Christmas Leftovers and New Years

I found some more pictures from Christmas on Andy's phone and didn't want them to feel left out :)  A couple more of making Christmas dinner....rouladen and spaetzle.....

 This is what the girls were doing while we made dinner.....Joni fell asleep on the couch (it was a long exciting day and we decided they didn't have to lay down for a nap but turns out Joni wanted one anyways).  Notice the princess outfits from Oma they opened that morning.

Making spaetzle with a slotted spoon which has inspired me to get a real spaetzle maker for the next time.  Oh and if it looks like I didn't do anything to make myself look presentable for this lazy/fun/family day, it's because I didn't.  :)

 We waited to cut Jesus' birthday cake until Nana and Papa arrived....

 We sang Happy Birthday and blew out the candles.... 

 So the inside was chocolate on the bottom (black--we were all born sinners, separated from God), the next layer was red velvet (red--but God sent Jesus, who bled and died for the sins of those who believe in him and took the punishment we deserve) and white frosting (white--and made us white as snow, so when God looks at those who have trusted in Him for salvation, He sees the righteousness of Jesus instead our sin).

 One night before Christmas we made pizzas....in the shape of candy canes and Christmas trees.  They were delicious :)

 As the girls get older there is much more, "I want to help."  It isn't always how I would like things (taking extra long with extra clean-up) but I have learned that these moments are precious and ones they won't soon forget.  

 The wonderful secretary at the our church gave the girls this playhouse which they love....and so do I :)

For New Year's this year, we had a Youth Group party and said that if they didn't bring their parents, they couldn't win any prizes.  It was SO fun!  We had WAAAAY too much food and Andy set up a bunch of Minute to Win It games.  Whoever was winning at the top of the hour got to pop a balloon that had some fun prize in it.

The games:   FLIPPING A SHOE ONTO A TABLE USING ONLY YOUR FOOT.

 Andy's favorite:  FLYING A KITE AROUND THE ROOM FOR A MINUTE.  Only 1 team actually finished this....they won :)

 EMPTYING A KLEENEX BOX ONE KLEENEX AT AT TIME.  FIRST TEAM DONE WINS. 

 USING AN APP ON THE IPHONE, HOW MANY SHAKES CAN YOU DO IN ONE MINUTE.

 POP BALANCE--DRINK ENOUGH POP FROM A CAN TO MAKE IT BALANCE ON THE BOTTOM RIM

 CATCH AS MANY MINI MARSHMALLOWS AS YOU CAN IN YOUR MOUTH THAT YOUR PARTNER THROWS

 BE THE QUICKEST TO LICK ALL THE STRIPES OFF A CANDY CANE WITHOUT IT BREAKING INTO MORE THAN 3 PIECES

 USING ONLY YOUR ONE HAND, RETRIEVE 2 PENNIES FROM THE BOTTOM OF A PANTYHOSE.

 SEE HOW MANY TIMES YOU MAKE 2 MARBLES COLLIDE WHEN ROLLING THEM DOWN THE HOLES IN POOL NOODLES.

 HOW MANY QUARTERS YOU CAN ROLL ACROSS THE TABLE AND UNDER A FOLDED PLAYING CARD.

 HOW MANY TIMES IN A MINUTE YOU AND YOUR PARTNER CAN PULL A LARGE ELASTIC BAND OVER YOUR HEAD AND DOWN OFF YOUR FEET WHILE KEEPING 2 BALLOONS FROM TOUCHING THE FLOOR.

 HOW MANY NOODLES YOU CAN PICK UP AND PUT IN A CUP WITH JUST A STICK IN YOUR MOUTH IN A MINUTE.

 Then we had a Wii Speed Slice tournament and Doubles Tennis tournament.  

And then a quick game of Catch Phrase and then the countdown...

 and confetti poppers!  Then we had a short time of prayer and were home by 1 am!  Super fun and only a little tiring considering I haven't stayed up that late since last New Year's!  

 After a good morning of sleeping in, our sweet little family did something we have never done before and went to the movies all together!  It was awesome.  We watched Wreck-It Ralph and the girls sat through the whole thing no problem and Hadley only asked a few loud questions in the midst of a packed theater.  They have asked more than once to go to the Big Movies again.  It was so fun!  A family tradition started for sure.  Hope you all are having a wonderful start to 2013!  Love to you all.

Nana and Papa part 2

Nana and Papa stayed for almost a week and the girls had a blast, of course :)  While the women went shopping the guys and the kids went to Cabela's to see the fish.  Turns out, this Cabela's only has six fish, but they also have a giant trophy deer collection with lots of deer and other "stuffed" animals.  

Here is Joni watching the animatronic deer hunters talk about why they are surrounded by 200 deer......I don't really know, I wasn't there.

Here's Hadley "feeding" one of the deer.

For one of our presents, Nana and Papa took us to the Children's Museum in Kansas City.  It was in an old school and every room had something different and fun to do.  This room had a farm where you picked the veggies and fruit and gathered the eggs and then took them to the grocery store where you get your shopping cart and go shopping.  

Joni liked gathering eggs.  Maybe we should get some chickens. :)

Putting on a little puppet show.

The next room was building a log cabin.  They really thought this was cool.  We all started building our own little house until the girls went off to do something else and Andy and Kemper were the only ones left still working on it.  

The art room....coloring on the chalkboard castle.

Water room where we left surprisingly dry :)

The small version of Lego-land room.  This is supposed to be some kind of spaceship but the toilet, popcorn, microwave, and hamburger are all made of legos.

The rollercoaster room.  Joni got her bucket of balls....

and went to town.

And their very favorite room...the baby hospital and vet clinic.

They just look so professional in their little lab coats.  

Joni trying out the reception desk.

For lunch we headed to the Dino Cafe.  This "little" guy who moves and makes noise by the way, greets you at the door.

And of course, some more book/computer/game/Papa time.  

and Nana time too :)

Of course, we couldn't have a visit from a grandma and not end up with cute cute clothes.  These tops were on sale and when we got in the car, noticed they had ears.  The girls are trying to be scary polar bears.  I could just eat them up :)

The girls received a hair salon kit complete with curling iron, straightener, and blow dryer that "weally wuks!" according to Joni.  Since I have the longest hair, I have been getting it done quite often.

We were so blessed to have Janet and Kemper here.  Thank you for everything, all the food, and clothes, and gifts, and company!  So so so so so glad you made the trip!  Love to you all!