School Parties....take 2

I was in charge of both the 1st grade and preschool Christmas parties again. They weren't half as stressful as the Halloween ones were, though.
I did, however, forget to take pictures at Maya's party so I just have ones of the Preschool Party.
Maya was party was at the end of her school day and was over just before Kai's started so she was able to come and help out at Kai's party.

YUMMMMMM-O

This years Christmas deliveries....

Preschool Program (embarasment!!!)

I discovered something new about my 4 year old son during his Preschool Christmas Program.....
this kid has a dark side!

Sure the pictures look all innocent and all but just you watch the videos. This was his first "in the spotlight" situation he has been in so I am hoping that it was just his way of dealing with his nerves.....Let's just say, Anthony and I had a big talking to him afterwards.
It did make for a very funny and memorable Christmas program, though. GEEEESH!!!






He started out so sweet...


Then, he started with the hand....not bad, but I started getting a bit nervous...

ok, now I am starting to wonder whose kid this is?...

Christmas Party

This year the annual Campbell/Strehlow Christmas Party was at my mom and Dad's house. So much yummy food and good company!












In true Kai fashion, he fell asleep before Santa came and then Maya was a bit shy. So leave it to Addie to be the only Pabst child willing to sit on Santa's lap.

Happy Birthday Papa!!!

For my dad's birthday we all went out to Famous Dave's BBQ. Maya ate more BBQ ribs than I did....and I ate A LOT!!!











The food was taking forever so I got out the old trusty camera and let the kids go to town. hey...we were board.

Ornaments

When I was young, one of my favorite and most exciting things about the Christmas season was the package we would get every year from my Grammy (my mom's mom). In that package, each child had their very own Christmas ornament. I still have most of those cherished ornaments today and LOVE taking them out every year and showing them to my children.
My mother has kept this tradition alive by giving all of her grandchildren a very special ornament of their own every year. I love seeing my own children get so excited for this every year and love the excitement on their faces as they take out previous years ornaments and hang them on the tree.






Anthony thought he could be sneaky and catch me really cutting a rug. Silly boy.....notice the sideways shot....amature!
Kai, on the other hand, was more than happy to show off.

Going on a tree Hunt

One of the many wonderful things about Oregon is the many, many tree farms there are during Christmas time. We get to go out with the kids in a forrest of trees and find the perfect one for our family and bring it home.
The kids and I love playing hide-and-seek while our very own "Paul Bunyan" saws down the tree and ties it to the car.