Random Christmas pics

 

A few days a week she hangs out at home with me for about an hour before school starts, so I need little tasks to keep her occupied.  I try not to rely on the iPad or Netflix, but some days that is just what she has to do so I can work before school drop off.  As we got closer to Christmas, I had a lot of little tasks including wrapping some gifts.  She loved being my little elf this holiday season.

 

Lesley did a snowflake craft at her winter party and she wanted to help Leah make one too.  A good project to keep them busy and have Lesley be the "teacher".

 

This was about the extent of the holiday decorations for the year.  Hopefully next year I have more energy and time to enjoy decorating.  I wasn't super thrilled about how the mantle turned out, but I was working with what I could find in boxes and refusing to go buy more decorations this year.

Das Hoffmann's {Best Holiday Celebration in years!}

The Hoffmann Christmas party day is always FULL of activities.  This year did not disappoint.

 

We started the morning with a baby shower for the future Baby Fitz.  It was simple, laid back and very fun.  I think Brad and Katie are ready to start the adventure of parenthood.  We sure are ready to meet their little peanut.

 

Then, it was lunch time.  I feel like God always steps in when it comes to feeding the Hoffmann's.  Nothing is every really set in stone or planned out to a "T", but it seems we never run out of food even with the people who stop in unannounced.  Something about 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread...

 

Then it was time for painting class with Lex.  I think this was the best part of the day for me!

 

We sat, we painted, we chatted, we got advice from Lex, we had FUN!

 

And, while the adults were painting, the aunts babysat.  It was refreshing to have time "away" from the kiddos where Jason and I could both be creative and for me, step outside my comfort zone.

 

Leah was Aunt Sharon's little shadow.  They organized, cleaned, and got ready for the big party to start later that evening.

 

Levi was Aunt Denise's buddy...I think I even spotted some finger polish being applied to his fingers.  Ha, ha!

 

Lesley played cards with Lydia and some of the older cousins.

 

Thanks Jayston, Drew, and Aaron!

 

The painting was awesome!  We used old dictionaries for the body of the snowman and each of us personalized our canvas.

 

Lex was so patient and kind.  Probably the perfect high school art teacher, right?!

 

Jason was the lone guy in the group, and he didn't care one bit.  Love him!

 

Our finished masterpieces!  They are some pretty cool looking snowmen!

 

Then, as if Lex wasn't the best cousin in law already, she sat down with the little kids and instructed them on their own snowman.  Leah was in heaven and hers turned out fantastic!  Lesley loves painting and projects, but perhaps rushed a little with hers.  Still cute and all four masterpieces ended up on our mantle for the month of January.

 

Levi had taken a morning nap during the bridal shower but he needed another power nap mid way through the evening party.  So sweet!

 

Then we did the annual reading of the Christmas story, passed out a few gifts and some prizes.  We capped the night off with a visit from Santa.  I was so proud of Leah, she was not nervous or scared at all.  She ran right up and jumped on his lap.  Lesley was another story and wanted nothing to do with Santa.  Oh well, there's always next year.

 

Bottom line, it was a fantastic Hoffmann party.  I loved that our kids were a bit older and we didn't have to hover or be helicopter parents.  I loved that Levi could track Papa Keith down in no time flat (he would have been the one to keep track of had he not stalked Papa all night).  I loved catching up with some cousins we rarely see.  I love how our family keeps growing and growing - added 5 new great granddaughters in 2014 and still 2 more to come in early 2015 - we still have room for more.

Celebrating with Grandma Nancy & Papa Keith

Like I mentioned, I was very laid back about taking photos.  And, I think I actually helped more in the kitchen and with the chaos since my mom was under the weather.  All good things!  Usually going "home" is more like a break for me but not this time.

Papa and the kids were in charge of pancakes!  Levi is always a big helper, insisting that Papa hold him at all times.

The first gift for the kids came out of the garage.  A new sled!  Like a real one!

Levi wasn't exactly sure what to think but I think we'll have lots of fun in the years to come.  Our backyard is an ideal sledding hill and we've even seen neighbors using it a time or two.

 

 

Levi got his very own barn for his new tractors and farm animals.  He loved it!

And, that was pretty much it for pictures.  :)  No worries, Christmas isn't about the gifts anyway.  I'd rather remember being together anyway!

Grandma did make time to read the little ladies a book or two before the big slumber party on the floor.  Always time for that!

Celebrating Christmas with Great G&G Holtz

Disclaimer:  After our little family gathering Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, I didn't take many pictures.  I too often get frustrated when I can't get that perfect shot and I didn't want to be that way this holiday.  So, I mostly just put the camera down and enjoyed myself at our gathering with my grandparents, with Grandma Nancy and Papa Keith, and then again at the Hoffmann party.  It was a relief not to be carrying around the camera trying to document.  Granted, I may look back and wonder why I didn't take more photos, but for now, I'm glad I wasn't behind the lens at each celebration.

 

 

Great Grandma's house is getting a lot smaller these days!

 

My two littlest nieces....so adorable and snuggly!

We think Josie looks more like a Holtz than her mommy, though I will admit I have not seen any baby photos of Katie for a real comparison.  And Loryn, well she doesn't look as much like a Holtz but she certainly looks a lot different than her sisters so we'll take that as a win.  Her sisters are like Mini-Mike's and look so much like their daddy. 

These two are about 6 weeks apart in age and I'm sure will be great friends growing up!

