Extreme makeover....Hamster edition!

Emma and Noah decided to put their money together and buy another cage for their new hamsters.  They shopped until they found just the right one.  It has a slide!!  What hamster doesn't love a slide? Really?  They also had hamster sweaters at the pet store!  They didn't have enough to buy the sweaters, thank goodness!

One of Noah's favorite shows is Extreme Makeover Home Edition.  He decided that we should surprise Marshmallow and Houdini and yell "Move that Bus"!   He even mad a sign that said Extreme Makeover!  The hamsters love their new cage and hamsters really can slide!

"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"

It's that magic morning!  The kids always get up early and hurry down to enjoy unwrapping presents.  This year was no exception!  I think Noah was the first one up and hurried to wake everyone else up!  We always make them wait at the top of the steps so we can turn on the lights and the Christmas tree!

Emma and Noah had asked Santa for Hamsters and they were thrilled when they saw their new pets!

Marshmallow and Houdini!  Houdini was the perfect name for Noah's hamster!  Santa said he escaped in the house while he was getting everything set up.  He had a really hard time finding him!  Thanks goodness he did!

Abby was not ready to have her picture taken yet!

Emma was so excited when James unwrapped his present that she had picked out and paid for herself.  A Superdad bobble head!

Everyone had fun unwrapping their gifts!  We each take turns so that everyone gets to see what they got.

Even Murphy got some new toys!

After presents it looked like a tornado had gone through our living room!

 

While we were eating breakfast it started to snow!! 

The snow was so fun to have on Christmas day!

We headed off to the Fenn's to celebrate with my side of the family.

Another great day of making lasting memories!

Traditions!!

We just love getting together with family, especially at Christmas!  Every year we have a present swap game that we play and sing our favorite Christmas songs.  It is something we really look forward to!  This year we were able to get together a week or so before Christmas.  It was a nice early celebration!

Singing Christmas songs is a family tradition that everyone looks forward to, especially the Twelve Day of Christmas.  We break up into groups and each sing two verses!  It's fun to watch everyone see if they remember their verses and when to sing.

After singing it's time for the gift swap game!  It is fun to steal and stratagize to get the perfect gift!  I usually buy some kid friendly gifts for the younger kids.  This year though some other people did too. So, it got interesting!

 Even the big boys got to play with the Beyeblades!  Abby was a great big sister and gave her Beyeblades to Noah!  He was so excited!

It was a fun day and we shared food, fun, and fellowship. Christmas memories!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

We put our Christmas decorations up earlier every year.  I love Christmas time!!  I love the smells, the warm cozy feeling you get when you sit by a fire, the excitement that's in the air, Christmas music and most of  all remembering the very special gift we were each given.  It's hard to remember that sometimes with all the hustle and bustle the Christmas brings.  Each year I try really hard to not get sucked into the commercialism  and try to really focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  I hope my kids can always remember that!

We always make cookies and decorate them.  It's a tradition that I can remember as a child.  I remember the smell of cookies baking and I got right back to my childhood and become a kid myself.  Honestly what is there not love love about cookies!  This year Averie joined us for baking.  It was so fun and I glad she got to enjoy time with her cousins!

After we got done baking cookies it was time to visit Santa!!  Emma said the REAL Santa always comes to our neighborhood!  I think she was right!  He truly looks like the real Santa.  I believe!!

It was a fun day!!  I love making memories with my kids.  I hope that when they are grown they will remember these traditions that we do do every year!!

Karate is his thing!!

Noah has tried several different activities and has finally found what he loves!!!  Karate!!  He gets so excited on Wednesdays and really starts counting down the time when her gets home from school, until its time to go.  He has done so well!!  His teacher is wonderful with him and all the kids!  I really couldn't have found a better teacher.  He is so patient and encouraging not just with Noah but everyone.  He came to and said that Noah was ready for his first testing to go up to the next belt.  I really didn't know what to expect when we went in, but let me just say I was amazed!

Noah got to lead the class in the warm up.  He had told Mr. Miller that he was a little nervous and Mr. Miller said this would help him get the butterflies out!  He did awesome!  He looked and acted so confident!  I loved it!

After they warmed up Noah went first since he had the the lowest belt.  I really didn't know what all would take place in order for him to get his advanced white belt but I quickly found out it!  He had to break a piece of wood with his hands!  He got it on the first try!!

When the younger kids were done Mr. Miller talked to them and said how proud he was of all of them.  He is the nicest man!!

Next that got suited up to spar!  I didn't know what that was at first but quickly found out.  They learn how to defend themselves.  The younger kids don't make contact yet.

Noah did so good and had so much fun!!  That really is what it is all about!  

He got a trophy and got to take his wood home!

He came home on Wednesday and said "Guess what Mom"?  I said what.  He said "you are looking at a man with a yellow belt"!