Malecek Christmas 2012

Christmas day was spent with the Malecek extended family. A hit was the fondue fountain someone received for a present.  We put chocolate it in and had lots of fun finding things to cover with the chocolate. Amazingly almost everything tastes better covered in warm chocolate. 

Picture time didn't go over so well. A couple toddlers didn't want to cooperated to well.

Up above we have the grandchildren:

Rochelle, Sebastien, Zachariah, Taylor, Gracelyn, Makayla, Kailani, and Jared.

Present opening time.

Amazingly our toddlers are quite photogenic when they are captured individually and when they playing :)

Having fun playing with some of the new toys.

Sohre Family Christmas 2012

Here is my family Christmas picture for 2012.

We celebrated Christmas with the Sohre extended family on the Sunday before Christmas. We went on Saturday already and stayed until Monday.

All the great-grandkids with Great Grandma and Grandpa Sohre.

Mommy and her little luv-bug.

All the grandkids with Grandpa and Grandma (it is getting to be a pretty big crew!)

My princess Gracie. Such a little ham.

Zach getting his pirate ship from Grandma Myra and the big hug she received.

This is what Grandma lives for. The big smile and the big hug she gets when the kids like what they got.

This guy is pretty handsome too.

Some singing of Christmas Carols by the grandkids.

Lots of fun for Gracie. She was sooo excited to open this present.

Maesee's pretty curls.

The newest soon-to-be Sohre. Now it is official since she has gotten a shirt.

All the girls patiently await for Grandpa to tell them they can open the gifts from him...

Grandpa telling them they need to be good.

And then they dive in... Barbie doll cases just like all their Mom's got when they were little. Grandpa made these for them and Grandma put their names on them.

All the girls are so excited.

Carter helping Zach put together his new grain set.

Gingerbread house contruction

After the Christmas programs we had some work to do at home:  

GINGER BREAD HOUSE CONSTRUCTION!

This was a first for everyone. No one had ever done this so we were in for a treat.

We even got Grandpa involved. And I think he had a lot of fun (although he probably won't admit it!)

                                      Grandpa and Zach are going for the fully covered icing look.

We teamed up: "the boys" and "the girls"

Gracie and Grandma are going for a swirly look on the roof.

So much fun we are having.

Grandpa and Zach's finished house.

Gracie and Grandma's finished house.

Putting on the final touches.

Christmas Program at Church

Gracie and Zach participated in the Children's Program at our church on Dec. 16th at the 10:30am church service.  Grandma and Grandpa Sohre came to watch.

Both Gracie and Zach were little sheep. Thus the sheep ears. Little Jared got to wear some sheep ears too. Amazingly he left them on and I kinda think he actually like them.

The sheep were sleeping in the field near-by which means they got pillows to snuggle up on during church.

The manger background scene.

Singing some songs.

Here is the cute baby sheep again.

And I think the best part for Gracie and Zach... the goodie bag they got as they walked out of church.

It's Christmas Tree Cutting Time

Iverson Tree Farm by Belview, MN is where we go to get our tree. 

This is the third year we have embarked on this adventure.

We have never been there when they are doing the sleigh rides (aka horse and trailer).

It was a beautiful December day with no snow and no wind. Temperatures were great... a perfect atmosphere for cutting a Christmas tree. (Well maybe not really... generally snow is more appropriate, but for the sake of the health of the kids we will take the warm weather!)

Shelly, Joe, and Jesse were visiting for the weekend so they got to enjoy the outing as well.

 All these trees... it is amazing we seem to always find the "perfect one".

 And then their is little guy whom I just can't seem to get enough of :)

 We enjoyed our sleigh ride. The horses were huge!

Then off to the forest of trees we go. Marty as always did his manly duties and sawed away and strapped that tree to the top of the vehicle.

And here is the finished product.

I think we did indeed once again find the "Perfect Tree" for our home at Christmas.

The kids had a blast decorating it. It is a joy to see them get out all the decorations and oh so eagerly put them on the tree. The are now starting to get a collection of home-made (or preschool made) ornaments. They very much enjoyed looking at them and remembering when they made them.

 And then here is my kitchen decorations. I just love the lights and the change of scenery.   I just puts the spirit of Christmas in the air.