Post Christmas Fun

GAP sent us some dominoes so we've been playing and building with them a lot.  All of my kids will agree to play dominoes, making it one of the few games they don't automatically reject when I suggest it.

Julia and I went post-Christmas bargain shopping, had lunch and did a big grocery shop on Tuesday.

Jeremy and I spent Wednesday watching wrestling.  Seriously, you didn't think we could go two weeks without wrestling did you?  The team got 1st place!  It's the first time I remember them winning a tournament.  The team has grown in the last few years so with more guys, most of whom are pretty good wrestlers, it puts them in the running for winning tournaments.  They've come in 2nd and 3rd a bunch of times this year so it was fun for them to win one!

Sam got 1st at this meet at 170 lbs.

And Thomas got 5th at 182 lbs.

After two days at home entertaining themselves, I decided some little boy fun was in order.  On Thursday they played with Grandma and Grandpa while I had lunch with my roomies,

Then we enjoyed prehistoric putt!  It was a good time. 

 

Last Christmas Celebrations

We had a nice Christmas with the Vranas too.

There was lots of present opening and playing.  Uncle Mike is a cut throat Monopoly player!

Fun was had by all!
 

Carlson Christmas

After our Christmas fun at home we headed to my parents'.  The whole gang was there, even Greta!

There were of course, lots of presents.

Lots of fun (including karaoke thanks to Fr. Nicholas who gifted Beth and her roommate Katie with a karaoke machine.  Turns out my kids really like karaoke.  Probably not if I suggested it, but with a fun new machine they'll sing until you make them stop.)

and lots of activities.

Philip got to choose the shape for decorating this year and spent a day earlier in the week with Grandma making the snowmen cookies.  He had lots of fun judging and awarding prizes.

It was great to be with everyone!

Basement Christmas!!

We put our Christmas tree in the basement this year so on Christmas morning we enjoyed opening gifts by the fireplace for the first time!

Santa brought lots of goodies plus the kids decided to give each sibling a gift this year so there was extra unwrapping.  Thomas loves to give gifts and Julia enjoys it too so I figured why grinch their generosity?  (Even if it did make some extra work for me.  Samuel and Thomas can drive themselves to Christmas shop.  The littles?  Not so much.)  We did a Target run after school one day when they got out early because of Neumann's finals.  They just bought little stuff for each other mostly.  It was fun to see what they picked out.  The gift of the year was from Thomas to Nicholas and was a little skateboard Nick had spied at 5 below and been asking for.  Thomas did consult me before buying it for Nick and I figured 5 Below's price was about what I would be willing to spend on a skate board for a kid who has maybe 100 feet of sidewalk to skate on!

 After gifts we enjoyed Christmas brunch before heading to my parents' house for more fun.

Prepare the Way...for Jesus and Deliciousness!

As we all know, my favorite part of getting ready for Christmas is baking!  We made a good array of things this year.  When you've got 5 kids who can all handle making something on their own you get a good variety.  Among the highlights were: Cinnamon rolls and two kinds of fudge that I made.  Sam made his favorite, chocolate cherry shortbreads.  (And made them like he was on a cooking show...he put all the ingredients in separate bowls and, because he's Sam, commentated on how the baking was going to anyone who happened to come through the kitchen.)  Nicholas made rollo pecan pretzels, Philip dipped pretzels and helped cut up the fudge.  Thomas made Snicker salad and Julia made pigs in a blanket for our Christmas Eve appetizer dinner. 

We've been enjoying eating and sharing all the goodies!

Having a senior at Christmas time makes you a little more thoughtful.  All of a sudden I'd see Sam doing something fairly normal, like baking cookies, and my heart would do this little flop while I thought, "will he be home to do this with us next year?"  Loosen that grip, Lisa.  It's getting closer to the time for letting him go.

Christmas 2021

 

100 WINS!

Samuel won his 100th wrestling match at the last meet before Christmas! 

