Photo Dump -- The Christmas Vacation Edition

Ahhhhh.  Nothing says Christmas Vacation like cumulative sleep deprivation and sugar overload. Hahaha.  Just kidding, just kidding.  We certainly have all of that going on, but we're managing to enjoy ourselves, too.  :)  The kids kicked off their vacay on Friday with electronics finally back in play, and then on Saturday we headed over to Indiana for some cousin time.  While there, we watched Hannah perform in The Nutcracker, played lots of games, worked on some more puzzles, and ate lots and lots of treats.  {Consequently, I am REALLY looking forward to the start of "No Junk January" in just over a week now.} 

We got back late last night, and after waking up at 6:59 this morning with my mind racing over everything I still needed to get done before Christmas, I got an early start to the day and made one final mad dash to pick up all the little last minute things on my list.  I was home by noon and the rest of  the day was spent rather happily and peacefully, as we opened some Secret Santa presents, played a couple of rounds of "Things," decorated gingerbread cookies, and started watching the Sing-Along version of "The Sound of Music" that Scott taped on Sunday.  {It didn't hold everyone's attention for very long, but now -- with the two little ones in bed, and Grace and Sophie watching a different movie on the Kindle Fire -- Ethan and Scott have joined me to finish it up.  It's pretty much my favorite movie of all time.  I'm pushing really hard to bring Austrian clothing from the 1930s back in vogue,  along with ballrooms.  And gazebos.  And family singing groups.  I just can't get MY family on board with that.  Hahaha.}

Enjoy the following photo dump, courtesy of my overflowing cell phone camera roll...

 I couldn't resist these colorful mini trees at Target!  There were just enough colors for everyone to choose a different one.  :)

 Love Pup woke up Friday morning with a stomach bug.  The shortest lived stomach bug of all time -- thankfully!  After throwing up once in the morning, and then laying around listlessly for a couple of hours, he was up and about and totally fine!

 I found these notes at bedtime one night last week -- it must have taken her a while to fall asleep that night.  Hahaha.

 Hahahaha.  She must have been pretty bored if she was ranking specials.  

 "Stained Glass" candle holder courtesy of Grace.

 Ethan's grade has been working on Greek Mythology plays.  He enjoyed them enough that he found one online and printed it up for everyone to act out and enjoy on Friday afternoon.

 Jane had a Girl Scout Christmas party on Saturday morning before we left.  They made a cute little Christmas tree craft, exchanged presents while learning proper etiquette, and decorated gingerbread men.  It was so much fun!

 The Nutcracker was not everyone's cup of tea.  Jane kept whining that it was "taking forever," and if it weren't for the fact that Hannah hadn't even performed yet, I would have left with her at the intermission!  Let's just say that she's the frontrunner right now for child most impacted by the "sleep deprivation and sugar overload."

 Lover Boy had a couple of run-ins with the Basement.  Literally.  The goose egg happened first, while he was walking around the basement with a blanket over his head.  He fell and hit his forehead on the ping pong table.  The split eyebrow occurred next, after he threw a guitar on the Love Sac and then jumped on top of it.  Apparently the guitar wanted to retaliate.  Hahaha.  Poor little lamb.  

 "Things" with the girlie bugs.  Sophie is wearing one of Hannah's ballet leotards, in case you're wondering.  She's a bit enamored with ballet.

 Finally all tuckered out on the floor outside the bedroom.

 We've been really big into puzzles this Christmas.  This was a pretty cool one that we finally finished before we left.

All done!  {Except for one piece that was lost.}

 We came home to find our door had been snow-flaked by the missionaries!  What a fun surprise.  :)

 Cousin Name Swap presents!

 Just playing with action figures while the rest of us played "Things."

Christmas Cereal!  The one time of the year where they get to pick out whatever kind of sugary, junky cereal they want.  :)

And I'm out!  We are SOOO excited for Christmas!!!