Merry Christmas Everyone!

I thought I would share some pictures from Christmas that we spent Joplin, MO with Josh's parents and brother. We will also make a stop at my Mother's in western Kansas and my Dad's here in the next couple of days. Hopefully, I will get some good picture when I visit that I can share.
So to start off, I decided to make sugar cookies from scratch this year with the kids. I thought it would be something fun for them to do, to eat, and to give to Santa Clause. This is my first time ever making sugar cookies by the way, I even had to buy cookie cutters. Overall I thought they turned out well and even tasted pretty good. Now I do have to admit that Wylie helped me roll out the dough, Gunnar and Wylie both cut out some cookies with the cutters, but as far as frosting them...Wylie frosted one cookie and proceeded to eat it and Gunnar came into the kitchen saw a frosted cookie and also proceeded to eat it as well. Therefore, I was left to frost the cookies on my own. Funny, I thought the kids would enjoy frosting the cookies the most.

Sugar Cookies before...

Sugar Cookies After!

There were a couple of web site that would track Santa. We all had a good time watching for a awhile. We even got out a world map so that we could tell exactly where Santa was and how far he was from Joplin. Gunnar and Wylie both got pretty silly while they were watching Santa's every move, so you will see a few pictures below of their silliness.

A nuggie from brother!

The kids ended the evening as usual with letters to Santa. Gunnar asked for a D-Rex and Wylie wrote that she had changed her mind that she also wanted a Littlest Pet Shop VIP with her Easy Bake Oven.

I have to admit Gunnar's D-Rex is pretty cool!

And Santa happened to have a special bag to reach into, so that he could give Wylie her last minute change for her Littlest Pet Shop VIP.

One of the big presents from Mamaw and Papaw this year was the Green Machine. Both Gunnar and Wylie had a blast driving it in the parking lot next to the house. After only a couple of turns Gunnar was making it go as fast as he could then hitting the breaks and making a sharp turn as the same time, which would make him whip around fast.

I was pleased to see that Wylie really didn't have much trouble making it go. The steering will take a little practice, but for the most part she did a good job.

Overall, we had a wonderful Christmas! We sure feel like we are very blessed! I hope all my friends and family had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Programs

Wylie had her dance recital last Sunday. They tap danced to Jingle Bells. I, of coarse, thought she did a wonderful job! I took a picture of her and Halle before they went on stage. They do not let you take flash photography during the program. And for those of you who knew about Josh's hunting trip...he made it back Sunday evening safely from South Dakota. He said he had a great time and shot well. Gunnar also had a Christmas program last Thursday. I didn't get any pictures of him, because I had to take Wylie to rehearsal and get her pictures taken then come straight to the program, which we barely made it on time, which means there were no good seats left. Oh I was in the front row, but unfortunately that meant the piano was blocking my sons whole body! Anyway, the k-3rd graders came back on the stage for a finally and I saw him singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"! This is good for Gunnar because when I talked to him about the program he said that if he had to sing Silent Night one more time his head would explode! Ha! Ha! Music is not one of his favorite classes in school.

Holiday Confession

When it comes to holiday decorations I am CHEAP! I never buy ornaments or decorations, I think it is a waist of money. You know I have to take that back, I bought a bag of old ornaments for quarter at a garage sale this year! (No really, I got a good deal on these ornaments, and I like to think they look vintage. Ha! Ha!) The 3 foot tree that you see is a fiber optic that Joe gave us 4 years ago, which is how I aquire decore for any holiday. Thank goodness every year that Gunnar and Wylie are in school we get more and more ornaments and decorations that they have made themselves, which are my favorite. We decorated the tree this evening and thought that I would share some of the things that I get out every year. And I have to say... I think the tree looks great!

I like to put some of the kids' art on the tree, like the wreath Wylie made last year out of a paper plate (it's around the polar bear). Towards the bottom left you see a reindeer made out from a trace of Gunnar's foot and two hands. Wylie has one like it on the other side. They made the reindeer when the were 2 and 4 years old.

This is a Santa Clause that Gunnar made in preschool that I hang up every year. I think the cottonballs are a nice touch!

Another Santa Clause made by Gunnar when he was in kindergarten. Pretty good coloring for a boy who doesn't like to color. Very colorful too I must say!


I like to set these houses out on our side tables every year. The house to the very right was given to me by my dad and Cindy. As far as the other two, I have no idea where they came from, but I definitely know that I did not buy them.


This manger scene was my Grandma and Grandpa Streid's, which actually stays in our viewing cabinet year around. I like it a lot and I remember that it was always set out during the holiday season at my Grandparent's house in Illinois.


Another Christmas decoration that stays in the cabinet year around are from Grandma and Grandad DeWeese's. These Human Beans (get it?) are one of Josh's favorite decorations that his grandmother set out every year.

After reading this, I realize this post may not be real interesting to anyone, but it really makes a person sentimental when you get things out that you haven't seen in a year.