Movie Matinee and Marksmen

Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Jerry sent us money for Christmas. We chose to use it to go to a matinee. We saw Mary Poppins Returns. We all loved it!

The next night we went to se our local hockey team, the Marksmen, play against the Macon Mayhem.  When we arrived we got to see the mascot. The girls got pictures with him. Paige even hugged him. We also have a video of her dancing with him. The girl has no fear. 

Jaosn splurged and we got rinkside seats. We were right by the other team's penalty box. What an experience! I saw so many smashings into the wall, hockey pucks zoom by and one big fight (one guy got put in the penalty box for hitting a ref). We all had so much fun! Paige and Darby loved dancing to the loud music that came on between plays. Eva especially liked the silly games that happened between periods. Even Brendan who I worried would be bothered by the noise) was into it the game. He kept cheering on the team.

 The Marksmen had been in a losing slump for the past few games. It was 0-0 for most of the game until the Marksmen scored in the last period. We all went crazy! They were able to hold off the Mayhem until the end of the game and they won! 

Woodworking

Jason has been wanting an OLED TV for years now. In the electronic section he always wanders over and ogles them. We have a HUGE wall in our living room that I just couldn't find a way to decorate. Jason found a really good sale on these type of TVs (almost 50% off) and told me that it would be a way to take up some of that wall. So he went to the PX and bought it. It is  65 inches. He LOVES this television and I'll admit the picture is amazing. The deal was, though, that he had to make a new console for it to sit on since it was gigantic on top of our old teeny tiny one. So he made us this beautiful media console. I LOVE it! It looks awesome in the room. He even taught Brendan how to use some power tools in the process. 

Into The Woods

With all this time off Daddy has taken these two into the woods for "adventures" a few times. Brendan and Eva are more homebodies.

They go running with him, find cool sticks and rocks, look at fish in the pond and generally just be in nature. They love it!! Daddy does too. 

Aren't they a cute crew?

Ice Skating

One of the things that the kids requested we do for Christmas Break was ice skate. Fort Bragg has one on post so we went there. 

All the kids found that they needed skating stands. I mean, we have never lived anywhere cold enough to freeze the water much more than a day or two. We really have very little experience with ice skating.

Jason, however, can ice skate and spent his time trying to see how fast he could go. He also tried to help the kids skate solo without support. Darby could do it by the end. Brendan was close as well. 

They all had a great time. We left when they all said their feet hurt. 

Christmas 2018

Our first Christmas in the new house! As always, we told the kids that they could come downatirs and get into their stockings but had to wait until 7am to wake us up for presents. We came downstairs to this excitement. Let the festivities begin!

Stella was trying to sit so patiently so I would give her what was in her stocking. She loved the new chewie and it kept her occupied while we opened the presents.

Jason thought he was so funny getting me stockings for my stocking. 

Brendan was the elf this year which means he handed out the presents. 

Lets start with Daddy Jason. Eva  made him a present at school. He wore the crown the whole time we opened presents. He got an expansion pack to his favorite game, Exploding Kittens.

But he was most excited about the new marathon gear I got him. he has been wanting it so badly. You can see the excitement on his face. 

And then for Mom. I didn't have much unwrapping to do this year since my present is huge and in the dining room (my new table!).  So I opened some of the presents from Tina and my mom. We got two fun games and a candy bar game kit. Can't wait to play that with the kids. Eva loved the apron that came with it.

Paige got Troll toys and the Vegimals from Octonauts. She also got the second Harmony book to use with her interactive cape.

Eva gave her a Bad Kitty plush toy. She loved it and quickly gave out a hug as a thank you. 

Darby said she wanted crafty and sewing things for Christmas so that's what I got her. She got a sewing kit, a book full of craft ideas and two crafts kits. 

Brendan was super sweet and bought her new earrings in the shape of doggies. She loves them.

Eva was harder to buy for this year. She is growing up and didn't want any toys. She got new watercolor paints and paper and a new watch from us and a wind chime craft kit from Paige. I love how her happiness shows on her face.

Brendan got another Minecraft Lego set and, most importantly, two more sets of his favorite pajamas. I don't think I can explain how much he loves these pajamas. He would live in them if he could. He was so sad to be outgrowing them. Don't worry, Son, Mom has it covered.

I also bought him a tactical vest with extra bullets, head protection and more cartridges for his Nerf gun. He is fully outfitted now and can't wait to have a Nerf War. The funny part was the printing on the box. It says "Your Present". Way to go, Amazon.

Darby had Brendan for Christmas and got him a glow in the dark Minecraft cube. I think he liked it.

Daddy bought the kids a new puzzle. It is an Exploding Kitten puzzle. We are going to have to complete it while Dad is still on vacation.

Here is the aftermath. It's not as bad as in past years. 

After presents, breakfast and clean up, we had a movie marathon. In Jason's family, they always had a Star Wars marathon on Christmas. We tweaked that a bit. We watched Rogue One and Solo (in the spirit of the tradition) and Mary Poppins, because we want to see the sequel this week. 

Merry Christmas!!