December 28-30
Christmas continues past the day for us, it always has. The 29th was no different. We had our dinner with my dear friend Shandai and then gifts and the like. It was a visit long in coming, I think the last time we had Christmas together we were in University still! We had Ken’s stir fry and sat and visited for hours.
The gifts were met with great excitement, especially Echo and her new mittens. Talk about something we ALWAYS need more of! Echo was determined to wear hers and show them off as much as possible.
It was fun to sit afterwards with our crafts – Shandai with her hat and myself with my backpack that is ALMOST looking like a backpack. We just sat, chatted and crafted and it was AWESOME!
Of course earlier in the day Ken and the kids had to build another of the toys… this one a marble set.
And Echo had to get her Hello Kitty on! Note the purse made by her Aunty Kat in South Carolina.
The 28th, to back track… was quiet. Really the kids did not want to be anywhere but home with their toys.
Of course the twins had to get to work on the last of the Lego sets. This was the one the boys all pooled their remaining Christmas money for… based on the new movie The Hobbit.
On the 30th we upped the fun with the addition of the kids’ cousins for an overnight stay. Which meant an immediate congregating around the Skylanders game of all the boys. Ken and I have put our foot down that they must READ as much as they can and not just click through the game or their time will be cut way back! But the problem solving skills and the math skills (gotta figure out if they have enough for upgrades, how much more is needed etc) is rather helpful.
Of course after the arguments started it was time to head outside. Though Zachary forgot everything and had to borrow mittens and a hat and was only out for an abbreviated amount of time.
There was time in the evening for a rousing game of Yahtzee. And I mean ROUSING! We did discover that too many kids increased the bad behaviour and restlessness but that math skills were at work for everyone from Emanuel on up!
Nana had a late mailing arrive from Hong Kong as well – rings that light up… so of course we had to have a light show all over the upstairs! Even Echo had one on her fingers shining it everywhere.
A house full of Post Christmas energy kids… what a full house! I think our first Christmas season in Minnesota has been a rousing success. I have called my mom, talked to the rest of my family via the internet… seen pictures from friends’ celebrations (I hope to get enough to fill a blog entry).