Christmas Part 2

We had fun roller skating as a group.

 You're looking a the proud winners of red light green light.

Now you're looking at the proud recipient of the reward.  This picture also requires being clicked on to be appreciated.

They had a nice play area for when the kids got sick of skating.

 Other festivities included gingerbread houses

 I made a pinata for the kids and they seemed to have fun.

The activity the kids really loved was decorating this castle grandma got for them. 

Thanks Mom and Dad for letting all of us come and crash your house.  It was fun to see almost everyone except Chad's family.  We missed them but it sounds like they had a good CA Christmas.

Christmas Part 1

We got to go to IL for Christmas and this is the illustrated rundown of our trip. 

Christmas Eve started with the traditional christmas cookie decorating.  You should click on the picture and appreciate Joe's 3D effect on his tree.

That night we had the Christmas Eve meal of lasagna and bread.  Yum!

 Next was the Nativity reenactment where Lincoln played a shepherd...

 a flexible shepherd(he is always on his head or doing rolls now. We're not sure why.)

 Rachel played an angel

and Hannah played ready for bed.

It looks like we skipped Christmas morning, but for the record, we kept ourselves busy with the ping pong tournament that Joe won by default again because my family can't seem to finish it.  

 Joe and Jay played some pretty intense games of Don't Break the Ice.  Here's one of the real thriller games.  I say that sarcastically, but to them it was pretty serious.

Joe celebrated turning the big 28.  Deanna was kind to make his pie for him.   Hopefully Joe still had a good birthday not overshadowed by the holiday hype.  I did give him a good present by changing all of Hannah's poopy diapers that day.

Why my mother should come help me decorate

Reason number 327: Snow White and Lincoln have a hard time helping me visualize.

My excuse

I haven't been very good about updating our blog and this is my reason why:  the quilt.  This quilt had the fabric from Deanna and Dale's reception.  I didn't pace myself and had to put a lot of time in before we left for Christmas.  I kind of had trouble parting with it because of all the work I did.  I'm glad it's going to a good home:)  I appreciate Joe's sister Patti more with all her time she puts into her detailed quilting work. 

Thanksgiving

Joe's brother Jeff invited us to Thanksgiving so we made the trek down to TN.  It was nice that his brother Steven and sister Holly came with their kids.  Rachel and Lincoln loved playing with their cousins. We hardly saw them:)

The annual Danielson tradition of the cousins making apple turkeys.

We had fun going to "Incredible Pizza" (like Chucky Cheese's).  The kids liked the line dance party, even though they weren't following it very well.

I think they were distracted by the woman's cool costume.

On the rides.  I'm glad Joe was there to help because the kids were having fun wandering wherever they wanted to.  Hannah loved the racing games.

The feast!  It was delicious!  Thanks Jeff and Kristen for a fun Thanksgiving!

Graduation and Flat Rachel

Joe had his Lockheed FLDP (Financial Leadership Development Program) graduation in Orlando this weekend.  Rachel's class read a book about "Flat Stanley" that made himself flat and traveled all around the world(I'm sure there's more to that story).  Her teacher sent home a flat Rachel for us to take pictures with wherever we went.  We figured Joe's business trip would be the perfect place for Flat Rachel.  Joe did a good job remembering to take pictures.

Halloween

I tried to do a themed dinner of green bean witch's fingers and mummy hotdogs.  I don't think it would win any presentation awards, but A for effort.

The kids and I right before going trick or treating.  Rachel is Izzy from Jake and the Neverland Pirates and the rest are more recognizable.

 Joe stayed back to pass out candy and I took these three.  I think I need to stop telling them to say cheese because they just end up with their mouths wide open:)  They had a lot of fun.  Rachel really enjoyed having her friends go with her.  I had to drop off Hannah shortly after we started because Lincoln needed the stroller.