A Very Blessed Christmas.

We had an amazing Christmas.  It was filled with lots of food, family, rest and fun.  The girls organized most of the event.  Kendall was quite the planner.  She had a schedule of events with several "tips".

The girls made these place markers for each person.

They each decorated one of the tables for Christmas Eve Dinner.

We had a Norwegian dinner with Lutefisk and Potato Sausage (and a spiral ham of course).

The evening was filled with lots of love and hugs. 

 

Kevin received lots of fly fishing gear for Christmas this year.  He is ready to hit the streams.

Sidney played the little elf all day.  What a cutie!

The girls had fun opening a very tiny gift that was wrapped inside several large boxes.  What was the tiny gift?  An Ipod!  They were ecstatic.

 

The holiday was filled with a number of special gifts.  Kevin and the girls got me this handmade wooden box.  It is engraved "Family is Forever".  The wood shop at one of Kevin's schools made it.

Kevin and I got the girls these beautiful family necklaces.  They are engraved to each of the girls and say "A Father's Love Lasts Forever".

Each of the necklaces came with this engraved jewelry box.

 

We are so grateful to have been able to spend this holiday together!

Holiday Fun.

The girls had a number of different holiday activities at their school this year.  The first graders did an amazing Christmas musical.  I am always amazed at how well the music teachers can get the kids to perform.  The first graders told a story through song about a little girl and her snowman. 

 

Here are a few of the cast of characters.  I expect to see the little girl on the left on the big screen someday.  She was amazing.  She was able to memorize all of her lines.

The school had a writing night a few weeks back, complete with milk and cookies.  Sidney was not able to go, since she had come down with Strep Throat (ugh!).  Kendall and I were able to make it.  The kids had written some zany holiday stories. 

 

Kendall's story was about her and Taylor Swift.

During the writing night, the kids brought their stories to life.  Kendall took a picture of her sitting down and drew a picture of Taylor Swift.  The pictures were put inside of  "snow globe" that showed the two of them riding in a limo.  

 Each of the girls had holiday parties, which I was fortunate enough to attend both.  They were back to back with 5 minutes in between.  I could not have planned that better myself.  The first graders made gingerbread houses.  Each of the kids received a plate of goodies to decorate their house with.  I can say with certainty that Sidney did not have a chance with those chocolate covered pretzels.  They ended up in my belly.  Making houses is hard work, a girl needs her nourishment!

Sidney made a candy cane castle with her goodies.

 Of course, she needed some nourishment too.  Her substance of choice...vanilla wafers.

Kendall's class had a number of different activities going on.  First stop...cookie decorating.

Next stop, the munchie station.  Leave it to Kendall, to find a way to make eating entertaining.

The whole crew got in on the action.

Leaving the Chocolate Room...

Kendall's reading group has been reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  They were tasked with completing an assignment at the end.  Kendall chose to do a diorama of the Chocolate Room. 

 

Here is a closer look at her diorama.

I asked Kendall to describe what she did:

"The chocolate tube was taken from one of the Christmas tubes that hold candy.  I put paper towels in it and I stuck Augustus Gloop inside of it.  The people are made of baking clay that I painted.  The Oompa Loompas are also made of baking clay.  The ground is made of miniature marshmallows that I glued then painted.  The chocolate river is made of Nutella.  The boats are made of the ends of candy canes that kept falling off.  The path is made of Starburst candy.  In the picture Mr. Willy Wonka is tipped over."

We are Vallivue Strong!

Kevin is a shining example of what we do, defining who we are

That was the heading for an article that was written about Kevin in the district newspaper.  One of the principals wrote the article.  Unfortunately, the best I could do was to scan it and crop it to fit into the blog.  Hopefully, it is legible.  (Update:  I received a link to the electronic copy.  The article is on Page 3)   http://vallivueweb.vallivue.org/VallivueReview/Fall2015/index.html

"I Believe I Ordered A Large Gingerbread Cookie."

