Christmas Pageants

Ella and Everett's Christmas pageants were on the same day...luckily at different times.  When Ella first came out, she looked like she was about to burst into tears!  I think it was a little overwhelming to see hundreds of parents out in the audience!!

She did a great job though!  After the show, she had her classroom party where they made Christmas trees with frosting and ice cream cones...

Up next was Everett's performance.  Unfortunately, he refused to participate or sing one word.  At least his teacher told us that he does a great job when we aren't there!

And Elfie's been up to some crazy antics.  He made a trapeze from a candy cane and swung from the drapery rods...

He tried to play dress up with Ella's dresses, but since they wouldn't fit, he found my needle and thread and made his own skirts...one of which he is wearing!

And he tried to put out the fire in the candles...

Egg Numero Dos...

So after the initial excitement of finding an egg last Friday, we diligently checked every single day thereafter...only to find empty nesting boxes. :(  The chickens were out all day Saturday, Sunday and most of Monday so it's possible that she laid another one outside and a critter ate it (because I looked everywhere- a REAL egg hunt!), but even when she was locked in the rest of the week, nothing!

Well, what did we find Friday afternoon?  Another egg!  And this time, it was in one of the nesting boxes instead of the coop floor- what a fast learner!

I'm not sure if she's just a once a week layer or if she's just learning, but the second egg is BIG.  We are going to have some nice fluffy omelets eventually. ;)

Everett insisted that I take his picture with the egg since he didn't get a picture last time...

First Egg!

I completely forgot to post what we found in the chicken coop on the night of Friday 12.12.14...

We cracked it open, and it was perfect!

It's now Sunday evening, and we still don't have another egg...we keep checking!  They only lay eggs 4-5 a week so who knows when the next one will come.

It was Goldie, our Red Star/Golden Buff, who laid the golden egg. :)  It's funny because she is actually the smallest bird...but has the biggest comb.


Now we just need to teach her to lay her eggs in the nesting boxes rather than right from her roost where it falls onto their poop board.  Yuck.

Lights!

We had a great holiday Saturday!  We dropped off a bunch of gifts for Toys for Tots at the local fire station...

Everett isn't in the picture because despite being SO excited to go the fire station and wearing his fire truck shirt, he wouldn't get near the firemen or fire trucks- argh!!  Of course, now he's asking hourly to go back.  Next year buddy!

We delivered all our neighbor gifts...

And we had our annual dinner and Christmas light viewing!  Godsiblings...

The Christmas tree at dinner...I still can't figure out why it is hockey themed??

We are lucky to have an AMAZING little neighborhood right by us that goes crazy with lights...

Even Olaf was there!

And Everett's favorite...

Happy Holidays

We took the kids to Roger's Gardens, and they loved it!  The two trains were a huge hit...

As was the Christmas tree room, where both kids insisted on being photographed next to all the bears...

Since Santa was in the North Pole, the kids got to sit in his chair!

They loved running at full speed through all the gardens...

And we had to take a photo with the Christopher Radko ornaments...grandma's favorite room!

Ella and I went to her school bookfair at Barnes & Noble, where her teacher read three books!

We got our GORGEOUS 9' tree...I know you can never say never, but this really is the reason I could never get a fake tree.  There is nothing more beautiful and delicious than a fresh Christmas Tree.  Now, finding time to decorate it is a whole 'nother story!

I haven't been very good about documenting Elfie's antics this season, but here a few of his tricks!

All About Everett

We went out on Everett's real birthday for dinner...Ella claimed that he wanted sushi. ;)

We put our real Christmas tree in the house the night of Everett's party, and Gary had to lay on the floor to cut off some of the low branches with his sawsall.  Well, later, while I was putting the fake playroom tree together, Everett had to help me and be just like daddy with his reciprocating saw!

And here is how Everett recovers on a lazy weekend day...just chillin' watching a little Sportscenter.  He's a mini-Gary...

Everett's Construction Truck & Tool Party

Everett loves tools and trucks, so of course we had to do a construction party for his 3rd birthday!  I made his invitations...

I made a wreath for the front door with extension cord...

 And put caution tape on all the windows...

Cones up the walkway...

And my dad made this AMAZING crane and wrecking ball...the ball is a pinata!!!!

I made the whole family matching shirts...mine, Gary's and Ella's said "crew" on the back, but Everett's said, "foreman". ;)

Gary made this adorable kid size "work table" with mini saw horses for legs, and we cut up a bunch of wood scraps to make blocks for the kids to build with...

The kids loved it!

I made coloring books and set up a coloring table with tools stickers and crayons in a tool box of course!

The coloring books had pages like this...

The sweets table...

I made cookies in put them in Gary's drill case...

We had this huge digger bounce house in the corner...

Everett and his two BFFs from school...

Cupcakes!

Pinata time!

The favors...they said "Hope you had tons of fun!"

I have to say, I think this was my favorite party to plan so far!  And despite the on and off rain for an outdoor party, I think everyone had a great time. :)