Christmas in Canada

 After Christmas #1 in Colorado we moved on to Christmas #2 in Mountain View with all the Sherwood cousins.

 The kids sat in a line from oldest to youngest to begin the present opening.

 Grandma and Grandpa have the tradition of giving church clothes for Christmas.

 They always do a great job of picking pretty dresses.

 The cousin gift exchange brought two blankets,

 a purse,

 and duct tape to make duct tape crafts.

 We love our cousins!!

 The Sherwood Christmas also always includes a talent show.

 I must say the Lamberts stole the show this year with "Double Dream Hands".

 We may have to make this a tradition.

 Brookie sang a solo.

 And so did Mia.

 Then we were on the Christmas #3 at the Lamberts.

 Christmas Eve always brings THE BEST homemade pizza and chocolate dessert.

 And we must read "Lowly Worm".

 And put out cookies for Santa with a note.

 Brookie was the first up (no surprise there)

 Emma woke up happy.

 Ellie, not so much.

 But she eventually got into the mood.

 Soon after the opening stockings Mia started to feel sick.

 She was able to open presents though.

 Brookie got her highly anticipated dream light.

 After presents Mia gave in to her illness.

 My cowgirls.

 Sledding with the Sherwoods.

 New Year's we went to the Family Festival.

 Then we went back to Grandma and Grandpa's where Lily organized a gift to open every hour.

 This was #1

 These wood crafts were another present.  Other ones included pedacure supplies, wii games, chocolate, noise makers and glow sticks.

 For lunch one day we made pretzels.

 Twinsies.

 Best cousins.

Colorado Christmas

 Ellie had her first middle school choir concert.

 She was nervous but did great.

 She also had a few clogging Christmas performances.

 It has been so much fun to see how good she has become since she started.

 At one of the performances Santa was there to talk to the kids.

 Brookie and Mia love to show off their jumping skills.

 The kids love that every year they get three Christmases.  The first on is at home before we go to Canada.  Then they have one in Vulcan and one in Mountain View or Lethbridge.

 For our Colorado Christmas we make hot chocolate,

 make gingerbread houses,

 and open presents.  This year we gave our kids a trip in February.

 Mia opened the first clue, which was an airplane.

 Brookie opened the second clue, which was a map of where we are going.  They saw it was an island and excitedly said "we are going to Hawaii".  Um, no.  Then they realized that Florida was part of the map and they excitedly said "we are going to Disneyworld"  Um, no.  When we told them we are going to Key West they said "What's that?".  Their enthusiasm was a little underwhelming at first but they got more excited.

 Especially when they learned the dates and realized that they get to miss a week of school (hence, Emma's reaction)

 After we showed them pictures and explained what it would be like they all seemed pretty happy.

 Brooklyn had her preschool Christmas concert.

  She attends a Christian pre-school where they are very enthusiastic about praising the Lord.  She gets right into it and is very cute to watch.

October

October is Ellie's favorite month.  The weather gets cooler, it has Halloween and, of course, her birthday.  She was a cute witch this year.  Here she is with her good friend Mataya.

Arrrrr! This is our adorable pirate.

Emma really wanted to be a panda bear.  She made this costume up,  which I was all for. One less costume to buy.

 Rapunzel.

 For Ellie's birthday she invited a few of her closest friends out for a night of fun.

 There was Mataya, Kira, and Claire.

 We went out to Red Robin, then to a local production of Music Man, and home again for cake, and a sleepver.