Sunday, December 28, 2014

Christmas Day

Christmas morning is always such a magical time. Everyone is happy and excited and getting along and will do just about anything you ask of them....including posing for a picture before I would allow a single present to be opened!
 Dallin was adorable all morning. Each time he was handed a present he would say, "FOR ME??!!" and always seemed to have such a gracious thankful heart for each thing that was handed to him.







It was a fun morning! After opening presents we got ready for the missionaries to come over to spend the day with us. My parents and Lane also joined us for a big lunch. 

A few days later we headed to Bridgewater for the Teerlink Family party. It was such a nice warm day that the kids could play outside. I don't think Dallin left the jumpy house the entire time. 


Carmen and Charlotte were a shepherd and angle for the nativity.

And then we enjoyed a second round of presents!

My Grandma and Grandpa Teerlink

Saturday, December 27, 2014

December Festivities

I have created a Christmas Countdown which includes a scripture and an activity for each day of the month of December. We did pretty good at the beginning reading the scriptures, but we always made sure to do the activity! I didn't take pictures of each activity, but I did take a few. 

The girls loved this Lego Countdown as well. A little Lego piece each day!


This day we read stories around the Christmas Tree, or tried to... Dallin was more interested in dancing around the tree. 
Then we attended a Christmas Concert for Carmen, which was really super cute.
 But Dallin was less than impressed.
Although I didn't get a picture of the treats we were making to deliver while caroling - this picture was taken during the process.
 Each of the girls had parties in their classes. I was lucky enough to get to help with Aliza's party. It's always so fun for me to see them in their little classroom environments. It's such a huge part of their lives, yet I know so little about them. I do know she has a fantastic teacher who we all love.


Then we got invited to a fabulous party at some the Johnson's home. Santa was even there!

 We made a trip up the DC Temple to see the lights, which were spectacular! And no trip to the temple is complete without a trip to the Moo Thru for ice cream.




 And Christmas Eve always ends with new pj's and some fun movies.
Other activities included caroling, secret santa-ing, cookie baking, coloring and hot chocolate sipping!

And because I don't know where else to add these pictures, I'll add them here.
 David and Carmen got floor seats to a UVA Women's Basketball game. They were pretty excited to go. And Carmen got asked to take part in a little friendly competition during half time. She had to run and put on a jersey, then shorts and then basketball shoes and then run back the length of the court while dribbling the ball and then make a layup. She was up against a boy and she totally blew him out of the water! She won and $25 gift card that she used to buy some of her own UVA basketball shorts.

David took the kids to a new indoor tampoline place while I enjoyed a day of shopping and pampering all by myself. A win/win for everyone!


 And lastly, David is famous! His company was featured in an ad for Virginia National Bank. This picture appeared in the local paper everyday in December and now is on the back of the January issue of the Charlottesville Family magazine. It was a big surprise when I picked this up at the doctors office and noticed my husband on the back cover. I grabbed a couple of copies....

Friday, December 19, 2014

Gingerbread Houses

It seems to be becoming tradition that Oma and Poppy build gingerbread houses with the kids. I know my family loves it. Oma brings all the supplies and lets the kids have at it! It's so much fun to see how they work together and what their imaginations can come up with. Oma also made them each those adorable aprons.