Christmas Eve 2011 - Let the Festivities Begin!

On December 23rd, we arrived at my parents' house in time to visit for a few minutes, get air beds inflated, unload the van and get the kids to bed.   In addition to presents and clothes, the boys in my family also decided to take a respiratory virus along to share with the rest of the family.  (You're welcome.)  ;-)  It didn't appear to slow Daniel and Markos down much (notice I did not mention Eric). 

Due to Daniel's hockey tournament schedule, our visit was shorter this year than usual, so our days were pretty packed.  On Christmas Eve morning, my friends, Suzanne and Catherine, and Catherine's daughter came out to visit.  Lily loved the attention.  Markos received his first Christmas presents.

Markos and Daniel opening their gift from Suzanne

Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like toys with which to shoot each other

When they left, the kids played while the adults women started making food and preparing for the annual family Christmas Eve party. 

Eric 'dying' on the couch

Lily would pretty much snuggle up with anyone who would let her

Once the kids were dressed in their nice clothes, we forced them to endure countless photos in front of the tree.  I think we *might* have gotten a handful of cute ones.

Markos thought these antlers were THE funniest, coolest things EVER

After the Grandmas both arrived, Mackenzie and Abby played some carols on the piano for MaMaw. 

Mackenzie & Abby providing musical entertainment for the evening

We ate (too much), laughed, visited.  The kids opened gifts from the Grandmas and their aunts & uncles.  The adults did their traditional "Wrap the Crap" exchange.  The kids played "Minute to Win It" games with M&Ms.

Just to prove that I was, indeed, present

Waiting for presents from Aunt Barb & Uncle Rick

Yay!  A truck that plays music!

Yay!  Stuff to build crafty things with!

Big kids "Minute to Win It"

Pappy with his mom, MaMaw (my grandma, my kids' Great-Grandma)

The kids with NaNa (my other Grandma, the kids' other Great-Grandma)

 And then, when the party was over and everyone left, the kids changed into their Christmas pajamas and set to work preparing for Santa's arrival.  Markos dumped sprinkled his "reindeer food" that he made in preschool out on the back patio.  The kids each put a cookie out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and the adults anxiously awaited the sound of sleeping children so they could make their preparations and get to bed, too!

Markos putting out the "reindeer food"

Markos "fixing" the pile of reindeer food

Cookies out for Santa

The sweetest, cutest bunch of kids in the world, ready for bed so Santa will come!

First-ever Preschool Pictures

Markos is becoming such a big boy.  I was just reminded that I will soon have to register him for Kindergarten for next year. Yikes!  Hard to believe that he's come so far in such a short time.  

Even harder to believe that one year ago, today, he was still waiting in an orphanage in Ethiopia for us to return to bring him home.

Today, we got his first school pictures from preschool. They're really not that great given how amazingly photogenic he is. He looks a little stiff, scared, and well, just not his mostly-happy self.

The one exception is his group class picture. It kinda cracks me up. You can totally see his ornery-ness. 

(Dear God, thank you for preschool teachers who love kids, love God, and have lots of patience!)

Haiti Trip Video

OK, so we got back from Haiti exactly 3 months ago and I'm just now FINALLY finished putting together a video of the pictures from our trip. I've been a little busy with school, Markos, the kids' activities, Markos, the house, Markos....you get the idea. ;-)

The trip was really amazing and I'm hoping to return again this summer, taking a bunch of others with me. (Hopefully more on that in the future!) In the meantime, here you go...

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Kennywood Holiday Lights

What a fun night!

I don't know if we've just never known about it, or if this was the first year that they've done it, but tonight we went to Kennywood for their Holiday Lights Display for the first time.  It will definitely not be the last time though.

First, it was the perfect night to go.  Who would have thought - sweat shirt weather on a December night in Pittsburgh?!  Second, you know the night is going to be great when the first thing you run into upon entering the park with your hockey-loving son is Iceburgh, the Pittsburgh Penguins' mascot! 

