Merry Christmas

 Christmas Eve Jammie's

 Karolina choking the stuffing out of the kids! ;)

 Christmas morning.  The kids slept in until around 8:00.  I was really quite shocked because Jake is usually up by 6 everyday.  I was not complaining though.

 

 Ellie and Jake were very pleased with their gifts this year,

and  were very thankful for what they received.

 Jake decorated the tree this year pretty much by himself.  He asked Ellie and Karolina if they

would like to help, and they both told him no.  I offered to help and he told me he was

going to let me take a break from tree decorating this year. 

what a nice boy Jake is!  :)

Another Tooth

See this cute kid?  He lost another tooth. 

 He pulled it out all by himself, and was so proud of himself for being brave/tough enough to pull it out without mom or dad helping him at all. 

Sick Little Grandpa

Grandpa had been at Traceys house visiting when he got really sick and was rushed to the Hospital.

At the Emergency Room they found out that he  had a hole in his small intestine (about 6 inches long) they did an emergency surgery on him last night. We were told after his surgery last night that he would be sedated for 36-48 hours but this morning he came to & was alert most of the day. All he wants is to get that dang tube out of his throat & lungs so he can tell his jokes to the nurse!! ...ha He will be up here in ICU for at least 2 weeks then he'll be in a rehab for 2-4 weeks following his hospital stay. Please include him in your prayers, he has a long, very painful road to recovery!!
(his thumbs up are because he had Whitney and I constantly putting rags in ice water then onto his head & legs so he wouldn't die of heat!!)



Ellie's World Fair

 In sixth grade you get to be apart of the World Fair. 

Ellie chose to do hers on Norway since Karolina was here and could be her helper,

and answer any questions people may have about Norway, or in case somebody

wanted to hear what the Norwegian language sounds like.

Karolina was nice enough to share some of her Norwegian treats with the people

who were there to hear about each country.  Ellie thought it was really funny when

Mr. Klien (the principal) grabbed a piece of the pepper turkey licorice that Ellie had samples

of and he about died.  He grabbed several pieces of the Norwegian cookie just to get the yucky

taste out of his mouth.  He then told Ellie he would be back with some of the teachers so

that he could se if they would like or dislike the licorice.  Karolina says that everyone in

 Norway loves this kind of licorice, and she was a tad offended that everyone was

 gagging  over the taste of what she thought was a yummy treat.

The Stable and Santa Claus

Last night I took the kids to the Stable to see Santa Claus, and to see the donkey, camel,

and two of Santas reindeer.  The kids were super excited to sit on Santas lap,

 and tell him what they wanted for Christmas.  Mom was relieved to hear that

 the things they asked for were the things already wrapped under the tree. 

 

 The camel was puckering up for a kiss. 

Santa was pleased with how well behaved the kids were, and told them they should be proud of

themselves for being willing to open their home and invite a stranger in for a year. 

 He told them that he admired their kindness, and big hearts.

  (mom wondered who Santa really was and how he knew?)