Christmas with the Redfield's

We started our Christmas celebrations with my side of the family on Christmas Eve. We headed out to Grandma Kathy’s house Friday afternoon for a turkey dinner and some family fun. Unfortunately Uncle Tom and Grandma Vivian were unable to make it this year and Justin and Laura were planning on coming to Fargo the following week. So it was a smaller group but still as rowdy and rambunctious as always! I guess that’s to be expected when you get 6 little kids from ages 10 years – 6 months together. The kids were excited to open gifts so we quickly cleaned up after dinner and started the fun gift opening. Mom got all 4 girls a glamour Barbie and boy were they excited. It came with a blow dryer, hair gel, a brush and a chair for the Barbie to sit on so they can do her hair. Before we knew it all the presents were opened and the living room was a mess! It was a lot of fun to watch all the kids open their presents and get excited about every gift. This year MaKena really got into the gift opening and was able to open all her gifts on her own. It was fun to watch. Once the gift opening was done the kids scattered and the adults carried on with some adult conversation. It was a fun time but it sure went by quick.

Emma eating olives. Both her and Karisa were sticking the olives on their fingers but Karisa ran away before I could get a picture. Too cute!
Gunnar and Jen opening his present from us. He loved it. (Mom and I ended up getting him the same thing........that's funny story!!)

Karisa opening a gift.

Emma with the Tinkerbell movie from us. She was excited.

The 3 little girls getting ready to open their gift from Grandma Kathy. She was giving them instructions to open them together.

All 4 girls with their Glamour Barbie. Can you tell they are a little excited.

Jacob with one of his gifts from Jason and Jerene.

Jacob with his gift from Jen and Nate.

School Music Program

Every year Jacob has a music program for school. Usually it’s in the spring before school is out but this year the 4th graders had a Holiday program. Jacob was telling me about all the different things the kids could sign up to do in the program. He was a little bummed that the two things he signed up for he didn’t get picked to do. (There are a lot of little 4th graders and only so many parts.) About a week before his program he informed me that one of the little boys backed out of the dancing part and the teacher told Jacob he was dancing at the program. I congratulated him and told him I was excited for him. He looked at me and said “but mom, it’s with a girl.” If I could have recorded that conversation……………..it was cute. He was nervous about having to dance in front of people with a girl!! And he knew Lane would ask him she was his girlfriend! He did great. The only bad part about the whole program was we sat on the wrong side of the gym so we didn’t really get to see him sing. I was able to get some pictures of him dancing and a little video.

Jacob waiting for the music to start. (He's in the black sweater with red stripes.)
Singing and dancing.

Here is a little video of him dancing. He did a great job!

A birthday party for MaKena

We celebrated Little Miss MaKena’s 3rd birthday on December 19th. She was so excited for everyone to come to her house for her party. It was cute. I think she finally understands what birthdays are all about. When it came time to open presents she did really well. She opened one at a time and took the time to thank whomever it came from. After she opened the first few she wanted daddy to take them out of the packages so she could play with them. Eventually we got through all the presents and got everyone ready to sing Happy Birthday. It was hilarious when we were singing to her. She kept trying to hold back her smiles. She’s such a funny girl! It’s hard to believe the little peanut is 3. She’s gotten way to big way too fast.

Opening presents.
She was just a little excited about the present Grandma Kathy gave her!! She's always wanted Cinderella's horses and carriage.

Opening her Precious Moments figurine from Brad and Anita.

MaKena with her new Princess game from Nana and Papa. (She loves this game!)

She got this outfit from Great Auntie Carol and Uncle Keith. It has a snowman on it. When she saw it she said Frosty the Snowman. It was cute. She sings that song all the time.

Singing Happy Birthday to MaKena.

Trying to hold her smile back.

Blowing out the candles.

Happy 3rd Birthday Little Miss MaKena

Happy 3rd Birthday Little Miss MaKena. It seems like just yesterday I was holding you for the first time and now you 3. You have brought so much love and joy to our family. I am so thankful to be your mommy. You are one special little girl. I love you too the moon and back baby!



