Christmas in Washington

We decided to stay home for Christmas this year. We were planning to have Grandpa and Grandma Airplane join us but there was bad weather and, after sitting at the (closed) border of Idaho for a few hours hoping to go North, they turned back for home. 

A few days before Christmas I took the kids to Beaver Bark (our favorite nursery) to let them pick out some succulents for Steve's Christmas present. Dancer and Prancer were there and the kids had a lot of fun picking out plants and pots.

The kids helped me pot the plants and water them when we got home (and named them!). We hid them in a secret cupboard at night and then put them in the sun while Steve was at work. While the plants were on the table the kids would sit by them and color and check on them. It was love at first sight. Seriously. They talked about how much they would miss the plants after they went to Steve's office.

Christmas Eve morning we made Santa pancakes. 

The plan was for Grandpa Airplane, Steve, and Cody to go see Star Wars on Christmas Eve. In preparation, we watched a Star Wars movie every day as a family the week before Christmas. Liv liked it, but Kylee really started to get into it. Since Grandpa wasn't able to make it, Kylee was more than happy to use his ticket and she LOVED it! 

She thinks it's funny when I call her Kylee Ren (Kylo Ren is a character in the new movie).'

Christmas Eve night we each opened a present. The kids couldn't wait any longer to give Steve his plants so we played "Hot and Cold" until he found the secret cupboard where they were hiding. He loves them as much as the kids do!

Christmas morning! The kids got headlamps in their stocking.

They loved their lights and wore them the rest of the day. Here they are looking at the reflection of their lights in the kitchen counter. It can't get more fun that that.

You can also see one of my presents from Steve: wood pallets. I'm excited to make some art with them and he totally surprised me, which is not usually his thing. I was impressed. He also picked out pajama pants for me and bought me a Your Shape XBOX Kinect game that I am loving for exercising. 

Christmas morning cinnamon rolls because it's tradition. 

It looks like Olivia is sucking on the frosting pouch. Who is her mother?

Putting together some girl legos!

Liv got a set of sand castle molds because she loves playing in the dirt in the backyard. 

Headlamps + mud = endless fun possibilities.

We had to take a break from the mud pies to take care of the Hovanski's chickens since they were out of town. Steve got pretty attached.

Back to the mud. Good thing they had headlamps!

Steve made tamales and we enjoyed some fancy soda too. 

And here is a picture of Steve's plants at work. In the white pot is Tyler L. In the red pot: the red cactus is named Bob, the tall one next to it is Brady, and the flat one is Jordan. And the spiky one in the blue pot is Tyler B. We call them the Uncle plants.

It was a great Christmas!