GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS 2010

yep -behind again!

We've had alot going on between getting ready for Christmas ~our first with Biruk, Christmas itself, and then the last week or so doing some fun stuff.

I'm hoping to have us caught up again within a few days. :)

Biruk laying his presents under the tree.
This year we decided to have the kids buy each of their siblings a gift. We took each kid to the dollar store and let them pick out whatever they wanted to give their siblings. We figured a grand total of $12 was something we could afford. :) AND they learned the fun of picking out something special all on their own.

it was actually fun to take the kids and see how well they knew their siblings ~and how much thought they put into choosing the gifts.

After the gifts were purchased, we had each kid help us wrap their gifts too!

Becca is delivering her wrapped gifts to the tree.

Andrew helping me wrap his gifts.

the week before Christmas we had 3 of my sister's girls over to spend the night.

it's a bit crazy when we add more to the crowd -but oh so much fun!

here-our dinner table is FULL and John ended up eating at the couch. :)

bed time stories ~ they all "ganged up" on me and had me read our 2 Shoey and Dot books...the first one makes me cry EVERY time I read it. EVERY time. It's not meant to be a tear-jerker type book...it just is for this mama who aches for all the little ones still waiting for their mother to come.

did you know Storm and Clone Troopers were there to worship Baby Jesus?

notice even the 1 trooper is prostrate behind one of the wise men. :)

making the gingerbread house...Becca is absent cuz she went with John to find 1 last gift for Andrew

our family ~Christmas Eve 2010

getting to open ONE gift on Christmas Eve ~ a tradition John and I both grew up with so want to carry on with the kids

boys -matching backpacks with $$ to treat the girls (and themselves) to a Happy*Meal at McD's

girls -little dolls and bracelets