Daniel and Markos with Iceburgh

Iceburgh biting Daniel's head

There were lights everywhere and it was very beautiful!  Rides, buildings, trees - everything was covered with lights.  The lights and light displays around the lagoon area were set to music.

Two teen girls - prettier than the lights

The Reason for the Season

They had special activities around the park.  The kids all decorated a cookie - which Daniel and Markos happily gave to Eric and I since Daniel can't eat them and Markos doesn't like sickening sweet things (yet). While we finished eating our cookies, we walked around the big train board display.  Lots of cute Pittsburgh details -- Heinz train cars, Steelers trains, etc.

Decorating cookies

The First-Ever Christmas Cookie by Markos

Mackenzie's Masterpiece

There were "characters" all around the park.  When we left the building where the kids were decorating cookies, Mrs. Claus was sitting on a bench outside.  Markos immediately ran up to her and said, 'I've been good!"  (I choked back the cough/laughter/sarcasm!)  She reminded him that it was still 3 weeks until Christmas so he had to continue to be good and I chimed in with a hearty, "yeah! did you hear that?!"  :-D

Markos telling Mrs. Claus that he "was good"

Daniel & Markos with the Gingerbread Man

There were some rides open throughout the park.  I kinda forced Markos to ride the Kangaroo.  (In my defense, I did so because he rode it when we went this summer and loved it and insisted that we ride it again.  Tonight, he was all freaked out and kept asking if it was scary for some reason.  I knew he'd love it if he just got on it.  Plus we were all riding, so he had to ride or one of us would have had to sit out.  Glad I did, too, because when we were leaving and I asked him what his favorite part of the night was, he said, "the Kangaroo"!!)  We also rode the Carousel - another favorite of Markos'.  Almost every ride in Kiddie land was open, so I had the unfortunate privilege of taking the boys around to ride everything while Eric took Kenz and her friend off to get food.

Markos on the carousel

The entrance to Kiddie Land

Markos riding the helicopters

Sweet Danny boy still likes to ride some of the kiddie rides

Markos, the developing prankster, says, "Hey Mom!  Look, I'm Santa!"

Markos finally decides to brave the "Pounce Bounce" and after being strapped in twice, they got all the kids off and said it was broken.  Nice.

Getting ready to ride the train (aka The Gingerbread Express) - Markos refusing to cooperate with the girls pleas to "smile Markos".

But he did smile a lot throughout the night.  We all did, actually.  A fun night out getting ready for the holidays.  Definitely going to be a new family tradition...for the next few years anyway...until the kids are older and refuse to go with us!

Calendar Cyber Sale!!

In the spirit of Cyber Week for holiday shopping, and because it's already December and I still have a few calendars left to sell, I am reducing the price of the remaining beautiful 2012 Amharic Kids' Ethiopia calendars that I'm selling to help my friend Chrissy bring home a sibling group of 5 from Ethiopia to $15 (which includes shipping costs).   All proceeds will go to the Jensen families travel fund.  They will need to purchase 4 round trip tickets, plus 5 one-way tickets in all!!  Cha-Ching!!!

The new Amharic Kids' 2012 Ethiopia Calendar!

 The Jensen family - Chrissy, Paul, and their 7 (soon-to-be 12!!) kiddos - live in Tennessee.  They are currently awaiting a court date.  You can read the story of this most recent adoption here and follow along as the story continues to unfold on Chrissy's blog, Injera and Chocolate Gravy.  Also, if you feel called to do more than buy a calendar, you can donate to their adoption fund on their blog!

If not, you know you need a calendar for 2012 and January is rapidly approaching, so buy one here.  It has beautiful pictures from Ethiopia each month.  They'd make a great Christmas gift for your older adopted kids, or families who are waiting!

To purchase your calendar, click on the PayPal button on the right to pay and then either leave a comment or email me at lori.stark@gmail.com with the mailing address where you want the calendar shipped.  

Calendars for a great cause!! At a great price!

Happy shopping!