A few more...

I found a few more pictures on my phone that I wanted to share.

Nalu's favorite things this christmas has been these books that MY parents and also Quinn's dad gave to us last christmas. He carries these around all the time, asking anyone to READ GRANDPA. Unfortunately, they haven't held up soo well and therefore sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.

Another memorable event was our Hanamaikai Christmas gathering. We ate and ate, then had a visit from HAWAIIAN Santa. Some of the kids were fooled and some...not soo much!

The cousins also did their gift exchange and everyone LOVED their gifts. They all seem to know each other pretty well and what like! My kids were definitely HAPPY!! We love our time together with family. We just don't seem to get it as often as we'd like!

Christmas Eve-Day

Because we had school through Wed.

this mom was just too busy to squeeze

this in any time before. So Christmas Eve day we made

gingerbread houses and christmas cookies.

It was a big messy afternoon, but it wouldn't be

Christmas without these traditions!

Our Christmas Eve program included:

lots of music (both spiritual and not-so-much)

The New Video-A Gift to the World, our

reinactment of the Nativity (wasn't the

greatest this year, but its all about tradition, right)

reading of "Teach the Children", our favorite story

and CD "God Bless your Way", our Gifts to

Jesus-White Stocking. After we gave our gifts

to Jesus, the kids got to open one gift...new jammies.

Another of our favorites on Christmas is watching

Mr. Krueger's christmas.

Then we had to get ready for Santa's arrival

and sprinkle reindeer food

and leave a note, cookies and egg nog for Santa

(the other note is his note in return).

The kids all went to sleep very easily,

so mom could make some last minute

preparations.

The kids were happy with what they got,

especially there $$ from Grandma and Grandpa Asplund.

It was easier for me to just give them the

money this year, and let them choose what they

want rather than me take more time and TRY and

guess something for each of them.

(I suggested tonight they spend some

AND then save some)

Thankfully Nalu slept through most of the present opening

and we got him up when we were finishing up.

That way he wouldn't be ripping into everyone else's

and we could just focus in him at that point!

I told him to smile and so he folded his arms

and said CHEESE! A little mixed up but oh well?!

Give me all YOUR candy and I am one happy boy!

The kids all dressed up for church.

Ame and Quinn are in the choir and

we had a wonderful, spirit-filled program.

I missed the beginning because, right as

sacrament started Nalu fell and bit his lip real

bad! I hurried to the restroom to try and stop

the bleeding. You can still see the teeth marks.

It bled a ton!! He cried soo much he tired himself out

and slept through the program. Poor little guy!

But at lesat I didn't have to wrestle him.

I didn't get any pictures, but I made my first attempt

at making a turkey dinner and felt pretty good about

the results. Definitely room for improvement,

but nothing burned and everyone seemed satisified.

Quinn' s mom and step-dad came to our ward

and stayed the afternoon with us. Frankie

is always soo helpful, cleaning my house and

just lending an extra hand. We ate and just

hung out, watched the kids play/fight over their new toys.

It was a fairly relaxing day and I think,

at least for part of the day, everyones hearts and focus were

in the RIGHT PLACE!

I am thankful this Christmas Season for the peace

and spirit I have felt. I am soo thankful for my

Savior. For his sacrifice, his love and perfect example.

I am thankful to have a knowledge of HIM and know

of his LOVE for me. It has carried me through some

difficult times in life.

I am also thankful for my family and friends,

both near and far. For their love, prayers, kindness,

caring and generosity towards me and my family.

I am satisfied and tired, so I will end by saying...

Merry Christmas to all and to all a GOOD Night!!

Polar Express OVERLOAD

Tuesday was Polar Express Day in my class, so

lucky Miss Ame got to come to school with me.

She just "ate up" all the attention she got from

my students. She had a blast and it was pretty

fun for me to have MY GIRL there for a day!

Leading up to this day we had done various

learning activities tied to this story.

Then this afternoon the students got

to watch the movie and also make a candle

as a gift to give to whomever they chose.

Here's me and Ame with my cute, crazy class!

I wish I would have taken a picture of the FINISHED

product the next day. We gift wrapped the candles in

these cute bags that we decorated to look like

a Santa suit (red bag, black strip, with a buckle

and some added cotton).

Then after school we had a FUN surprise for our kids.

We surprised them with their own POLAR EXPRESS

ride, up in Heber. They were soo excited when we

told them where we were headed right after school.

It was SOO cold. Luckily the train was heated!

LADY FROST, as she was called,

was the MC for the ride.

She organized various games and

activities while we were on the train.

Waiting...

waiting...

waiting...

and we are off to the North Pole.

Nalu was soo funny. He was standing up with the

program (as if he were reading it) and just singing away.

He can actually sing along to a few songs.

His favorite is Frosty the Snowman.

Thw excitment escalated when we arrived

at the North Pole and Santa got on board.

Gave each of the kids a bell, asked them what they wanted

and shook their hand.

It was a MAGICAL night for the kids. Kaipo and

Ash were especially enthralled with the whole night!

Then Wed. night (we had already planned this event

b4 the actual train ride so there was no getting out of this one)

the kids each had a friend over for a

POLAR EXPRESS PARTY.

That was a lot of craziness. I don't know how much they

actually watched the movie, but they

were definitely SUGAR filled!!

hot cocoa, homemade treats (lots of which came

as gifts from my students), popcorn, etc...

Ame and her friend punched everyone tickets

These two buddies even wore their matching jammies.

So I think after these two days, we were on

Polar Express OVERLOAD, but

definitely made lots of FUN memories!!