Kids Singing

While putting our Christmas tree away last Sunday, the kids started singing Christmas carols. One thing led to another and then I was recording the kids in their own little "mini concert." One day I'll have fun showing this to their future spouses ;)

* remember, if you're viewing this in email, you most likely have to go to the blog to see videos: http://wuenschel2.blogspot.com

Kindergarten Christmas Program

Nathan had his school Christmas program the week before Christmas break. The preschool & kindergarten classes sang some songs before the 1st-5th graders put on a little play.

Ready to laugh? Not at them. At me. In the hustle to get everyone home from school, dressed, fed and out the door for the school program, I thought I gave Nathan a tie that fit. I was non-stop until the kindergarteners took the stage. And then I was mortified. But it was too late to do anything about it! Watch the video to see why. Bad momma. Poor, oblivious, Nathan.

* Remember, if you're viewing this in email, you most likely need to visit the blog to see any videos. Here's the link: http://wuenschel2.blogspot.com

San Antonio Aquarium

It was a rough week the last few days. After having Daddy home for almost 2 weeks, and grandparents visiting, the kids (and I) were in for a rude awakening when school started again and Daddy left to go to NOLA for work. We needed something to cheer everyone up. So, Thursday, after dropping Nathan at school, we headed to the new "aquarium" in town. I use the word "aquarium" losely, because having been to the National, Georgia and even the Texas State Aquarium, this one pales in comparison. But it's still a fun experience.

 

 

Finding "Nemos"

 

This guy was a cool sea star, we had fun watching him move around in the sand.

 

Ruthie took the Daddy/Grandparent detox hardest. I thought for sure the sting rays would cheer her up. And they did, for a bit.

 

That girl LOVES fish :)

 

For a moment, no one was crabby!

Ok, maybe they were. But this is a "Crabby" mommy can deal with happily ;)

 

Faith, happy to see her favorite lizard

 

 

It wasn't crowded at all, so we got to feed the sting rays

 

Ruthie was upset that she couldn't reach the water.

But everything made Ruthie upset this week... :(

 

The girls even fed the sharks

 

And we got to feed the birds.

 

That made Ruth upset.

 

But Jonathan....?

 

He LOVED the birds!!!!

 

So much so, that I put some bird seed on his stroller snack tray, so he could get a closer view.

 

The boy was in heaven!

 

 

Faith warmed up fast to the birds, too.

 

Once she learned that all she needed to do was clap when too many came her way.

 

Faith kept asking to go back in one of the bird cages

 

When the girls were done, I tried to offer the rest of Faith's birdseed to another little girl. But the moment I had took it from Faith, I was buried in birds. I couldn't pour it, or even get close to the little girl who wanted seeds. Clapping wasn't even working! So the bird  handler took my photo. ha

 

 

Ruth eventually warmed up to the idea of watching the birds froma  distance.

But I couldn't really get her happy. So we headed back to the sting ray exhibit with the last of our shrimp (food). But still no smiles from Miss Grumpy Pants :(  No worries. She's happy now (Saturday) because Daddy's home again!

 

Earlier in December, all 6 of us went to the aquarium when it first opened for members only. I purchased a membership, sight-unseen, because they were 50% off and I knew how much the kids (especially Ruth) loved fish. Plus, anything we can do INSIDE during the summer, that's worth the $! The membership was part of the kids' Christmas present. So they got a little early gift, getting to go before Christmas.

 

  Here's Ruth the first time we went, LOVING the sting rays. On a side note, you can hear little miss thousand questions in the background, rattling off questions ;)

 

 

 

The big kids, checking out the octopus

 

And "buttercup", the boa constrictor

 

Nathan was the only one brave enough to hold a sea star

But, surprisingly, it was Faith who was in awe of the lizards!

 

 

Touching a shark

 

And checking out the 80 year old tortoise

 

Faith was annoyed that he kept "running" away from her.

I think he was really trying to escape another child who wasn't being so nice....

 

And Ruth, as I said above, LOVED the sting rays! 

 

Christmas at Home

Usually we are traveling for Christmas, so this was the first year that we had a normal Christmas together at home, with just our family. I can't count 2011 - we were home but it wasn't normal. I had just given birth to Ruth, and was discharged from the hospital on Christmas day. We didn't open presents till that evening. It was nice to have a quiet Christmas day at home. Here's some highlights.

On Christmas Eve, we took a few photos with the tree after the Christmas Eve service (where everyone insisted on holding their own candle, played with the paper protector and managed to burn themselves and scream during the peaceful service, all 30 seconds apart from each other...).

Ruth was mad that she couldn't hold Jonathan

Ruth's happy now! Faith (off camera, is now mad)

Faith's happy now!

Christmas morning:

 

That's a lot of stockings....

Ruthie got a Cleveland Browns cheerleader outfit

More Laser Pegs (aka light-up legos) for Nathan!

 

And treats for Gramma were super popular!

 

The kids introduced Jonathan to "Row-Row", he has his own now.

In a few months he'll actually care ;)

A book about unicorns from Gramma!

And Faith got her own Cleveland browns cheer outfit!

Jacob and his "dremel" - ok, so mommy brain struck again. I THOUGHT I was buying a "Better dremel" I sort of missed the point that "Oscillating" doesn't mean it spins.... But Jacob says this was on his "want list" anyways. But, um, what tool ISN'T on his want-list?!?  Besides a pink hammer. Glad he's happy with my mistake anyways. Maybe next year he'll give me a list ;)

Ruth was super happy with her dollhouse!

I must note that this is about when I opened my gift: a new camera lens. Which I love. But I took a lot of blurry pics the first few days ;)

Faith got a dollhouse, too! We didn't get to build it beforehand. But Daddy & Pa built it last week and it's in the decorating phase. We'll share photos when it's done. She loves it, by the way!

 

Nathan's favorite gift? His own "real" Bible.

It may, or may not be a close 2nd to his new legos ;)

 

Ruth and Faith, admiring Faith's dollhouse furniture set.

Auntie Sara and I helped her put it together and paint it last week.

 

Ruth loves her glasses from Gramma!

(For those curious about my new lens - this photo is an example of what it does. In layman terms, it takes sharper photos, uses light better, and can blur backgrounds like this)

 

And Daddy got a badminton set!

Too bad it's been too wet and/or too cold to play yet. I realize I shouldn't complain about rain and 42* temps when many of you reading this are buried under snow and -40 wind chills. But I'm not sorry ;)

 

Nathan also got a Mario Kart game for his DS.

 

Jonathan likes his inchworm toy.

Or maybe he likes sitting like a big kid with Daddy?

Either way, he's happy!

 

And adorable! :)

 

Ruth's dollhouse has been a hit, too!

 

After presents and brunch, Daddy & Jonathan relaxed to some football.

 

And the big kids and I finished our gingerbread barn.

 

I've always wanted to try to make something from scratch made gingerbread. But I knew I'd end up with a mess. So I surprised myself!! And the kids surprised me; they did 90% of the candy!! Even Ruth did well placing candies!! (after she licked some of them first... haha)

 

We made some treats to share with our neighbors, and I packed for my whirlwind trip to MI. It was  good Christmas at home, just the 6 of us. It certainly wasn't quiet ;)