The Best Christmas Present Ever

All 3 of the kids participated in the Christmas program at church tonight.  Emmaline sang with the preschoolers and did a great job.  She can't sing most of the words, but she know the motions that go with the songs better than most of the kids.  She really stole the show and made everyone clap after each song they sang.

Jacob and Ellie both had parts in the older kids' program.  Ellie sang a solo and was an angel in the nativity scene at the end of the show.  Jacob played a Wise guy, sang a solo, and was a wise man in the nativity scene.  Everyone did so well and we were really proud of them.  

These shows bring back so many great memories from when I was growing up in the same church and singing in programs on the same stage.  My friend, Emily, and I had solos and various speaking parts in every program from kindergarten through junior high.  I'm hoping the kids will have as many fond memories of these programs as I do!

 Love them so much! 

 Emmaline clapping after one of their songs

 Ellie singing her solo

 Jacob during his solo

 Time for cookies

 Ellie and Emma

Nathan and Jacob

Co-op Craft Day

Instead of the regular homeschool co-op schedule, the kids had a craft day.  They colored pictures, made ornaments, and had a great time with their friends.  After crafts, we enjoyed a carry-in lunch with the other families.  Lots of yummy food and lots of laughs equals a perfect day!

 Emmaline made an ornament with Mommy's help

 Jacob made one too

 And so did Ellie

 Coloring a picture

 Lunch time

Silly faces

Friends:  Elijah, Elliot, Ellie & Emma

Jacob's 9th Birthday Party - Part 1

At the beginning of the year, Nathan and some friends opened an Indonesian martial arts school. He teaches there two nights a week and Jacob and Ellie get to train there for free. It is definitely a win/win situation for our family because Nathan gets to do something he loves while the kids can get rid of some of their extra energy.

When we asked Jacob what he wanted to do for his birthday party, his immediate response was to have a party at Aegis. The school had never done anything like this before, but they were willing to give it a go. Nathan and Kim did an excellent job instructing the kids during the party. We could tell that everyone had a great time and they probably will sleep really well tonight.

During the party, the kids did an obstacle course, learned some martial arts moves, and played "roller ball tag".

I love this picture...you can almost hear his laughter!

It's not a party without food. We had veggies, cheeseballs, Gatorade, and of course, cupcakes and ice cream.

Time for presents

Jacob's 8th Birthday Party...

My Jakey-boy turns 8 tomorrow! Not sure where the time went, because it seems like just yesterday (or at least a couple of weeks ago!) that we brought him home from the hospital. He is all boy and chose "camouflage" as his party theme. He had a party with friends this afternoon and then a family party at dinner time.

Playing "Pin the Tank"

Gabriel, Chuckie, and Jacob

Noah and Collin

Mackenzie, Ellie, and Mikayla

Jacob planned the menu: Subway sandwiches, veggies, egg rolls, deviled eggs, meatballs, hummus w/ pita chips, and grapes. He did a good job covering all the food groups.

Jacob loves his new books.

These are both books that I sell with Usborne. Have I mentioned how great our books are?!

Aunt Katie and Mr. Sai

Me and the Birthday Boy

Jenny's Baby Shower

Tonight we celebrated my friend, Jenny, and the upcoming arrival of her third baby (and first boy!), Connor Abraham. I reserved the meeting room at a local Panera and lots of friends from church came. We enjoyed yummy soup, salad, and sandwiches, and then ate Mom's apple cider cake while Jenny opened presents. I can't wait to meet the little guy in a few short weeks!Apple Cider Cake with real whipped cream

I love little boy clothes!

Almost makes me want to have another one...not quite, but almost!

Happy Birthday, Sophia!

Ellie's friend (and daughter of my UBAM buddy, Janine), Sophia, celebrated her fifth birthday today. It was Care Bear themed from the face painting (safer than tummy painting!) to the cupcake craft and cake. They even played musical clouds!Ellie made a cupcake magnet

The birthday girl makes a wish

Musical clouds

Playing Littlest Pet Shop with Wesley

Here Fishy, Fishy!

We took the kids to the Newport Aquarium today. It is nice to go in February because the kids get in for free with a paying adult. We met our friends, Todd and Janine, there, along with their kiddos, Sophia and Wesley. The kids had a blast exploring and the adults had some good conversation as well. Our visits to Newport are always topped off with pizza from Dewey's. My sister, Katie, met us, since she works just across the river in Cincinnati. My brother, Andy, is stationed at a base in Blue Ash, so he drove down to meet us as well. We had to send Nathan out to the parking lot to meet him because Andy rarely has cash on him and didn't have money to pay for parking. It was a most memorable day!
Jacob touching a shark Nathan feeding the birds Jacob and Wesley swimming with the jellyfish Nathan and Todd show the kids how to play "Frogger" Ellie Jacob Alligator Touching horseshoe crabs and other sea creatures

Watching them make our pizza at Dewey's

Emma's 6th Birthday

Ellie's friend, Emma, turned 6 this week. She had a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party that was lots of fun for all the little girls that came. They played "Pin the Tail on Pupcake", ate some yummy cake, and watched Emma open lots of presents.

Ellie

Chatting with Kaiya

Ellie and the birthday girl, Emma