Christmas with the Remillard's

Today we celebrated Christmas with the Remillard's.  The kids had a lot of fun playing, we played some card games, and had pizza for dinner.  Made for a fun time!  And it gets hard to get a group photo!  

Christmas afternoon with the Arnold Crew!

This afternoon we were with the Arnold Crew!  The kids draw names each year and get gifts for their cousins.  It makes it nice because the kids are more involved in the gift buying and helps us adults focus on just a few kids during the hectic holidays.  

I didn't get a group photo but got close.  I got individual photos of Mason and Anna who were right next to me.

And then I was able to get everyone else!  

After gifts we enjoyed a very yummy dinner and had apple pie for desert made by Lina and Audrey (and Grandma of course!!).  We all have full bellies!  

Christmas Morning!

This morning we all went to see what Santa had left for us!  He left a note!  

Then it was time to check out stockings!

They got calendars, chips, silly string, Christmas Kleenex, chocolate coins, slime and pieces to an inflatable bowling set! 

And they had a little fun bowling before we opened the rest of the gifts!

It was gifts from Santa first!

 Slippers, books, Imploding Kittens (card game to go with one we have), a pen that changes colors with a click (and it has a mechanical pencil!), Batman POP, and silicone rings. 

Then gifts from Dad and Mom. 

Anna got her very own American Girl doll!

Olivier got a couple video games.

Mason got some games and crafts.

Anna got a kit to make bath bombs from friends of ours!

Olivier got a remote control BB8!

 It was a sweet Christmas morning!  We have much to be thankful for! 

Ready for Santa!

Tonight before the kids went to bed they put out chocolate chip cookie brownie, a milk chocolate and white chocolate peanut butter ball, and eight carrots.  And milk of course!  Anna wrote a sweet note too!

And we are ready for Santa to visit!  

Christmas Baking!

Today the kids and I did some baking getting ready for Christmas.  We started by making chocolate chip cookie brownie.  They were great helpers.  

Olivier was excited to put it in the oven!

 Then onto the peanut butter balls.  Lots of powdered sugar.

 After the peanut butter center mix was done they scooped it onto the tray. 

Then it was time to cover them in chocolate.  They started with milk chocolate. 

 Then white chocolate.  And of course they all got sprinkles.  Blue, red, pink and multi colored. 

I hope Santa has a sweet tooth! 

Arnold 45th Wedding Anniversary!

Tonight we gathered to celebrate 45 years since Linda and Mark got married!  Wow!  45 years later they have three sons, three daughters in law, and eight grand children!  

It was a wonderful evening and these three girls were excited to pet three pug dogs.  Love how they all love to play together!  

Christmas Parade!

Tonight we joined the kids school and walked in the Christmas parade.  It was a nice evening, not too chilly but felt like a late fall night.  The had a cute red wagon float for the kindergarten kids to sit on.  The rest of the kids (minus the dancers) were behind the wagon either walking or on their scooters.  

Anna was with the ballet folklorico dancers at school.  She was very excited!  They got the benefit of going ahead of the wagon float too!

The boys were happy once things got moving but still never really got to go a decent speed so the were a bit restless by the end of the parade. 

It was a fun evening and now they can't say they haven't been in a parade!  :-)