We printed off about 30 of these signs for the team and families and friends to hold up.  We had to pass them out twice...after his 99th win he had a loss so everyone gave them back and we handed them out again.  He didn't know we had them so we managed to surprise him.  So much so that we had to cheer and yell a lot before he looked up and saw us.  In hind sight I wish I'd sent someone across the gym to take a picture of everyone holding the signs.  Oh well.

Here's the 100th hand raise.

Since he has an elementary teacher for a mother there were also little cards to pass out with a kit kat and two mints taped on to look like 100s because it turns out 100 Grand candies are now where to be found in our little town.

Congratulations on your hard work and achievement Sam!!

 

Making a Change

 Hi my dear readers.  Thanks for sticking with me all these years.  Don't worry, I haven't decided to completely stop blogging but I have decided it is time to privatize my blog.  This means I will have to invite you to read it.  I think I probably know who is reading and I will be happy to invite you.  If you think I don't know you are reading my blog email me or leave me a comment.  I will make the change after Christmas. As my kids get older and I write less often I think not having my blog open to anyone who stumbles on it will be a good thing.

Christmas Program

The St W Christmas program was a little delayed because the music teacher got quarantined but we got to enjoy it last week. Philip was a townsperson.

and {GASP} she changed up who sang together!  Which meant Philip and Nicholas were in the same group (and then we got to listen to another half hour of other people's children singing.  I've been spoiled by having a child in each group a few years but not so anymore.)  They are both on the far left.  Philip top row, Nicholas 2nd standing row.

 Nice job Philip and Nicholas!

Band Concert

The band concert was lovely as always.  These pictures aren't in the same order as the concert and I don't feel like rearranging so try to follow along.  

The high school band sounded great as always.

The 8th graders joined the high schoolers for some sing along carols at the end.

They also played by themselves of course and donned these festive hats for their last song.

The sixth grade band played a couple Christmasy and a couple not so Christmasy songs and sounded very good.

And we were one of the family quartets.  Our band director came from years of teaching just high school.  He thinks it's cool that he teaches whole families so each Christmas concert he has a couple sibling groups play.  I was going to lobby for Nicholas to play sleigh bells with them but their song was a medley of The First Noel and It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, sleigh bells didn't seem fitting.  It took some sibling practice time and work on getting along but they sounded pretty nice.  We were proud of them.

And my children are ridiculous.  Check out the eyes and hands in these pictures!

Thomas wins for most photogenic and easiest to photograph every time!

DARE graduation

still going strong in our community.

Good work Philip!
 

Make Your House Fair

...as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table.  (Name that tune- People Look East)

We got a new tree and put it downstairs this year!  I miss seeing it in the living room everyday but it sure is less crowded!  We had a nice time decorating it and even found a Sunday evening when everyone was home to do it!

We put up a few outside lights this year too.

I did say a few!

Crafternoon

I hosted a fun crafternoon (or crafterevening is you so wish, but it doesn't sound as good) after the band concert.  It ended up being mostly a family event because of the timing but we had lots of fun!

My craft was the garland hanging on the fireplace.

Sometimes Mom Needs a Little Help

And he can totally handle correcting third grade math.

 

High School Wrestling Has Started

Which means all I'm doing is teaching, watching wrestling and getting ready for Christmas.  This was parents' night.

The team is growing!

You can tell who is who because Samuel's head gear is red and Thomas's is yellow.

 

Thomas had a bit of a rough start when two freshmen decided to take him down while warming up for the first meet of the season.  He landed on his elbow funny and over extended it.  He had to be no contact for a week but he's back and going at it now.  He's had a couple good wins and a couple tough losses but seems fairly happy with himself so far.  

Samuel is doing great!  He has three losses I think, all to kids who medaled at state last year.  Yesterday he scored his 100th win which was fun.

The little boys are practicing but won't compete until January.  And joy of joys they are both at the same practice time this year!!  Woot!