I could not resist the reference to So I Married an Axe Murderer.  These cookies were huge.  Each year we have been making gingerbread houses.  This year, I thought we would try something a little different.  Sidney jumped right in.

Kendall had to ponder her gingerbread palette for a few minutes.

Dad and Mom even got in on the fun.  From Kevin's face, you can tell this is serious business in the Strong household.

Here is the beginning of my gingerbread creation.

You can never have enough green hair....

 And, here they are.  The gingerbread family.  Good fun and WAY easier than the houses!

Santa, Sparkler and Other Randomness

Here are just a few random tidbits that I want to be sure and capture.  We went to the Festival of Trees this year.  Kendall had a visit with Santa.  Sidney, as usual, waited outside of the North Pole (that girl:)). 

Kendall and Santa had a bit of fun playing tricks on each other this year.  Kendall is not quite tall enough to see her rabbit ears, but they are there.

We saw the Idaho Irish Dancers perform this year.  They were incredibly awesome.  I think that Kendall would really like to join.  I did check into it, but the practices are during the week.  As much as I would love for her to do this, I think I have to draw the line somewhere.  Maybe later when we do not have as many other activities going on.

Roy and Sherry send down this amazing arrangement for Thanksgiving.  They are always so thoughtful.  It is still alive and kicking!

 

Terrell had found this cute idea for crazy hair day.  I was all for it, since it was as easy as can be!

Sidney received the class sparkler award a few weeks ago at Awana.  Here she is leading the group in the sparks song.

My zany, crazy, awesome sister came down for Halloween.  One day while we were out and about, I talked her into the big crane machine.  She won her first toy ever!

Hard Working Ladies!

The girls work very hard in school and awana.  I love when they have the opportunity to be recognized for that.  Last week, we received letters that each of the girls were receiving awards.  We were invited to attend, but it would be a surprise.

 

Here is Sidney looking back at the parents.  All of the kids were wondering what was going on.

 

Sidney received the first grade "Leadership" award and an attendance award.  The leadership award goes to the student that consistently demonstrates the core values:  Be respectful, Be Responsible, Be Cooperative, Be Safe.  Here she is shaking the principals hand. 

Sidney with the other award recipients.

Now it was Kendall's turn to wonder what was going on.

Kendall received the "Academic" award for always doing her VERY BEST in everything, along with an attendance award.

Here is Kendall with the rest of the award recipients.

We are so proud of the girls for their hard work!

Birthday Times Three.

Kevin received the triple birthday threat this year, with three celebrations.  The first party came just after Thanksgiving while my parents were visiting.  My mom helped the girls make a fleece blanket for Kevin.  She took them to Joann's to pick out material.  They landed on Cal Poly colors for the blanket.

 

Lisa got Kevin this warm hat.  Sidney spent her own money on this cute snow globe for Dad.  She had tricked him into picking out his own present the week earlier, by asking him which one she should get.  He told her that he would get this one.  She was so proud.

The girls and I were growing tired of looking at his ratty old slippers.  He kept insisting that they were in great shape.

 

 These new ones are SO much better!

Grandma Terrell made him a pineapple upside down cake. 

Terrell, Lisa and Kevin.

Roy and Sherry sent these very MANLY flowers to the house.  They are gorgeous!  The white ones are still opening up.

On his actual birthday, Terrell made him another cake.  This was the best tasting cake ever.  It had a whipped cream cheese frosting.  The emblem on the front is a Christmas ornament that we hung from the tree.

Here we are with the birthday boy.

One of his gifts was a box of "80's" candy.  It had razzles in it.  I thought this was awesome, since I love the movie 13 Going on 30.  They refer to razzles in that movie, but I had never actually tried them.  Another fond memory of that movie, is taking my sister to see it.  She laughed so hard, I think she almost peed her pants.  I am not sure what was funnier, the movie or hearing her laugh so hard.

The third celebration...dinner at Burger King and a movie night out to see Minions (his choice, hmmm).