Getting Back to Normal

Today we are working on getting our house back in order. After Christmas it always takes a few days to put our house back in order, but I must say that we have gotten lots accomplished today and I'm feeling better already (I don't function well in a very messy house). But we are getting there and the house is looking more like normal. So, short blog today due to cleaning up.

To see a picture of what our house looks like on Christmas morning before we do any clean-up, check out my Christmas Day blog, http://b4uask.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-morning.html.

Just curious, how long does it take for you to get your house back in order?

Christmas Morning

For those of you wondering what the Merli house looks like on Christmas morning after all the gifts have been opened, here you go...

Not a creature was stirring...

Before...

After (taken from the staircase)

A close-up of Jim hidden under wrapping paper

Another shot from above

So there you go. Every year we just throw all the trash in one corner then clean it all up later. These pictures were before we did any cleaning up. Our house is like a mad-house on Christmas, but that's ok, they are allowed one day a year. Now to figure out where to put all these gifts... :)

Getting Ready for Christmas

To start off our busy day, this morning I decided to make pancakes for breakfast and as an added Christmas touch I added a few sprinkles.

Today we are cleaning up around the house, taking a trip to the dumpster to get rid of all the trash before Christmas (because I'm sure there will be plenty after Christmas), making sure the inside of the house is straight and in order and then later we will take our goodies out to neighbors as we carol.

What kind of plans do you have for the day? Are you completely prepared or are you still baking and cleaning?

Bake Day #2

Bake day #2 consist of Spritz Cookies, Snack Mix Squares, Merry Berry Bars and since we didn't get to make the Coconut Bars yesterday, we'll be making those today as well.

Since I love to see pictures others post with their blogs, I post lots of pictures when I can. Enjoy!

Matthew, Micah and Josiah adding

sprinkles to Spritz Cookies.

Jonathan and Kaitlyn sprinkling cookies.

Lots of busy hands.

Joshua waiting anxiously

Joshua gets a little help from his big

brother and gets to decorate some too.

He's so proud of his cookies

Josiah, Kaitlyn and Joshua

decorating a larger tray.

Smile!

Christiana pressed all these cookies.

All hands on deck to break pretzels

for Snack Mix Squares.

Snack Mix Squares

Finished Spritz Cookies

Christmas Lights and Hot Chocolate

Every year we try to find some really cool Christmas lights to go see. This year we traveled to Kodak to visit Shadracks for their light show, then inside to warm up and have hot chocolate. Afterwards, we drove on into Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg to see their lights as well. It was fun to see all the kids eyes light up as they watched the lights and listened to the music that coincided with them. We always enjoy doing stuff like this together as a family and making memories as we go.

Of course this is only one of the few things we do each year, there are many more. What are some things you like to do this time of year with your family?

Lights

Lights reflecting off our hood

Kaitlyn

Matthew warming his hands.

Josiah

Making Cookies and Houses

Today we had our church homeschool group activity for December and we decorated cookies and made graham cracker houses. The kids had a blast and now we have way too much candy and cookies in the house :) Here are a few pictures from our fun day.

Everybody getting ready to make graham cracker houses

Christiana

Joshua enjoying the candy

Kaitlyn

Josiah with his house

Christiana and Josiah

Plate of cookies we gave to the office staff

Matthew, Kaitlyn and Joshua decorating cookies

Decorated tree and gingerbread man

Cookies

Josiah

Kaitlyn helping Matthew

Micah

Matthew

Josiah with his lego man cookie

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas

Every year around this time my Dad sends Christmas presents for the kids from NC. He never fails and the kids know he's as dependable as the sun rising everyday. It's at this time that the kids get so excited and really begin to believe that Christmas is almost here. Since my kids love to decorate early (in their rooms) play Christmas music from July until Christmas and aniticipate it all year, when it finally arrives it almost doesn't seem real. So with Papaw and Mamaw Connie's box they know it is finally, really the Christmas season. Every time the package arrives they ask to hold their gift and usually they get to put it under the tree. However, since Joshua is extra curious, we will keep them in the box until Christmas Eve, or else nothing will be a surprise. So for us, with the arrival of Papaw and Mamaw Connie's gifts also comes the arrival of Christmas reality.

Wordless Wednesday - A Few of My Favorite Things