Christmas 2011

 It was a great Christmas.  We enjoyed spending time with family.  On Thursday, we headed over to Regina and Erica's house to exchange presents.  The boys got gift card and money.  Ella got "crabby patties" well aka peppermint patties, money and a doggie purse.  Her favorite part was playing with Harmony and Spanky the dogs.  Erica is a junior at ECU. 

We headed to mom and dad's for Christmas Eve breakfast. 

yummo!  My favorite.  The kids were so excited we got there 1 hour early.  The middle picture above is everyone holding their boxes waiting to open at the same time because they each got the same thing.  iPADS!!!!  3 of them.  The kids were blown away. 

The second picture below is what we saw most of the day.  All three sitting on the couch with the top of their head showing.  We also headed to our new church for a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service.  It was so great to have both of our parents with us.  Ella was super excited to light her candle.  She kept just watching it.

Christmas Eve gets to open one package.  NEW PJs.  Gabby even decided to join our picture. 

Christmas morning is one of my favorite times.  I love seeing the kids faces.  All smiles. 

We headed to Jeff's parents around 4 for Christmas supper. 

More pictures from the day.  It was a family day.  Love Jeff and Garrett's ears.  HA. 

Jeff and Seth decided to go hunting tonight. 

Our house is beginning to grasp the whole concept of Christmas.  We are at 3 different stages of what the day means.  The coolest part was the anticipation, smiles, surprises and the spirit of being a kid.

Jeff and I received many hugs and thank you.   Everyone was well pleased.

We also have heard some powerful sermons from Pastor Clint this Christmas season that will forever be a part of who were are.  Great life lessons were learned from the Christmas story.

May we as a family honor Christ in all we do. 

COOKIES+ 8 KIDS = A LOT OF FUN

We had some friends over yesterday to make and bake and decorate Christmas cookies.

I had prepared the cookie mix but the kids had to roll out and cut the cookies they wanted.

Mr. Perfectionist had a hard time rolling the dough without it getting stuck to the rolling pin.  We had 3 stations for rolling and cutting.

This is how one of the kids decided to cut his cookies out.  Ha!  It works.

After rolling and cutting, we ate lunch.  This gave the cookies time to cool. 

After cooling, time to ice.  Remember I had 8 kids here at one time doing this.  It was alot of fun.  I hope this is a new tradition.  I'm not sure if more icing went on the cookies or licked off of the fingers.  Each kid had about 15 to 20 cookies.  Not sure they will last until Christmas though

Who has the camera?

While eating supper last night, Jeff and Ella decided to take over the camera.  It was funny to see what the pictures turned out to look like. 

Garrett and Noni

Ella with a big smile

Ha very out of character for me to be silly

Papa not very excited to be having his picture made

Ella in charge of the camera captured a picture of meme

a picture of herself - pretty good

Ella teasing papa

Ella in charge again and silly daddy joining my picture

Fun to see the silly side of our family gatherings.  Maybe I should give Jeff the camera more often

Seth's 10th Birthday

bowling with family

cool picture with the papas

Green maching from meme and papa - seth rode in the parking lot at the bowling alley

new pojo from noni and papa eating at his favorite resturant - O'Charley's

Birthday morning

Seth,

You are an incredible boy.  You have such a compassionate heart and love of others.  You have stepped out this year and tried so new things, piano and TKD.  You remind me so much of your dad.  I love to spend time with you each day.  To teach you can be a bit challenging because you like things perfect on the first try.  You truly care for others and will sacrifice different things to be sure everyone else is happy.  You love to play.  The nick nack guy is what you are.  We call you messy marvin since you love to "WEAR" whatever you are eating.  I love you hugs and how you check on me.  You are a mommy's boys.  I hope it stays that way for some time.  So proud to be your mom.

Seth Branson Weddine, you are wished a happy birthday. 

Merry Christmas

We decided to wear our Christmas clothes to church this past Sunday.  I  tried to have us match 2 times a year - Christmas and Easter.  I am so proud of my family.  I could talk about them forever.  God has blessed me in so many ways.  I feel so honored to have a incredible husband and three amazing, yet very different, children who each bring their own twist to our family.

Christmas 2011

Garrett is 13

Seth is 10

Ella is 5

Jeff and I have been married  for 16 years

Week's Happenings

These are just a few things we have been up to the past week

Gabby was laying on the couch one night.  She kinda beds down around 9:00 or so.  Garrett decided to cover her up and tuck her in while she slept.

Ella had a tea party birthday party to attend.  She decided to dress up.  I thought she looked so grown up.  She calls her shoes "high heels".  ha

We headed to the library for a reading of the Gingerbread Man.  Afterwards, she was able to decorate a gingerbread girl.  She looks crafts.

