Christmas in Florida

As I stated in a previous blog, this year we decided (I coerced Mario into it) to spend Christmas in Florida.  Out of our 18 years of married life, I can only count on one hand the Christmases that we have spent with the whole family.  This was a perfect opportunity to go because Alex, Mario's brother, was getting married in the Orlando Temple just a few days after Christmas.

We couldn't bring all the gifts with us on the plane, so we had a pre-Christmas present opening before we left.

Zachary bought Nate a snowboard

Nate spent almost every dime he had to buy this giant dog for Zach

It even snowed (a little) on our fake Christmas Day

Erin, the twins, and I left on Tuesday, December 17 because the plane tickets were so much cheaper to fly that day.  Eric and Mario came out the following Sunday.  On Wednesday, the day after I flew out, a blizzard hit Omaha and dumped 8 inches of snow.  So Mario and Eric had a great time playing and cleaning it up while the kids and I enjoyed the beautiful Florida beaches.    Eric had his first snow day off from school.

Playing at the beach

Ice skating

Our new favorite family game from Grandma and Papa

All the cousins together on Christmas Eve

The four cousins in front of the very cute homemade fireplace

Nate gave Erin Pooh Bear pjs

We got lots of Dollar Tree Christmas presents from the kids

Mario with one of his best friends, Burton Adams

Rachel and Alex at their reception in Miami

We had such a great visit to Florida.  It is so fun to see my parents and siblings and to see all the cousins play together.  It really makes me wish we could live closer.  But we have just over 5 more years until retirement (if Mario retires at exactly 20 years which sometimes I doubt.)  It was so great to visit with Burton and his sweet family and we loved attending Alex's wedding and reception and seeing Mario's side of the family again.  

Now I am just left to endure the Nebraska winter.  But I bought a cute pair of boots to wear and it hasn't been windy.  So it is totally tolerable (so far.)  The kids are really enjoying playing outside so we will enjoy the four seasons for a few more years and then hopefully be able to enjoy year-round warmth.

A Runaway

Yesterday I asked Zach about something that happened in Florida.  He wasn't in trouble, I just wanted to know the story behind it.  He told me but then Nathan became involved and said he knew what happened also.  So I asked for his version.  Zach got upset and stormed off to his room, not even waiting to hear that their two versions matched perfectly.  So he wasn't in trouble, he just needed a little talk about respecting people's privacy and being kind to others.  I waited several minutes and then went up to his room to talk to him.  He wouldn't talk. He was in the process of packing his backpack with the following items:  jacket, extra clothes, toilet paper, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, pencils, fruit snacks, water, and Life Cereal.  I asked if he was running away and he wouldn't say anything.  So I asked him to at least wait until I returned a few minutes later from running an errand.  He agreed.  I thought he should at least have a cellphone if he was running away, and Eric handed over his but only after trying to convince him not to run away.   I didn't know if I should laugh or cry and I think I did a little of both.   Eric and I left and when I returned a few minutes later, Zach immediately walked out the back door.  I thought I would just follow him but he was walking thru the snow.  I quickly put on my snow boots and then went out the front door hoping that I would spot him so I could follow.  He ran away to the side of the house.  He saw me, I asked him to come home and he just stayed quiet.  Nathan went out a few minutes later and offered him $20 to come back (I can see what kind of parent he will be.)  Still no words from Zach.  A few minutes later I went to check on him again and I spotted him behind the house.  He was dialing on Eric's phone.  I quickly went inside before he saw me and my phone started ringing.  Zach asked me how to get home from Derek's house (a couple miles away).  I offered to come pick him up.  He didn't want a ride and didn't confirm or deny that he was at Derek's house.  So I decided to put the leash on Buzz and take him for a walk.  As soon as I started our walk, Zach came out from the back of the house and wanted to know where I was going.  He joined me with walking Buzz and then he returned home.  He told me it was hard to run with such a heavy backpack.  We're all happy he decided to come home and extra happy that he doesn't know how to drive a car yet.  I'm sure he'll be upset for me posting this but I can't miss an opportunity to tell him this story when he has a 9 year-old child.

Snowman Ornament

Nathan wrote this in school and I thought it was really sweet. I couldn't scan it because it has glitter all over the edges but I took a picture of it. It says, "My favorite ornament is a snowman. It is white, it has a black hat. My grandma made it for my family. I always put it on the top of the tree. It is special because my grandma made it."

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Piano Recital

Erin had a piano recital last night.  She asked her teacher if she could play Mario's favorite Christmas carol, Carol of the Bells.  Mrs. Black said that the only copy she had was a duet.  So Erin suggested that Eric play it with her.  The teacher was thrilled when Eric agreed to the duet since Erin is her most advanced piano student.  Now she would have two advanced students in her recital.   Eric has never been a fan of recitals so he was hesitant to play when he's not even a piano student.  But Mario said it could be his Christmas present and Eric quickly agreed.  I think it is the best Christmas present ever from both Eric and Erin.  We love when they play the piano together.  Erin played Santa Clause is Coming to Town also.

Owl Art

Nathan and Zach drew and painted these in their art class.  I thought they were beautiful.

Nathan's Owl

Zach's Owl

Christmas Picture Outtakes

I have been trying to get our Christmas letter written and a family picture taken to include with our card.  I finally gave up on the family picture and decided to just put a picture of the kids from first day of school and then a small picture of Mario and I in the corner.  No one liked the double picture on the 4x6 print, so here's the outtakes from our photo session with Erin today.  I'm still growing out my hair, its been about 13 months now and I have thought about chopping it all off about a million times.  I'll be happy when it's long enough to put in a ponytail.

Nathan and Zach's 9th Birthday

We celebrated the boys' birthdays on Saturday.  I allowed them to each invite two friends and we had a little party.  I decided that since there was only 1 girl coming, I probably should have some organized games so she didn't feel overwhelmed with the video games.  Erin and I came up with about 11 or 12 Minute to Win It games and the party turned out to be a huge success and the games actually made the hours go by very quickly.  We finished the day with hot dogs roasted over a fire and of course, Nathan's favorite, Macaroni and Cheese.   They loved their new Robot.  In fact, the big kids love it too. Good thing, since they have to help program it once it's built.  It was a great day and I still can't believe it was 9 years ago that I gave birth to a huge set of twins.  No one believes me when I tell them that they were both over 7 lbs.

Making donuts for breakfast

Their big present was the Lego Mindstorms Robot

The first and easiest robot to build

Zach, Anthony, Nathan, and Olivia

Minute to Win it games

Tossing mini marshmallows