The Rest of Christmas Vacation

Following Christmas day, we spent the rest of our vacation just hanging out with family and relaxing. It was not exactly what we had planned for our Christmas vacation. Prior to going home we were thinking about a 2 day ski trip, some ice skating, going to Georgia, shopping, and visiting with a lot of people. That didn't work out, but maybe it was for the best. We came back pretty rested and healthy. So it was a good trip all in all.

Christmas with the Penland's

We were suppposed to have Christmas on Dec. 26th with my family. However, NC got 6 inches on snow and both Hawkins and Price's had sick kids so we postponed until the 27th. On the 27th we did it without however could make it. We had a good time, but not everyone was able to make it.

Sara helping Grandma open presents.

Ethan hanging out and waiting for his turn to open presents.

Granddaddy is kind of like the MC for Christmas presents. He gets to sit there and pass out the presents. You can see the kids sitting close as they get to take them to people.

Tommy, Carre, and Thomas

Ethan and Thomas were pretty intrigued with each other, but didn't get to spend a ton of time together since Ethan wasn't feeling well. One night we went to Joe's restaurant, Kimono. Here are Ethan and Thomas checking each other out.

The kids love going to Kimono and watching them cook through the window. Free Entertainment.

Kacy was playing with the camera and took some pictures of Ethan. This was a good one.

Ethan enjoyed being spoiled by everyone. Here is is Grandpa Price feeding him a bottle.

The night before we left, the kids are all ready for bed...one last picture with Grandma and Grandpa Price. See you in the summer!

Christmas Day 2010

Just a cute picture of Ethan on Christmas morning so I thought that I would start us off with that! Enjoy~

Christmas 2010 was a fairly relaxing day. We woke up early and realized immediately that Kacy was not feeling well. She had fever and an upset stomach. So, she spent much of the day playing or laying on the couch. When we first came out we say want Santa had left the kids. They must have been pretty good this year because they got some cool stuff. Kacy got an American Girl Doll, named Kit. Sara got a new bike, and Ethan got a new toy.

Kacy's goods

Sara's goods

Ethan's goods

Once again being in NC, Darren's parent were able to come over for Christmas morning. We were able to open our presents with them and they got to open a few too.

As I have noted in earlier posts and in this one already Ethan had been sick since our airplane ride and Kacy woke up sick on Christmas morning...so I had my hands full on Christmas Day. Ethan was a mess and only wanted to be held. Thank goodness for my Mother-in-Law, Linda, she brought all the food over for our Christmas dinner and so we were still able to have a nice Christmas dinner.

Right around 12:00 noon on Christmas day it started snowing and it snowed for about the next 24 hours. We got a total of about 6 inches. It was beautiful and was the first "White Christmas" in Greensboro, NC since 1969. We were happy to be apart of it. It was especially great for us, because we didn't have to go anywhere or mess with driving in it really or any other complications for us...we just got to enjoy it!

Christmas Eve

For Christmas this year we travelled back to NC. It was great to go back and be in our own house. That was the first time that had spent the winter or Christmas at our house. My parents and siblings were gracious enough to have our house all decorated when we arrived back, which was great! We had a great time, although the majority of it being spent sick-another post on that.

Grandma Penland bought some Christmas clothes for the kids. Here are Kenan and Ethan with their matching vests on.

Darren got he hold baby Thomas for a little while on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve has some traditions tied to it...we always try to get to a Christmas Eve Service, this year we did it at Westover. They had it at 4:00pm which was great, because we could come home and have dinner after that. This year we had the privelage of having family around and so they all came over to our house for Christmas Eve. We had Darren's parents, my parents, Lesley and Kenan Kim (Joe had to work), and Tommy, Carre, and Thomas Penland. As a Price family we had started making homemade pizzas. We started this when Sara was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Prior to that we had always done sub sandwiches. Since those don't really work we went another route. We have found some pretty good GF pizza crust that we can make for Sara while the rest of us just use regular crust. We add some pretty good toppings and cook it up.

Another tradition comes in that the kids always get to open one present on Christmas Eve. My mom started this as far as I know...it is always Pajama's and a coloring book. The reasoning behind this...new pj's so the Christmas morning pictures look half decent. A coloring book so that the kids will have something to do that is somewhat calming on Christmas eve when they are so excited.

End of 1st Semester

So, we made it to the end of the first semester. Here are just a few pictures and thoughts regarding the end of the semester.

• Kacy is halfway through first grade...unbelievable
• Sara will start Pre-K next year...last semester in ELC...all the ELC staff just keep saying to leave her in the ELC. Sara is very ready and excited for Pre-K.
• Ethan continues to grow and is so much fun! He recognizes people and reaches for them. Makes it hard to just run in and out of the ELC now...I have to stop, pick him up, and play for a little while anytime I drop in.
• Darren and I both had a good semester, still trying to balance all the things that we do, but we are working on it. Some weeks are better than others! :)

Sara still loves her brother. She cannot walk by without stopping and "hugging" him, or attacking him, or something. My dad says, one day Ethan is going to take her out...she just loves him though! :) Here she is under the exersaucer while he is on her shoulders.

We did a pretty poor job of making cookies this year. I have to be honest, I think these were the only ones that we made...which was probably good for our health, but not typical of Christmas. Anyways, Buckeyes have become a favorite of ours as they are gluten free, the kids can help out making them, and they are pretty tasty. Plus with our balcony that is freezing we don't have to find room in the refrigerator or freezer for them.

We had the elementary concert one of the last nights in December. Kacy's class performed 3 songs. She loves being on stage! For those of you who have been here before you could probably guess some of the songs that she sang! ;) Somethings don't change. It was fun though.

Kacy's Tea Party

If you have been following our blog for long and remember our post from last year regarding Kacy's birthday party you will remember that we will not be repeating inviting the whole class for a birthday party again. So, when it came time to plan Kacy's party this summer I encouraged her about all the fun a tea party would be with just a few friends. So, this year we had the exact opposite from last year. Kacy invited 4 friends and Sara invited 1 for this special event. Kacy was adamant that she wanted it to be at my parents house and my mom was gracious enough to decorate for Christmas, even though she was going to just wait until NC.

Getting set-up:

When the guest arrived they entered the beauty salon and go some make-up put on and then they could go get their picture taken with the birthday girl.

Sara after she has her make-up on and modeling for everyone.

Hayley was sick with fever and wasn't able to come to the party so her mom made her some hot tea and Hayley skyped in for the party. She selected the treats that she wanted and we sent them over to their house for them to enjoy.

Tea Party Time:

The girls were very excited, they had menus and teapots with sugar and cream right at their table. Darren and I served them their food. It was quite the event. The chocolate dipped strawberries were definitely the high light of the party though. Check out Sophia enjoying hers.

Below is a specially made GF brownie in the shape of a Christmas Tree with some Christmas Tree sprinkles on it and glazed with some Chocolate Hersey's syrup, all made with love by her Daddy! :) She loved it and her friend Sophia even asked for that instead of the other cake's that others were having.