December 26-30

Otherwise known as the Boxing Day that wasn’t. Here in Minnesota it was life as usual. Well for the rest of the world (even Baba went to work as usual!). WE had a Boxing Day as usual. For the Reinsch-Johnson family that means a day in pj’s playing with our new toys and eating leftovers.

The day was nice enough to boot the kids outside for a bit of course.

Echo gave her all as a fairy flitting here and there.

It was the next day – Friday where we got the perfect snowman making snow. And as a promise had been extracted from me to NOT do schoolwork until after New Years, well this Mommy is cringing at the lack of worksheets and spelling tests… just a little!

Though the kids did make good use of those new toys.

We also got our Christmas care package from Grandma and Grandpa Mike. Definitely full of some fun goodies.

The kids had tons of fun over the weekend with their cousins. There was no Sunday school so they played on uninterrupted.

Crafting

Going to a movie with Nana and Baba!

We did a little shopping on the Monday and spent some of our Christmas money, replaced a game we had already and generally had a nice family outing.

Grandma money

Exchanged game

Then we snuck in ONE learning activity – I had taped a new Wild Kratts. So we watched and did our mini poster.

Bullfrogs

Then… well we had one day left to the year… which I will talk about in our next entry!!!

Annnndddd we make it to Christmas… and a boatload of images

December 25

Well Merry Merry Merry Christmas 2013! Our second in the USA. Of course we led off with what we call “Canadian Christmas”. This is the portion of Christmas where we open anything from Ken and myself… the stockings I made the kids the year they were born, anything mailed to us from Canada or family and friends in the States or abroad. Of course there were gifts from Santa in special Santa paper (a Minnesota quirk added to our traditions!).Though the girls zeroed in right away on the kitchen set sent to them from Aunty Holly, Uncle James and Cousin Jimmie.

Thank you Aunty Holly!

With their stockings

I made Ken 3 different pieces

Ready for the US gifts

Breakfast!

Not too long after breakfast Joe, Faithe and the cousins arrived and it was time for round two – Minnesota Christmas… gifts from Nana and Baba and Santa!

All 7 cousins

Gavin and the much requested Ring Tailed Lemur

Trinity and her “Twinkling” box

Then it was off to play with all the new items while we waited for Jim, Judy, Robbie and Jessica.

Not even supper time yet!

Supper was two tables worth of fun and lovely ham and fixings. And then it was play play play until right before the cousins had to go home when we opened the gifts from Jim and Judy.

Full outfit

I think it is official. Because of the amazing presents from those local and from afar our 5 have had one of their most amazing and memorable Christmases! I don’t know that we can EVER thank people enough!! But offhand… we opened presents from Karyn, my dad and Jamie, Gammie (spoiled!), Nana and Baba, Joe and Faithe, Jim and Judy and each other. Thank you all!  

Nana’s wine

Working my way to THE day… next entry… I promise!

December 23-24

Two days until Christmas and the excitement is high! We recorded our yearly Christmas concert which I posted on Facebook (I am on there as Lisa Reinsch-Johnson if you wish to see it. Just request that I friend you due to my blog!). We did a single song this time – an extended version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas. I added in the Phrase 1 between each of the following and at the end to really get us singing and dancing. You can find the words we used HERE. Thanks to Noella Designs.

We had more classic movies and drawings to do…

What a reading list we have had this year and almost all of them from our own shelves!!!

The kids ALL volunteered to clean  the bathroom for Christmas and did a wonderful job!

The kids spent some time baking with daddy to round off our pre Christmas preparation. So much happy holiday vibes in the house!

Our Christmas Eve ended up much quieter than anticipated. Ken’s uncle and his family usually come over for a traditional Ukrainian style food dinner. Sadly his uncle was released from the hospital the morning of Christmas Eve with strict instructions to stay off his feet post surgery. We are praying for his fast recovery and that this is the end of surgery for him. But it did mean a lack of company with a table full of food!

The table looked amazing.

As did the brand new Christmas pj’s.

We had a gift for the bigger 4 to open from Nana and Baba – Wikki Sticks! what a fun activity!

And Echo opened one too… a frog that moves its mouth and makes noise. Surprised her a little!!

Of course we left cookies and milk for Santa and carrots and special reindeer food outside for the reindeer. The kids were so excited! And a night at home was perfect for a restful and quick settle down to bed in the evening.

Definitely necessary as Ken had a kitchen set to build (thanks to Holly and James) and we had presents to sort out and place under the tree.

Earlier in the day I made Echo a baby Jesus out of a sock. You can make this super simple baby as well using the instructions found HERE. Thanks to Catholic Icing for this super simple sweety!