Everly is still holding out on getting on the ice. She will take all the blankets and coats she can get. Put a cup of cocoa in her hand and she will snuggle in and watch everyone else skate and get blisters.
Then straight home and into the sleeping bags for Shepherd's night! These two activities go nicely together. Everybody is too tired to stay up chatting and I don't have to threaten to cancel Christmas.
I didn't stress. I didn't spend hours baking and cooking. We didn't try to achieve the perfect house. We just made a couple loaves of bread, put out a pack of oreos and picked up the house a bit. Everyone brought a treat to share and a possible song to play....or not!
We didn't know if anyone would want to do a solo, so we were ready to have a pure sing along, but once we got going, it was infectious. Several kids convinced their parents to zip home to grab music or an instrument. We loaned out ukuleles and brought the electric keyboard down.
It was so fun and it is probably my favorite evening of the whole Christmas season.
Justin, Maia, Sheila and Sara
Emma and Georgia
Emma, Laynie and Robyn
Amy and Lisa Gotfredson
Mark and Robyn
Maia and Sheila Mitchell
Mark and Larrin....Mele kalikimaka!
Ryan and his bassoon
Megan and Mark
Mathew!
A few more that I didn't get a photo of: Emma Mitchell and her bassoon, and Benjamin Garcia with a piano solo.
Originally, Mark and Laney were planning on driving out to Colorado. We wanted them to live, so they booked a flight and that gave them loads of extra time to spend exploring and visiting friends instead of staring at the stripes on the road.
They met up with the Clarke clan for "burgers"....I think that is what they call a cheese skirt? Whatever it's called...it's making my arteries cry.
The girls were so happy to see each other! Eliza, Ella and Laney 💜
And then back to us they flew...we were missing them and reading to finish out our advent calendar.
The day has finally come. She's going to go on a dogsled ride and it's going to be fabulous and she's going to be best friends with all the dogs. Feast on the visual gorgeousness. Her face says it all.
So, back in Kansas, we're having some pretty memorable times as well. I may have planned and executed the quietest 1st grade Christmas party in the history of man.
Silent matching game. Yes, please.
Gentle ornament craft? Sign me up.
Pleasant, non-competitive dice game? Mmm-hmmm.
Softy and snuggly snow-ball toss? Darn tootin.
While Laney was off having the time of her life, we thought we better at least eat out. We made a spontaneous side-trip to the Penguin house on the way. Once will do you.
Luckily, every other living soul in Olathe decided that Cracker Barrel was the only place to eat tonight. It only took us an hour of claustrophobic "window shopping" before we got a table. My patience grew three sizes that day.
We went through Panda drive-thru on the way home and saved the majority of the kids meals for Mathew to heat up for lunch tomorrow. He will be in chicken finger heaven.
For now, he's in roast beef heaven. He's a squeaky-clean, brand new Arby's employee. I ordered jalapeno poppers to celebrate. With Bronco Berry sauce, of course.
You're so in tune with what is happening in our lives! Oh, what a nice new sweater you have there....
Laney is off on her special trip with Dad! They are flying to Colorado today to go on a dogsled adventure with the Mountain Mushers. (Laney was feeling so sick last night and even threw up. We were so worried that she had caught Everly's stomach bug and the whole trip would get cancelled. We prayed hard and she slept through the night and felt much better in the morning. We sent a bunch of Zofran with Dad, just in case. Nothing is going to keep this girl from running with the wolves!)
Smiles don't get bigger than this!
First time on a plane!
Ah, bummer...no window...and still crazy ecstatic.
Then some kind people in some nearby seats were willing to swap so she could get the full experience. People are awesome.
The day was spent finding yummy food to eat.
And shopping for super cool sunglasses.
Then off to bed at the hotel. Waking up bright and early to make all of Laney's dreams come true!
Back in Kansas we were having some pretty epic adventures of our own. Mathew was going through his Eagle board of review! It was sheer torture! I was so nervous and literally nothing was required of me! But he did it! He presented and answered all the questions and he passed!
He's an Eagle Scout, folks.
And I'm so proud of him. What a great day this turned out to be!