MaKena Rose, December 19, 2007 just hours after she was born.
Getting her foot print done.

MaKena at 6 months old. (June 2008)

MaKena at 1 year. (December 2008)

MaKena at 20 months. (August 2009)

MaKena at 21 months. (September 2009 visiting Great Grandma Vivian in Beach.)

MaKena at 2 years. (December 2009)

MaKena at 2 1/2. (June 2010)

MaKena December 2010 - almost 3 years old.

Santa's Village

On Saturday Lane and I took the kids to Santa’s Village at Rheault Farms. Mom met us there with Karisa and Mallorie. It was an extremely cold day but we wanted the kids to see Santa before we ran out of time. Thankfully there weren’t a lot of people there so we didn’t have to wait to see Santa. Each kid took a turn sitting on Santa’s lap and having a little chat with him. MaKena was a little scared at first and didn’t want anything to do with Santa. Thankfully she didn’t act like she did last year and have a complete meltdown. Eventually I talked her into going up and saying hi and then we sat on Santa’s lap. Yes, you read that right, WE. MaKena wouldn’t sit on Santa’s lap right away so Santa suggested that I sit on his lap and then MaKena could sit on my lap. Oh goodness! Well, whatever works. So there MaKena and I sat talking to Santa and telling him what she wanted for Christmas. It’s been several years since I sat on Santa’s lap. The things you do for your kids!!

After the kids told Santa what they wanted for Christmas we moved into the kitchen and decorated sugar cookies with Mrs. Claus. As we decorated, Mrs. Claus told cute little Christmas jokes to the kids. The kids wrapped up their cookies in their napkins and we headed out to the next building. The next building had crafts, tattoos and coloring pages. The kids all sat at the table and made Christmas tree ornaments and then got tattoos. Afterwards the kids sat and ate their cookies they decorated with Mrs. Claus. At the last minute mom decided we all should go on a horse ride. So we bundled up and hopped on. MaKena was in awe of the horses. Saying she loved them would be an understatement.

After the horse ride we headed into the last building and kids got to put money into the train. I think they could have sat there all day watching the trains go around the tracks. Then they all wrote a letter to Santa and on the way out we dropped them in his mailbox. It was a fun day. It’s always fun going to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. Hopefully MaKena will sit on Santa’s lap next year by herself!

While we waited for Mom, Mallorie and Karisa we took a few pictures.
MaKena didn't want to stand by the snowman at first.

But daddy talked her into it!

Karisa, Mallorie, MaKena and Jacob.

Jacob and Santa.

Karisa and Santa. She had no fear going and sitting on Santa's lap.

Mallorie and Santa.

Me, MaKena and Santa.

Daddy joined us for a quick picture.

Decorating cookies with Mrs. Claus.

Making a Christmas tree ornament.

Watching the trains go around and around.

Such a cute little elf!

And another cute little elf.

The kids getting ready to mail their letters to Santa.

Putting their letters in the mail box.

A Birthday Party at the Force game

Jacob had his friend birthday party at the Fargo Force hockey game the beginning of December. He invited 7 friends and my mom and I chaperoned. We had 6 boys and 1 girl (no, she’s not his girlfriend) over for pizza, cake and ice cream and then we headed to the Force game. The kids were excited. For most of them it was their first Fargo Force game. Unfortunately the Force lost in a shootout but at least it was an exciting game. After the game one of players was signing autographs so the kids stood in line and got their hockey sticks signed by Tanner Lane. And of course we had to take a picture with him. He was such a nice young man. Once the game was done I drove all the kids home. As I dropped each kid off I think they thanked me at least 5 times. I’m so glad they all had a great time. Maybe we’ll do it again next year.

Eating pizza before the game. At one point the kids were being so loud MaKena told them to be quiet.
MaKena joining in on the fun with the big kids.
Singing Happy Birthday to Jacob.

At the Force game. We had really good seats.

A picture with Tanner Lane after he signed a bunch of stuff for the kids.

Hanging out by the Force sign.