Tag Archives: howard’s

December 27, 2015

IMG_3552Seems like I can’t ever catch up – 2016 is already almost a month gone and I’m still working on Christmas pictures.  But here goes! It was a nice holiday season – certainly lots of nice time spent with family and friends! December was super busy with something on the calendar almost every day. Fun things, of course. We headed over to chez Bethune for a cookie making party on our first day of school break for Griffin (and thankfully, it was a Monday so I wasn’t working!). Lots of fun was had making cut-out sugar cookies and frosting.  There were sprinkles *everywhere* but the kiddos really had a fun time and the results were delish!  And endless fun complete with dragon tails too. IMG_3538 IMG_3543 IMG_3545 IMG_3546 IMG_3549 IMG_3565 IMG_3566 IMG_3567 IMG_3569 IMG_3556 IMG_3562For Kevin’s birthday Griffin got him tickets to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 3D.  We headed to Easton for some date night fun that included dinner and drinks at the theater. Kevin really enjoyed the show which made me happy. In all honestly the plot was kind of lost on me, not being a Star Wars follower, but it seemed pretty good!IMG_3570And a *huge* transition around our house this week too – Finn is moving on up and is now sleeping in a big boy bed! We were putting him to bed on Tuesday and and Kevin started looking at his crib and decided to take the front off.  I was rather surprised (and sad to be honest) as I wasn’t at all prepared to do such a thing. We hadn’t even talked about doing it.  But Finn was so excited he just kept saying “it is perfect!” and he had the biggest smile on his face. He laid down with his blankie and animals and we told him that he had to stay in his bed and call mommy or daddy when he woke up.  He did just that. And for the next naps and nights of sleep he stayed right in his bed.  He hasn’t missed his crib one bit.  He loves his big boy bed and it was probably long overdue, but it was a sad night for me and I shed far too many tears than I would have ever thought!IMG_3577 IMG_3580 IMG_3581Griffin was really excited to open his gift from Sammy and Debbie.  Sam was at his dad’s house so he wasn’t here when Finn opened it – but he just loved his Doctor dress up set! And he loved helping Debbie open her gift too. IMG_3592Next up was our Traditional Christmas Dinner party at the Howard’s. It is always a fun-filled night spent with friends. Each year Christie gives each person their ornament (it is always the same ornament for each person that is marked with your name and the first year it was put on the tree) to put on the tree. And there are so.many.kids! This year we snapped a couple group photos of the kids and adults. And then there is the famous gift exchange with the prized posession being the Christmas sweater that comes back year after year. This year’s winner was Jennifer Assaf and though she doesn’t look too excited in the photo – she assures us the sweater will travel well in 2016. IMG_3598 IMG_3606 IMG_3607 IMG_3608 IMG_3613 IMG_3617 IMG_3616 IMG_3604 IMG_3619 IMG_3634 IMG_3638 IMG_3640 IMG_3641 IMG_3642 IMG_3645 IMG_3649 IMG_3650 Kevin was pretty happy about our take home from the gift exchange. He promptly set it up when we arrived home at 1 in the morning! IMG_3655 The next morning was Christmas Eve so we woke up bright and early and completed our Advent calendar by putting Baby Jesus up and reading the last scripture verse. Finn really enjoyed our readings and being able to choose where to put the piece on the calendar each day!IMG_3659 IMG_3661After our traditional day of Christmas shopping with Dad, Amy and I wrapped gifts and then the whole family headed to Christmas Eve services at Linden Road. We always enjoy the service and the candle light at the end. We were again successful in capturing family photos after church too.  IMG_3662 IMG_3666 IMG_3669 IMG_3670 IMG_3677 IMG_3680 IMG_3683 IMG_3691 IMG_3701 IMG_3703 IMG_3704

