Day 4

Captain America and Squirt were lowering Willy into the toy bucket when we found him this morning.

Advent Calendar Day 4

watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas

p.s. Emi was not impressed with today's activity - we had to have a conversation about how every activity isn't going to be going somewhere or doing something exciting but that we will do something "christmasy". She said she understood but then added that tomorrow's better be a good one. Sheesh!! 

Day 3

3 years of doing this Elf on the Shelf thing and we have never forgotten to move him.....until last night. OPPS! Emi was a little stumped at first but then she convinced herself that his hands were in a different spot yesterday so he must have gone to see Santa and come back to the Angel because he loves her so much.

sounds good to me! ;)

talk about feeling like the worst parent EVER!! ugghh!

here is Willy with the Angel, again

December 3

Walk through Starry Nights

there's nothing like a picture with your eyes closed ;)

sweet cousins

Day 2

Willy has a crush on our Angel ;)

December 2

Go to The Enchanted Forest

Emi loves doing the scavenger hunt and she was 

completely annoyed that I was making her stop to take a picture ;)

we weren't going to visit Santa because we had just seen him yesterday but Emi forgot to tell him what she wanted for Christmas. She worried about that all night so we had to stop and visit with Santa. I'm glad we did because the picture is really cute!

Advent Calendar Day 1 & Willy's Arrival

Emi has been so excited to start our Advent Calendar. It does take a little bit of work to get it together but it is so worth it! Brian and I really enjoy doing something "christmasy" with the kids everyday. So here it is, The Matochik Family Advent Calendar. I made it last year out of foam board, wrapping paper, scrap booking supplies and small envelopes. THANK HEAVENS it held up over the summer in our attic because that thing was quite time consuming to make and I DID NOT want to have to make another one!

What do you know? Willy made his arrival too! :)

December 1

Have breakfast with Santa

My in-laws took all of the grandkids to have breakfast with Santa and we tagged along ;)

Mimi and Poppy with the kids

attempting to get a photo with Santa - I'm pretty sure Jack and Santa were the same size. In every picture Jack was completely blocking Santa.

making ornaments

Jack was very excited to do this

going for a train ride

At the end of the day, I noticed that Emi had put this note next to Willy :)

The Westminster Christmas Program

Emi Joy before her big performance

Silly girls goofing off before the program

The first graders reciting Luke 2 and singing a Christmas carol. 

I was super impressed that they could remember Luke 2! They have been practicing since the first week of school - I have heard it many time over the last few months ;)

Thanksgiving Feast

Today was the Thanksgiving Feast at Westminster Academy. Can I just say how much I love that my daughter goes to a school where they thank God for their many blessings, read the bible every day and start every day with a prayer? We are very fortunate that we can send her to such an awesome school! Anywho - back to the feast. Each class is responsible for making some of the side items and our class was in charge of corn muffins and pumpkin pudding. They were to come to school dressed as a Pilgrim or an Indian - Emi chose a Pilgrim because she was an Indian last year. Apparently you can't be the same thing twice - sheesh! I need to learn these things! ;)

Mrs. Peckham's class of Pilgrims and Indians

making the pumpkin pudding

listening to a story about the first thanksgiving feast

thanking God for our many blessings

Brian and my little Pilgrim

feasting :)

Field Trip

The first grade classes went to Lichterman Nature Center for their field trip. I honestly thought - BORING! when I read the flyer but it was so much fun and I think the kids had a blast.

Emi's Class

learning about the forest and they got to meet (and pet) Daisy

learning about life in the water

feeding the fish

learning about snakes

Emi petting the corn snake

learning about owls

We had so much fun - we may have to do that again!