Oklahoma

We left on Christmas day to start our long and snowy drive to visit Devon's family in Oklahoma. It actually wasn't too awful of a drive. The kids loved sleeping in hotels on the way there and swimming in their indoor pools that were so cold we could only stand the hot tub anyway, but they didn't mind. We don't get to see Devon's family very often, so it was really fun to see everyone. Thomas and Elizabeth and Catherine and Grandma and Grandpa were all there the whole time. Kelsy came for a few days with here kids which was really fun. My kids still talk about "those 3 girls that are 6 and 7" we are so excited they get to visit us in March.
We went to a really fun (and crowded) Children's Museum one day.

There was an awesome slide made of packing tape that even Carrie ventured into.  There were dinosaurs and huge blocks, swinging ropes and many other fun things, the kids had a great time.

We had unexpected snow one day, so Grandpa and Spencer made a huge snowman, while James watch from the window in much more comfortable temperatures.

We didn't expect snow, so we had to get a little creative with the footwear, but it was a lot of fun.

the kids really enjoyed cousins.  We played kids bingo and adult cut-throat bingo- we got some pretty amazing prizes.  Devon and his siblings played a lot of Banana-grams- a lot.  I bought Devon a set for his birthday and he has already addicted Spencer.  It was fun to be with family and visit people that we don't see often enough.

Christmas

We invited our friends the Whitakers for Christmas eve, but unfortunately they got the stomach flu so they could not come. My family tradition is to go sledding on Christmas Eve, but there was no snow here, so we went to the Sand Dunes with our friends the Singers instead.

Carrie was very concerned when we started burying people in the sand.  She seemed more concerned when we buried the other boys than when we buried Spencer, maybe she knew Spencer is tough enough to take it, or she thought is served him right anyway.

That evening we played Bingo and did the nativity story with puppets.  We also did the nativity story one other day with the missionaries, with was really fun, but somehow we have no pictures of that.

Christmas Eve PJ's

James got a race track from Santa

Spencer got a microscope.
Carrie got a baby and a cradle- somehow no pictures.

James is Awesome

Spencer was so thoughtful and made gifts for everyone.  He made these cards for a game for James so he could look at them and laugh- and James thought they were great!

Spencer requested holiday charms.  He really wanted them and kept reminding me, but at first I had no idea what to do.  then while i was looking for something else i cam up with the idea for holiday buttons, and they were half off when we were in Idaho, i think I was most excited for that gift because it was so tricky to find, and I did it.

I am really not sure why Carrie was so excited about the cutting board that Devon gave me, but it made a really cute picture!  Apparently she loved the singing bus James gave here as well.

December

We had a busy December, especially Spencer and James. They entered the art contest for the Hot Air Balloon Festival.

James took first place (and I'm sure he still would have even if he wasn't the only one in Kindergarten who entered) for his drawing "Cradle Board Under a Rainbow"

I thought Spencer's drawing was amazing, it has the four sacred mountains- with the names in Navajo I might add, and the rainbow from the Navajo nation flag with a hogan in the middle.  He did not place, I think the judges were crazy, but there were also more second grade entries than any other grade.

The boys sang in their school Christmas concert.  This is what i get for not posting until 2 months later, i cannot for the life of me remember what songs they sang, but I'm sure they were totally cute.

Spencer and James are in a singing and dancing group called "Hold that Note."  i have to drive them to Blanding (70 miles one way) every Monday for practice, but they really love it.
I don't know what James is doing here, but he sang a solo in "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause."

Spencer's solo was part of a song about Santa in Australia called "Six White Boomers"  He also got to fill in last minute in the "12 Days of Christmas" as 10 Lords a Leaping- and of course he loved leaping.

Both boys love the class.  James' talents lie mostly in dancing although he has great rhythm and pitch.  Spencer can remember every word and action from every song, and also sing them in time and on tune.  They both did a great job (and yes Spencer's shirt was tucked in before the concert started, although it's wouldn't really be Spencer if he didn't look a little disheveled.)