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IMG_3710Christmas morning was a lot of fun this year. All of the kids are at a fun age for opening gifts. So much so that sometimes (or fairly often to be honest!) the gifts didn’t always make it to the appropriate recipient before it was opened! Each of the kids had fun giving out the gifts and of course opening and playing with what they received. Santa did bring Griffin a very cool helicopter and a trumpet! They were the first things he found by his stocking (along with Abominable – which was another favorite) and he was pretty excited!
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DSC_0011 IMG_3765 IMG_3767 IMG_3769 IMG_3771 IMG_3775 IMG_3780 IMG_3797 IMG_3798 IMG_3800 IMG_3802 IMG_3804 IMG_3811 IMG_3812 IMG_3813 IMG_3814 IMG_3820 IMG_3821 IMG_3823 IMG_3826 IMG_3830 IMG_3832IMG_3833DSC_0020We took a bit of a break to have breakfast. Each of the kiddos helped Grandpa make our pancakes and Kevin made scrumptious mush! Finn wanted to be right the the whole time and he was helping protect everyone’s hands and keep them all “safe” from the heat of the griddle!IMG_3838IMG_3841IMG_3843IMG_3846IMG_3847IMG_3848IMG_3850IMG_3851DSC_0027IMG_3855 IMG_3860 IMG_3864One of our most favorite Christmas gifts was this nativity set that dad made for our family!  Isn’t it just beautiful! Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, and the three Wise Men each stand up on their own are and it’s just so unique, a one of a kind!IMG_3866 IMG_3871 IMG_3874 DSC_0029 Papa is using his new seedling watering mister!IMG_3876 IMG_3878 IMG_3879 IMG_3881On Christmas evening we came back home, dropped off the dogs, and headed to Christy’s birthday dinner hosted by Jennifer at her new house. It was another fun and cozy evening with yummy food, fun friends, and goofy kids.  IMG_3887IMG_3888 IMG_3895 IMG_3903 IMG_3908 IMG_3909 IMG_3915 IMG_3917 IMG_3921 IMG_3922 IMG_3928 IMG_3931 IMG_3933On Saturday we headed to Enon for the Armstrong family Christmas at Cookie and Steve’s house. But first, a stop at Young’s for some Ice Cream! Griffin always enjoys playing with Ora and soaking in all the attention from Grandma, Grandpa, aunt’s, uncle’s, cousins, and such! After the extended family gathering we hung out at Brett and Missy’s house for awhile and opened gifts (and played with them too, lol!). IMG_3959 IMG_3960 IMG_3969 IMG_3973 IMG_3979 IMG_3982 IMG_3988 IMG_3989 IMG_3992 IMG_3996Earlier in the week before Christmas, Debbie took Griffin downtown to the life-sized nativity. He really enjoyed being able to walk up to all of the animals and people. We love that he learns about Jesus and the story of Christmas not only with us and at school, but also through Debbie! <3. IMG_4068IMG_4067IMG_4066IMG_4065

December 21, 2014

IMG_20141221_084908749Griffin is always looking out for his animal friends.  Wiping their noses, giving them drinks, and petting them. On this particular morning he wanted to feed fishy.

We’ve enjoyed another week full of activity, including a night out for dinner with friends that included an ugly sweater contest. While we didn’t win any prizes, Kevin deserves a prize for effort as he not only purchased our sweaters, but he also purchased bows and a light set that he connected to each of our sweaters.  These are definitely keepers! We’re looking forward to more sweater parties in the future…20141215_194101To celebrate Kevin’s birthday, we ventured to the movie theater with friends to see the classic National Lampoons Christmas vacation. We enjoyed a fun time and lots of laughs.  I realized we didn’t take any pictures with the camera this week, they are all from our phones, so they are a bit fuzzy, but you’ll get the idea.

Later in the week we enjoyed the annual tradition of gathering for a holiday dinner at the Howard’s, and also a white elephant gift exchange – one for adults, and one for kids (there are about 13 of them!). Finn got a lovely blue snuggly blanket – which is actually perfect for him as he loves soft things and has been really in to his stuffed animals lately.  And then there is the Christmas Sweater, originally received by Liz – then stolen by her husband Paul to lock it in for 2015. We’re looking forward to seeing what adventures the sweater will take in the coming year. We were so happy to be able to go, as we look forward to it each year, though our poor guy started a fever Thursday afternoon and we thought we may not be able to go to the party as we didn’t want to spread the germs. But with the motrin he was feeling better and everyone said to bring him, so we stayed the entire time and had such fun. Griffin was super tired and fell asleep in the car on the way home, and slept until 11 am on Friday.  Woah!  20141218_212021 20141218_212030 20141218_215946 20141218_215739 20141218_220910 20141218_221036 20141218_220949 20141218_221212 20141218_221305 20141218_221445 20141218_221732 20141218_214551 20141218_225828Once he woke up we headed to Aunt Amy’s for a tag-team babysitting project. Finn enjoyed playing with his cousins for a short bit. IMG_20141219_140129372 IMG_20141219_124048258 IMG_20141219_140620357Friday we enjoyed our annual C-group Christmas party. The kids, in particular, had a great time dancing this year!IMG_20141219_194856490


And here are a few others from our week.  Lots of loving on the stuffed animals, the dogs, finding Alfred the elf (can you find him here?), painting Christmas ornaments, making foam Christmas ornaments, and wearing Ho Ho’s hat. IMG_20141216_082437215 IMG_20141216_082557485 IMG_20141217_082957321 IMG_20141217_185329430 IMG_20141219_112307081 IMG_20141220_125430430 photo (54) photo (56) photo (55) photo (53)