December 2021 Roundup

We never have a full December at home due to holiday travel, but somehow manage to pack it all in anyways. Here are a few highlights from the month:

Amarillo actually has pretty cold winters for Texas, but we always get a few random days where you can wear shorts and play outside! 

Griffin spends his days oscillating between naughty and nice, but either way he's pretty cute

Dave picked a terrible day to not close the garage on his way to work

A giant tumbleweed blew in front of our car at school pickup and Sophie jumped out to catch it. She begged to take it home but I said no way. Then a few house down Davey grabbed one of his own!

I took Sophie to Canyon High School's production of The Little Mermaid. We met up with our friends Candice and Emery to make it a fun girl's night.

Davey picked out this cute ornament craft kit at Michael's. No gluing, cutting or sewing needed. He was able to complete it all on his own. So cute!

Another instance of Charlie on the floor instead of bed

I got all the kids dressed and ready for church on time AND took a picture all by myself

Our army of "reinbeers" ready to be gifted to friends and neighbors for the holidays

A very Texas Christmas house

Visiting Santa at the ward party

I hosted the letter C at our house early in December. We had everyone wear Christmas pajamas, ate cheese and crackers with chocolate milk, and played other fun games!

Our annual walk down Candy Cane Lane. This year we did it in pajamas! Griffin clearly had more excitement about the activity than the other boys.

We found a little free library on our walk that had wrapped several of the books in the box, which I thought was such a cute idea

We got a new car!! It wasn't a premeditated move. The Ford Focus was having issues, and when we took it in, the mechanic said fix this part to make it sellable and then get rid of it ASAP before this long list of other things goes wrong. So we did. And due to covid, new cars were in short supply, so we walked into a Hyundai dealer and bought the literal only 5 passenger vehicle on the lot. A mini SUV Santa Fe and luckily it's been a great car so far!

School Christmas parties - I arrived just in time to watch each kid eat a treat and throw away their trash

Griffin, who is always in need of a bath for one reason or another, received these fun jellies as a gift and had a blast sticking them to everything

Video: November and December 2021 Clips

Sammamish Christmas, Part 3 (Cousin Come and Cousins Go)

Over the next few days it was a revolving door as cousins came and left. Derek and Faye went down to Portland to see her family right after Christmas, then the Hindman family arrived the next morning, and finally Nat and Brodie took off a couple days later. It is always so crazy when there are that many kids in the house.  At the same times, however, they also keep each other entertained so even though it's wild, it's less work in a way. Unless it's a meal time, then it's all hands on deck to feed the hungry horde!

Recreating a picture of Charlie and Briggen in front of the Christmas tree from two years ago when they were just babies - look how much they have grown!

Enjoying a bath together

This was one of the cutest moments of them together that Nat happened to walk in on. They had both gone down the the playroom and decided to read a book together, only it was a chapter book that didn't even have pictures, but they both laid down to pretend they could do it!

Saying goodbyes

We had a virtual meet up with our Howe cousins a few days after Christmas. Tim had thoughtfully mailed us a "party in a box" that had everything we needed for a good time - mustaches, mad libs, a scavenger hunt - and then had pizza delivered to top it off. Fun times!

Brownie tasting event to determine the best box mix on the market. I can't remember for sure, but I think the winner may have been Walmart!

Getting in some snuggles with GG Grandma

Grandmari had several home depot kits put away for a day of building with cousins. All the little boys got to make battleships. I didn't take any pictures while they were hammering (my focus was on keeping destruction to a minimum), but here is Charlie with his finished boat.

After the kids went to bed, the adults who still had energy would play a few games. This one was called Spyfall, and we had a fun time learning it together. Grandma was actually very good and had us fooled multiple times!

After the Fish Fam left we went up to the cabin for some snow play. The kids had fun sledding in the driveway and climbing around on the snow walls. Charlie surprised us all by lasting longer outside than all his older cousins. 

Baby Griffin on the inside looking out

We came back to the big house after playing in the snow and I got to take all kids, minus Griffin, in the hot tub. It was raining, but with that much splashing it didn't even matter. 

Sophie and Anne had the best time playing together that week. Out of 10 cousins they are still the only girls and always have the best time when they are together!

December Activities & Dallas Christmas

We started our Christmas travels on December 12th this year - so early! That didn't leave us with much time at home for holiday activities, but we did fit in our visit to Maxwell's, walking down Candy Cane Lane, and driving around to look at lights in our neighborhood a few times. The Botanical Gardens was on our list, but we ran out of time and will have to try to visit next year. 

We were able to spend a long weekend in Dallas before flying to Seattle. With covid on the rise, we didn't venture out to see friends or do anything in the city, but the kids were happy to see grandparents, and Liz surprised us by staying for a night as well! We opened some presents, celebrated Dave's birthday with a yummy dinner and cake, and played lots of games. 

Griffin loved pulling down the ornaments so he could taste them

The children's program at the Discovery Center returned for the first time since March! It's not as good as before, but we are glad it's happening again. They boys had fun listening to a story and building some things out of pip cleaners.

 

Davey met Santa at preschool and asked for Legos, which is not what he actually wrote in his letter to Santa. Oops.

I went out to lunch with friends to celebrate Candice's birthday early since we were leaving town. She actually has the same birthday as Dave!)

Charlie found what he would buy if he won $1000 dollars

The kids and I did an art day on Sunday afternoon to make some pictures to mail to Aunt Liz

I was able to find my favorite house again this year! It's in a different neighborhood that I'm not very familiar with. I just think their trees look amazing!

We met our friends at Candy Cane lane and walked along it with them. Santa was not out on the curb to see us this year, but the kids still enjoyed the lights and all the decorations.

This was the gift we gave out to neighbors and friends this year

Licorice made the drive between Amarillo and Dallas a little less sad for Griffin. He was very red and sticky by the end.

Charlie is always happy to hang out with someone on the couch

Bedtime snuggles with grandma

Enjoying a nice nap with daddy

Puzzling with Papa

We left Diamond at grandma's house while we were in Seattle. We were a little surprised that Diamond was still around to see another Christmas. This is the fish that just keeps on living!

December 2020 Video Clips