The Popcorn Popper Addict

Allie had a new favorite snack this past month. She made popcorn virtually everyday for 2 weeks. But not the ho-hum microwave popcorn. She thoroughly enjoyed our brand new air popcorn popper that we won in bingo! That's right. The Cruzes provided it as one of the prizes and little did we know when we won it how much joy it would bring into our kids lives. Something about dumping in the kernals and watching them pop into white fluffy deliousness is addicting. And you can add just the amount of butter and salt that you prefer. Allie would make it for an after dinner snack and then pack some in her lunch box for the next day. When her friends would come over she would wow them with her popcorn making skills. Hearing the popper hum reminded me of all those Sundays at moms when popcorn would be our staple.

It's never too late to learn basketball

We finally signed up Tanner, Connor and Sydney in a basketball league. As of last year they could barely dribble, so we weren't so sure how they would do on a team. But there is a very non-competitive church league that they all get to play on the same team and so far have had a lot of fun on. The coaches are so nice and the games are very relaxed. The coaches match up players according to ability and they are only allowed to guard that person. Everyone gets a turn to bring the ball down and feels a part of the team. They are really enjoying learning how to play and they actually practice dribbling and shooting at home. Allie has even had them all outside with cones doing drills (along with push-ups if you are not respectful). We are happy that they are at least learning the game and having fun!

Christmas Traditions that carry on

Thanks to mom and dad instilling the importance of traditions while I was growing up our family continues to enjoy many of the same traditions. Many of them happen during the Christmas season. Some of the traditions we carry on from my childhood: Delivering Christmas goodie plates (sorry no picture, but just imagine a some delicious treats on a plate)

acting out the Nativity on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve pizza dinner

Opening one present on Christmas Eve

All the kids sleeping in the same room Christmas Eve night

Decorating the tree together, everyone placing their own ornaments

David looking like a crazy person shooting airsoft guns in the backyard on Christmas day....Ok, I guess that's not a tradition.

One tradition that we started that our kids love is they draw from a hat one of their siblings names and that person is their secret person for the weeks before Christmas. They are supposed to do little acts of service or be extra kind and they get to buy a present for them too. Then on Christmas morning they give their present to their secret person, revealing their identity.