 

Since Buster still has no boy cousins to hang out with he, sticks really close to Papa.  I.e. he wants nothing to do with Mommy when Papa Keith is around.  Well of course, who wouldn't love Papa when he just hands you something covered in green frosting.

 

Grandma getting some love from the girlies.  We are so glad she got out of the hospital Christmas morning and didn't miss any celebrations!  And, we are thankful she listened to the doctor and took it easy over the holiday weekend.  Naps were key after several days in a busy, noisy hospital.

 

Apparently this is Loryn's preferred sleeping position when Aimee is holding her.  It looks extremely uncomfortable and I even tried to lean her against her Mommy.  Well, her Mommy was correct when she said, "you can try but I bet she leans back in a few minutes." 

And, a quick snapshot with Great Grandma Holtz.  She has always, always provided fantastic holiday meals.  She loves to host Christmas and still does a lot of the planning.  We all step in to help with the cooking (mostly my mom, Aunt Connie, and Aunt Jean) to alleviate her oven and the pressure to cook for a growing family.  But, even with the additional people, though many of them are little, we manage to squeeze in and enjoy the time we all have together.  Grandma and Grandpa now have 3 kids and their spouses, 7 grandchildren with 4 spouses, and 7 great grandchilden.  A full house for sure!

Santa came!!!! {Christmas Morning}

Since we had decided to stay home Christmas Eve, we knew that we would have to travel on Christmas morning.  And even though we didn't want to get in the vehicles and drive 5 hours, we are still so happy that we did so we could have Christmas Eve together and celebrate Santa on Christmas morning.  Levi woke up at his usual early hour and then we woke the girls so we could get ready.  We made them get dressed before we let them go downstairs because we knew that would be an impossible task after they had presents.  So, no photos in jammies but I think you can still see the excitement....and actually, making them get dressed first got them even more worked up and ready to find out what Santa got them.

 

This girl was so excited to give us our Christmas gifts.  She had been hiding them in her room for days and days.  I loved the card she made at school and even an extra one she had put together at home.  There was even a ceramic ornament that managed to stay in one piece.

 

They got really excited to see that Santa had eaten some of the cookies and drank the milk too!

 

 

Lots of action photos!

Levi was headed right to the leftover cookies!

 

 

Levi was most pleased with his tic-tacs.  Seriously had to extract them from his hands like you might need to extract an abscessed tooth.  He had a tight grip and was very vocal about them!

 

 

He really likes his new tractors.  Good pick Daddy!

 

Another baby bottle for all her babies.  This girl was so happy to have more baby supplies!

 

We found these fun Frozen Pez dispensers and just had to get them for the kids.  Jason's mom actually used to give him Pez every year in his stocking until just recently.  I remember when we were first dating and he'd get that and lifesavers in his stocking....I thought it was strange, but now I appreciate the tradition she had created and think it was cute she carried it forward for so long.  And, then the year came when she didn't put them in the stockings for Jason and his brother and that was the first thing they said, "Hey Mom, where is our candy?!!"

 

The girls each got a Frozen watch.  I looked long and hard for old school watches with hands and all the numbers on the face.  Didn't have any luck, and probably should have started my search more than 3 days prior to the holiday...but regardless the girls were thrilled!

 

One thing we didn't think of the million times every minute we'd hear "what time is it now?"  All the way to Grandma's house!!!!  Daddy was in a different vehicle since we were returning Grandma Nancy's truck we had borrowed and he lucked out for sure.  Santa needed to teach the girls to tell time quickly!

 

One of these shirts was actually a birthday present for Leah that Mommy forgot about.  So, an easy fix was to find a second shirt for the other sister.  Good to go!  Easy way to make a forgotten birthday gift into a Christmas gift.

The girls had seen the little Olafs at the grocery store before Christmas and begged and begged for them.  We had convinced them that each girl should give one to Lilly and Lyssa as gifts.  They liked that idea but were perhaps a little distraught that didn't solve the original issue of them wanting an Olaf.  Lesley even slept with the Olaf dolls in the plastic bag hoping and praying Santa would know she wanted one just like she was giving Lilly and Lyssa.  Thankfully Daddy was on board with a special trip to the grocery store to get one for each of their stockings.

 

Levi was also a big fan of the Olaf dolls and thought it was hilarious to poke Daddy with the carrot nose.  He was cracking himself up.

 

What a fun year for Levi!  He didn't really care what he got as a gift, just liked being part of the action.

 

Then, it was time for Leah to give Lesley her gift.  Leah had gotten the giant Olaf doll from the babysitter and Lesley was hysterical that she didn't get one.  Daddy saved the day and found the last giant Olaf at Target on his way home Christmas Eve.  So, Leah and him secretly wrapped it and put it under the tree for Lesley.

 

 

Leah was so happy to give Lesley her very own Olaf.

 

 

And, Lesley was thrilled to have one!  Seriously the best moment and biggest hug/tackle of the morning.  They really are sweet sisters to each other.

I just feel so overjoyed with these kids.  It was a guilt filled Christmas for mommy because we have been on such a tight budget (2 mortgage payments = a little extra stress).  I had so many great ideas for the kids, but all came down to cost and how much was practical this year.  In the end, it didn't really matter and I should not have worried.  The kids were thrilled with the things we did find for them and they don't see things with price tags anyway.  They see happiness, fun, and joy!