andrew had their first jam session. It was awesome. It made me tear up a little to watch them together. It made the present even better! 
Christmas Eve has always been my favorite night of the year. I can't remember a time when I didn't love it. The smells, the tastes and especially all of the traditions...love them all. I took some pictures of the food this year (mostly for my dad). I knew he would appreciate seeing his traditions alive and well at my home. This is the limpa - a great rye bread.
Here is the sheepherder's bread. It turned out perfect!
Yummm...don't you want to dip that in broth? You would if you had ever had it!
Here is the dip with roast and sausage. This is what Christmas Eve really tastes like!
And rice pudding. This doesn't photograph super well, but let me tell you that it does not disappoint! Delicious! 
Now, my family has taken the cheese course at the beginning of the meal to a whole new level. This was one tray of the cheeses...we had two!
Here is a little snapshot of the table. My dad's family sent the centerpiece - Elaine had a large group of us in on this project (I was in charge of finding and purchasing candles for 36 centerpieces). I love having it. It is just like the one I grew up with and it made me tear up when I opened it. It really felt like Christmas Eve.
We had the Davis and Gore families over. This is the second year for the Gores and the third for the Davis family. We have a great time together and it is really like having family over.
Look at this cool table of girls...
And the wild beasts!
Okay, this is the only bummer of Christmas Eve. Andrew wasn't feeling well. He had gotten sick the night before and was totally wiped out. This is him watching the nativity...poor Andrew. He was such a trooper and handled it great. It was sad though. Poor little monkey.
Nativity time! Here are the sheep...
Joseph, Mary, the baby Jesus and the donkey...
Here is the angel...Richard was telling Ava what to say and she was repeating it. Very cute!
Wise men (women)...
And a bow from the wonderful nativity cast! It was an exceptional night with great friends. I missed my parents, but felt very connected with my family's traditions. It really is my favorite night of the year...and this year was no exception. 
For the past few years I have loved seeing the outdoor ice candles here in Duluth. I had never seen them before moving here (probably because we have never been anywhere where the temperature is cold enough, long enough to sustain them). I tried to get some molds to make them last year, but they were sold out! This year I got my order in early and started making candles!
You can put real candles in them or the small battery powered ones. They look so pretty at night. These are my favorite new decoration! We have a few lining the front entry to our house. I feel like an official Duluthian!
Here is the other new addition to our decorations this year...little trees in the kids' rooms. I got these pre-lit trees 60% off at Michaels. The kids love them (and so do I). Ava was especially excited to decorate her tree and even helped pick out some new little decorations.
She loved these sparkly birds (I think there are 3 on her tree) and chose this kind of fairy for the tree topper. She calls her "Mother Nature". It's really cute. She is quite protective of Mother Nature and wants to show everyone who comes over. Fun.
Last weekend Ava had her first dance recital. They were just supposed to wear a nice dress and come ready for a casual performance. Ava was excited to get dressed up and was ready to get on stage. 
I told her to give me a ballet pose and this is what she picked. So cute. 
So when we got to the venue, I was very surprised to find this! It was a huge stage and 500 seat theater at UMD. I was even more surprised when we got there and found out it was totally sold out! We got tickets the week before, so we were just fine. Some of the people who came without tickets were pretty upset. They asked the youngest dancers to come up on stage and sit during the performances so that they could free up a few more seats. Ava went right up. 
Here she is giving up the "heart" sign. She's 8th from the right...
When it was her time to dance, she did a great job. I wasn't sure if she would be nervous, but she seemed just fine. We were really proud of her!
So fun to watch her! 
Here she is with Miss Stacey - her dance instructor. 
After the recital was over, a few of the kids started to play in the spaces in the walls. Zach, Andrew and Ava are all up there! I thought it looked kind of cool. 
It was a good first experience with dance recitals. The end of the year recital is supposed to be very different. Costumes, very rehearsed routines and a much more polished tone - should be interesting!! I'm just happy that Ava had a good first experience! 