She is officially a Girl Scouts.  She is able to wear her vest.  Check out the feet.   This is a new thing as she posed for pictures. 

We have been very busy these past few weeks. 

Nutcracker Weekend

I posted earlier about dress rehearsal for the Nutcracker.  This weekend was the big weekend.

Ella had one show on Friday and two shows on Saturday. 

This was her nutcracker sweatshirt.  Every cast members name is on the back.  She loved seeing her name printed on the shirt. 

Tip toeing - her big part- she is on the left

 These are the six cherubs in the dressing room waiting to perform.

 I thought this was the funniest picture.  Ella had performed the first show.  After the first show, we came home to chill.  Ella was all fixed for the show.  She came home and let her hair down, had a snack and laid back. 

Meme gave Ella a new ballet nutcracker and flowers.

This family is really a hockey family.  Garrett and Seth have played hockey with both of these boys for 5 years or so.  Ella invited Mrs. Marsha to the show.  She had all the boys of the family come as well.  All three boys were not that thrilled they were spending their Saturday night at a ballet performance.  They sure made one little girl so happy.  They also brought her flowers.  (check out her feet - all fixed in a ballet position)

So proud of our little cherub in her very 1st nutcracker.

I told Jeff that I think he had many years of the nutcracker to come.

Ella is enjoying performing.  She loves to do makeup and hair for the show.

Christmas at Our House

Decorating for Christmas is a huge task but the memories with each decoration adds a smile to my face.

Some years I keep everything the same.  This year it seems that each decoration has a new place.  The best part for me is seeing the children smile as I bring each item out of its box. 

This year Ella has really been worried about who stocking is who's. 

This is a picture of our mantle

This Children realized just the other day why we have stockings.  Thanks to St. Nicholas. 

 

Our Christmas Tree

This year we decided to place the tree in the foyer.  It blocks our way into the school room.  We have to go all the way around through the kitchen.  Gabby has been the most confused.    This is her route to her bed after going outside.  Sometimes I feel as though we are the only ones to see our Christmas decorations. 

I am impressed there are actually presents wrapped under the tree.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Nutcracker Take 1

The girls are ready for their 1st take on the big stage.

The Cherubs

 Anna Li and Ella

 This is the starting place where Ella stands for the beginning part.  Eva Rose is the big girl that helps Ella.

Tip Toe to her place.  Ella comes straight forward then over to the side.

Standing in her place on stage.  Mrs. Bonita is in the blue shirt in the left of the picture.  Ella looks so small on the big stage with all the other girls.

 Ella and Anna Li are so excited to be a part of the Nutcracker.  They both are all smiles.  Both girls have 3 performances to do this weekend.  Many friends and family are planning to come see the performances. 

So blessed that God is allowing me to see our daughter find joy in dancing.  It really is hard to believe that I am walking in the footsteps that my mom did as she watched me dance for many years. 

My heart is overjoyed. 

Decorating the Lollipop Lodge

Yes you heard right.  The Lollipop Lodge.  We found this neat little house at the Southern Christmas show.  I was so excited.  Meme bought it for us to decorate.  We always decorate a gingerbread house for Christmas.   Usually I buy 3 houses because everyone wants to use their own ideas.  So this year, we decided that everyone gets a side. 

http://www.lollipoplodge.com/

Ella was up first.  In PJ's of course  This girl loves PJ's.

 Seth's turn.

Garrett was the only one that I caught licking his fingers but believe me everyone had their share of licks and a few nibbles of candy. 

 Ella got to lick the icing spatula. 

I know it looks like a knife but it's not. 

The Lollipop Lodge suggest doing this for each holiday.  We'll see if this is something we do.  It would be easy since candy maker change the candies to fit each season. 

It is very tempting not to eat the candy.  Garrett just asked if after Christmas we could eat some candy off the house.

Weekend Events

What a crazy Saturday and Sunday we had.  We survived. 

Seth's Pack was in the Unionville Christmas Parade

The bus behind them is just a hoot. 

Ella sang at church Sunday.  Wasn't sure how this was going to go since we are now at a new church.

She did a great job.

Sunday Night we were at home watching a movie and we hear sirens.  This is not unusual for us since the fire department is just a few blocks away from our house.  But this time, the sirens got closer and closer.  Then we see the lights reflecting off our neighbors windows.  We step outside almost scared to look at what was happening in our neighborhood. 

Some to find out

All the firetrucks were decorated.  Santa was wishing us a Merry Christmas.

This was the truck Santa was on.  Music was playing.  It was pretty special.

Even a Christmas tree.  We were all surprised. 

May the Christmas Season begin.

Testing for a New Belt

Seth tested on Saturday for a High Yellow Belt.  Below are pictures of the different things he had to show is Master.

High Yellow

Very Proud of you Seth

The Karate Kid right before our eyes