Santa's Village

Every year my mom takes her grandkids to see Santa at Santa's Village.  On Saturday, December 15th we (Grandma Kathy, Me, Jen, Justin, Laura, Jacob, Mallorie, Emma, Karisa, MaKena, Gunnar and Dylan) headed to Santa's Village to visit Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.  The kids were excited. 

 

MaKena and Dylan hanging out at our house before we left to see Santa.

When we got to Santa's Village we headed into Santa's house so we could sit on his lap.  While we waited for everyone to get there we took some cute pictures by the blow up snowman. 

Once inside we made our way around the Christmas tree and signed the guest book.  We had to stop and take several pictures of all the anxious little kids waiting to see Santa!!  (Back row (LtoR): Jacob and Mallorie.  Middle Row (LtoR): MaKena, Gunnar, Emma and Karisa.

One more quick picture while we were waiting our turn.  Jacob, Dylan, Mallorie, MaKena, Gunnar, Karisa and Emma.

Emma with Santa.

Gunnar and Santa.

Karisa and Santa.

Dylan and Santa.

Jacob and Santa.  (This year I broke down and told Jacob Santa wasn't real.  I felt bad telling him because I think he still believed but he's in middle school now and I didn't want him to get made fun of so I thought it was best if he found out from me. We'll see if he sits with Santa next year!  I hope he does.)

MaKena and Santa.  I was so proud of her because she sat with him all by herself.  She was a little nervous at first but I think it helped seeing her cousins and brother go first.

Mallorie and Santa.

After we visited Santa we headed into the kitchen to decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus.  Shes always so much fun as she tells little jokes to the kids.  Dylan even got to decorate a cookie!

Gunnar and Emma decorating their cookies. 

Jacob, Mallorie and MaKena getting ready to decorate their cookies.

After we finished decorating cookies we headed into the next building to eat our cookies and have some hot chocolate.  Inside this building they always have arts and crafts for the kids to do.  The kids made their tree ornament, colored pictures and got tattoos.  (Karisa, MaKena, Mallorie, Emma and Gunnar sitting at the table.)

Jacob and Gunnar.

Justin, Dylan and Laura.

The kids getting ready to make their tree ornament.  This year it was a reindeer.

Jen and Gunnar working on Gunnar's deer.

Jacob and MaKena.

Mallorie and Jacob.

Dylan being cute!

Mom with all her grandbabies!! (Back Row LtoR: Jacob, Grandma Kathy, Dylan and Mallorie. Front Row LtoR: MaKena, Karisa, Gunnar and Emma)

On our way over to the next building we stopped and took some fun pictures by the Christmas decorations outside.  We thought it was cute how all the kids stood by either a tree or snowman.  Justin was holding Dylan by the big tree.  (LtoR: Gunnar, Karisa, Jacob, MaKena, Emma, Dylan and Mallorie.)

The kids love the trains at Santa's Village.  Grandma Kathy always brings a bunch of change for the kids to drop in the train as it goes by.

Emma, Jen and Gunnar watching the train go around and around.

Grandma Kathy, MaKena, Karisa and Mallorie waiting for the train to come by so they can put their money in.

Jacob, MaKena, Emma, Karisa and Mallorie.

Laura, Justin and Dylan.

After we finished putting our money on the train the kids sat down and wrote letters to Santa.  Karisa and Mallorie writing a letter to Santa.

Jacob writing his letter to Santa.

Gunnar, MaKena and Emma writing their letters to Santa.

When the kids finished writing their letters we went out to the mailbox and mailed them to Santa.  Then we headed home!

Swimming Lessons

Ok, so I am really behind on blogging.  I apologize, but I haven't been in the blogging mood.  Slowly I'll catch up so hang with me! 

 

Last winter we signed the kids up for 2 sessions of swimming lessons at the Family Wellness Center.  In the past we've done swimming through West Fargo but we thought we'd give the Y a try.  Both kids had a blast!  They passed their levels the first session which was exciting.   

Jacob doing the back float.

MaKena doing the back float.

Chicago visitors

On Friday, December 14th, Justin, Laura and Dylan were in town and came over to visit.  I took the day off so I could spend some quality time with my newest nephew and my baby brother and sister-in-law too!!  They ventured over to my house just before lunch.  We hung out until mid afternoon and then they were off to make their rounds of visiting family and friends.  While they were at my house I couldn't help but take a million and one pictures of Mr. Dylan.  He is at such a fun stage.  Crawling and scooting around and into everything.  He is such a happy little boy.  I dug out a bunch baby toys that we have stashed in the basement storage.  The poor kid didn't know what he should play with first.  When MaKena got home she dug out more for him to play with.  She was loving her baby cousin!!  It was cute.  It was so much fun to have them over.  We're looking forward to their next visit!

Mr. Dylan

Band Concert

On December 11th Lane, MaKena and I attended Jacob's first band concert.  Lonnie and Ardis and my mom and Pat also came to watch the big show!  Now that Jacob is in middle school he is required to take a music class.  His choices were band, choir, orchestra or general music.  Jacob picked band, which surprised me.  When we found out about his band concert I was a little worried and I didn't know what to expect.  I thought it was going to be torture but I was pleasantly surprised.  They sounded pretty good.  Granted I'm not a musical expert but we were only 3 1/2 months into the school year and I'm guessing a lot of them didn't have much musical background.  I thought they did great for their first concert.  Jacob plays the trombone, which is about as big as him!!  He did great.  Its been fun listening to him practice and get better and better each time.  Hopefully he enjoys it enough to stick with it next year. 

Jacob is dead center behind the tall brown hair girl!

He's smiling in this picture. Do you see him?!

Jacob playing the trombone.

Celebrating Grandma Vivian's Birthday

On Friday, December 7th the kids and I headed to the nursing home to help Grandma Vivian celebrate her 88th birthday.  We met mom there, she had picked up Chinese food for grandma for supper.  The kids and I picked up cupcakes and we brought a candle and sang happy birthday to the birthday girl!  I think grandma enjoyed it but she wasn't a big fan of me taking her picture!  Jason came up with the girls too so grandma had plenty of company on her birthday. 

Jacob and MaKena singing Happy Birthday!

This picture is funny.  I think the kids were still singing but MaKena was trying to get close and snuggle with grandma.

Grandma blowing out the candle.