We had a very relaxing Christmas week. We really did nothing every day. I'm amazed how much stress my body endures every day with getting up early, making breakfast, working all day, rushing through homework, running to the gym, coming home and making dinner then getting everyone ready for bed and the next day. It's been so nice to just let time spread out each day, and have no agenda. We've just been playing video games, knitting, reading, watching TV and movies. A whole lotta nuthin.
Here are some picture from Christmas day!
This are Japanese mini-erasers. They are shaped like fruit, treats, animals. They are all the rage in the 4th grade now.
Alek got a compass to clip onto his backpack. He'll need this in a couple weeks when he and Gary go cold-weather camping with the cub scouts.
The stockings were stuffed with a lot of socks ... 8) ... but also fun do-dads. Ben is opening an expandable dinosaur. He's been in a bucket of water for 3 days now ... not sure how big he's supposed to get. Guess I need to check on him.
Big smiles from Alek after opening a Miami Dolphins dart board. It's up in the playroom now.
Interesting game from Grandma - we haven't tried it yet, but I'm really interested to see what it's about. Somehow you match t-shirt slogans to t-shirt designs. Sounds creative!
Alek's new Miami Dolphins cap ... it gets worn everywhere.
Not sure what Gary's opening here!
Star Wars Lego kit from Mema and Papa!! This one has already been put together ... see picture below.
Oooo, Bakugan from Mema and Papa!
Alek putting together the new Lego Star Wars kit. He did a great job all by himself.
Ben's favorite gift? Video games! Here he's playing Kirby, from Mema and Papa.
A couple years ago we added onto the house, and built a playroom for the boys. It had a nice new ceiling fan in it. The boys love to have dance parties in there, and they use a little toy light that Ben got several years ago. It's a 4-inch ball that spins and throws colors around the room. This summer when they would play at the Jam at Sam Ash music store, they fell in love with the professional disco light sets. So, for Christmas, we got them one!! It's huge, and music-activated, which means it changes colors and spins with the beat of the music. So the day after Christmas, Gary took down the ceiling fan in the playroom and replaced it with the new disco ball. I need to get a picture of it - he did a fabulous job installing it. So now the playroom has a disco ball that turns on with the lightswitch. How cool is that???? It's taken Rock Band and Guitar Hero to a whole new level!!
The playroom ceiling fan was much more stylish than our 15 year old ceiling fan in the family room, so Gary moved it into the family room. The lights are much brighter, and it coordinates with the light fixtures we put in the kitchen/breakfast nook during the remodel. So I am very happy!
Gary got all kinds of tools for Christmas. Something about them being battery powered and not corded. He also got a backpack leaf blower that got a great workout this morning! Our yard is finally clear of leaves!
The boys big gift this year was the iTouch. I got one too. These little things are amazing. I've got a grocery list application on mine that I'm in love with. You put in your grocery items and designate the category (like produce, soup, paper products, produce, etc) and it organizes the list! This will make my trips to the grocery much more efficient! I love it.
Hope you had a great Christmas. Today we're thinking about going to see Alvin and the Chipmunks with some friends, and Chloe has a vet appointment. That's all that's on the list for today!
I used the extra napkins on the buffet. The sunflower plates came from my mom a few years ago.
Another shot of the boys ready for a bright cheery breakfast!
This are Japanese mini-erasers. They are shaped like fruit, treats, animals. They are all the rage in the 4th grade now.
Alek got a compass to clip onto his backpack. He'll need this in a couple weeks when he and Gary go cold-weather camping with the cub scouts.
The stockings were stuffed with a lot of socks ... 8) ... but also fun do-dads. Ben is opening an expandable dinosaur. He's been in a bucket of water for 3 days now ... not sure how big he's supposed to get. Guess I need to check on him.
Big smiles from Alek after opening a Miami Dolphins dart board. It's up in the playroom now.
Interesting game from Grandma - we haven't tried it yet, but I'm really interested to see what it's about. Somehow you match t-shirt slogans to t-shirt designs. Sounds creative!
Alek's new Miami Dolphins cap ... it gets worn everywhere. 
Not sure what Gary's opening here!
Star Wars Lego kit from Mema and Papa!! This one has already been put together ... see picture below.
Oooo, Bakugan from Mema and Papa!
Alek putting together the new Lego Star Wars kit. He did a great job all by himself.
Ben's favorite gift? Video games! Here he's playing Kirby, from Mema and Papa.
A couple years ago we added onto the house, and built a playroom for the boys. It had a nice new ceiling fan in it. The boys love to have dance parties in there, and they use a little toy light that Ben got several years ago. It's a 4-inch ball that spins and throws colors around the room. This summer when they would play at the Jam at Sam Ash music store, they fell in love with the professional disco light sets. So, for Christmas, we got them one!! It's huge, and music-activated, which means it changes colors and spins with the beat of the music. So the day after Christmas, Gary took down the ceiling fan in the playroom and replaced it with the new disco ball. I need to get a picture of it - he did a fabulous job installing it. So now the playroom has a disco ball that turns on with the lightswitch. How cool is that???? It's taken Rock Band and Guitar Hero to a whole new level!!
The playroom ceiling fan was much more stylish than our 15 year old ceiling fan in the family room, so Gary moved it into the family room. The lights are much brighter, and it coordinates with the light fixtures we put in the kitchen/breakfast nook during the remodel. So I am very happy!
Gary got all kinds of tools for Christmas. Something about them being battery powered and not corded. He also got a backpack leaf blower that got a great workout this morning! Our yard is finally clear of leaves!
Here they are after they were baked ...
And finally, after they were iced! We ate a few today, they are really good!
This afternoon I made a baked brie for snack ... inside is a round of brie, apricot preserves, dried cranberries, and sliced almonds. It's baked in a puff pastry crust. It was very good!
For dinner tonight, we had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner - roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and dressing and cranberry sauce. Tomorrow's dinner is prime rib. 
The picture below is a close up of the side seam, which was to be lined in the hot pink yarn. The blues felted so well, the pink dissappeared after felting. Ah, well.
This is a close up of the fizz topping and the handles.
Alek build a marble run on the kitchen table yesterday ... lots of fun!
Here's the whole run ...
We tore it down this morning and we'll build another one later today. Below is our first Christmas puzzle, only 500 pieces, that we built a couple weeks ago:
Above, at the Capital Building, in the Rotunda - the echo sounded really nice.
Up close with his friend Evan.
Alek waiting in line to perform at Tir Na Nog during the December Tone Zone Jam!
On the stool - ready to play for the enthusiastic crowd! Alek playing can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGz31ZrkmHA
We finished our first 1000 piece puzzle this week.
Ben, relaxing at home after school is out for the year.
I made mini ham-and-spinach quiches for breakfast Sunday morning - homemade crust and everything. They were very yummy!
