Kari's Christmas Program

Kari's Christmas program was yesterday. It was a really cute program that I videotaped since Mom missed it staying home with a very sick Noah. Plus, Rick had to work. Tara and Aidan came and she took the still photos for me.


Kari was the "i" in Christmas when the class
spelled out Merry Christmas.


The students sang lots of songs.


"There was a Little Baby, O My Lord" had lots
of motions, blurring the pictures a bit.


She sang all the words, just not very loudly.


They sang two songs with and about their
teddy bears since they were also celebrating
"Teddy Bear Month".


"Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear read a book.....".


Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer was a cute
favorite with their red noses. So, was the Reindeer
Hokey Pokey.

Christmas Delivered

Earlier this week, UPS delivered 3 huge boxes from Texas. Kari and Noah had a blast opening them and putting the contents under the tree.


Here are the empty boxes.


With all of the gifts from Papa, Nana and the
Howell family, we are not sure where Santa will
put the other gifts!


Uncle Lonnie, Aunt Krista, Katie
and Hunter sent us a cool Texas
themed ornament - a chili pepper
dressed as a cowboy complete with a
hat and lasso.


I opened my homemade gift and it was a jar
of Nana's delicious homemade strawberry jam.
Rick was hoping there was a jar of apple jelly
for him, but.....not this year.


Nana sent her packages packed with newspaper.
Aunt Krista's was full of packaging peanuts which
were quickly emptied out and declared "snow".


Kari and Noah had a blast tossing it
up in the air and throwing it on
each other. It wasn't so much fun
for me to clean up later.


It was so static-y that it kept sticking in Noah's
hair.


But, he had no complaints.

The kiddos are very eager for Christmas to come so they can open all the gifts from Texas. Devin even sent a box that arrived yesterday. Even though we will be away from everyone in Texas this year, it is neat to have a part of them with us.

Trimming the Tree

We trimmed the tree the day after Thanksgiving, so that Devin could decorate it with us before she went back to Texas. After Rick had to go out and buy new lights, he and Tara finished putting the tree together and stringing the lights. I made Josh go back into the crawl spaces to find the ornaments only to find out that they were already downstairs. Ugh. But, we had a good time.


A close-up of the tree and lights.


Josh putting an ornament on the
tree. I love the way the lights look.


I love this picture. Cody and Noah
putting an ornament on the tree.


Devin trimming the tree. Another great picture
of the cool lights.


Cody placing an ornament on the tree. Each
kiddo has a box of their own ornaments that
they hang first and then we hang the family
ornaments.


Noah in motion. He loved decorating, undecorating
and redecorating the tree.


Kari was very proud to hang her homemade
star ornament on the tree.


Rick joins in the tree trimming.


Devin, Kari and Noah pose for a picture after
an exhausting few hours of decorating.


A nighttime shot of the finished tree.


And a daytime shot.

I love the way the tree looks with all of the ornaments on it. It tells a story 35 years old with a few of Rick's childhood ornaments on the tree and all of the kiddos ornaments. Rick would love to have an angel top the tree, but indulges in my sentimental-ness and puts the star Josh and I used when we were a family of two. Christmas is definitely a holiday of stories for the Hall family.

Thanksgiving Pics

Things have been a bit out of whack and I completely forgot to post these pictures. I also have tree trimming pictures, photos of a Christmas delivery and Kari's Christmas program to post. I am such a slacker!


Sophie and Noah watching the Macy's parade.


Janie and Steve assemble some Rachel
Ray inspired hor d'euorves.


Trays of hor d'euorves to hold us over
until dinner.




Mom peeling potatoes to be mashed.


Pop's World Famous Candied Sweet Potatoes,
which I tried for the very first time.


Nicole and Dad pose before the meal.


Ashley and Kari ended up being in the only
two good shots of the kiddos that I took that
Day. There were 13 kiddos (at times 17 with
Tara's crew) here, you'd think I would have
gotten a few more good shots. I did take one
of Devin,Kaytlin and Victoria that Dev deleted
from the camera. Brat!



Thanksgiving was really nice this year, the first
time all of the sisters and families were together
ever. But, Mom-Mom and our Texas family was
sorely missed.