Christmas through New year's, lots of firsts

 

This Christmas was like none other.  I did it alone with the kids in the village.  Jack left for 11 days first to LA for his brother's wedding and then made his way up to Idaho for Christmas with fun stops along the way.  This picture is Crew and me at open gym so Zax and Ila could run around with other kids.  It was around 0 degrees most of the break so taking walks was painful or out of the question.  Ila got a bit sick for a few days so we couldn't have friends over to play and that's when I was ready to quit life.  Ok, no, not really.  We endured well.

The school Christmas program was each elementary grade performing a song on stage.  Then, Santa  came with a gift bag for each student.  The principal has usually been the one to be Santa, but last minute Jack got a parent to do it! 

Kindergarteners singing, One little two little three little snowflakes...

Last day of school before Christmas break was a free day.  Parents were invited in at 9:30am for a movie and snacks.  Then at 10 the kids did their secret Santa gift exchange.

The kids were excited for their gifts.  These kids were so grateful for what they got. More than one student gave the other a bag of socks or gloves! When i asked Louisa on her birthday in November what she wanted she got more excited when i suggested clothing than toys! 

I was so excited Zax got Louisa's name so I could buy something girly.  She is a sweet girl that I enjoy having over to the house.  She loved her new outfit and immediately went into the bathroom to change into it.

Crew is 6 months old and a busy body.  He likes to crawl after his siblings and check out what they are playing with. It amazes me how quickly he (babies in general) develops new skills.  After he could sit up for a week he figured out how to crawl and sit up again and go back to crawling.  

To mix things up we brought a movie and popcorn to the school library to watch on the big screen.  The other teacher families couldn't come so I invited the janitor's family.  His son is in Zax's class and the twins are 4 so it was perfect.

And the gym that kept me sane.

Just Dance with the Ninja Turtles. 

Christmas morning!!  Stocking gifts first, breakfast, then under the tree gifts.  The kids were so fun to watch.  We facetime-d Jack for a couple hours so we could see each other open presents.  We got to see the Kingsford fam at the Meservy's. 

Ila falls on the ice and in deep snow often.  Sometimes she gives up and lays there til someone comes and helps her up.  She is always entertaining us.

From the kitchen window you can see the snowplow clearing the runway for the bush planes to land safely.  There are a few days a month flights don't come in because of weather.  Wind and fog deter the planes most often.  It is disappointing especially when I am waiting for packages to arrive.  Walmart is taking extra long this time and I ran out of diapers yesterday.  The store is closed for New Years, but luckily I have about 10 left over from his old size so he's sporting those and I'm hoping for not too many blowouts. 

When Jack finally made it home we had the kids line up their toys they got for Christmas to show Jack.  Then they were able to get their presents he brought for them from him and his family.

Ila posing with her new outfit from Tito and Silvia! She loved all the clothes and gasped with excitement with each new outfit given to her.

My mom sent the family matching socks, including Crew!  We now have a tradition to wear them on Monday for, Moose-y Mondays.

We joined the village at the school for a New Years Eve dinner.  It was delicious with turkey, ham, potatoes, chocolate cake and more!  They are very low key events, but Jack found out the tradition is to shoot your gun at midnight outside your door.  Just make sure to point away from the village.  I didn't make it to midnight, nor did I try, and Jack said shooting alone wasn't much fun.  Maybe next year.

We rang in the new year with a "looking forward to in 2016" poster.  It was a great excuse to use finger paints and be creative.

Jack cracked open nuts that were given to us from the city as a gift to everyone in the village.

Christmas tree shopping and student of the month

The kids hanging out watching primary on the laptop.

I convinced Jack to come home before the sunset to go get a Christmas tree.  We rode the snow machine half a mile up Tank Farm road and just a little ways off to find this beauty!  It was -20 degrees with the wind chill and I have never had my fingers in so much pain, ever.  When I got home I had to pace around for 5 minutes till they warmed up.

Ila feels the need to make a snow angel everywhere!

We were right next to the air strip and saw this plane come in!

I was so excited to put presents under the tree I used butcher paper from the school to wrap them!

Each elementary school class went out to cut down a tree for their classroom!  I tagged along because I find the more activities I engage in the more sane I feel by the end of the week.  The grey run down building is the old high school that is now vacant and scary.  The brown duplex behind it is my house!

Teacher Sammy hand in hand with her Kindergarten class.  Zax is far right in blue coat.

Three high school boys, youth leaders, came to cut down and carry the trees to the truck that Jack drove back. 

We got Just Dance!  It has been so fun.  Zax had two school friends over to play too!

The kindergarten class at the school assembly!  I was invited to come to watch Zax get student of the month award for his grade.

Jack and the Elim Eagle!

Zax was so sweet running to get his award.

The kids who had perfect attendance lined up for their monthly picture and free slush puppy gift card to use at the student store.

We got to have lunch with him too! He wasn't as excited as we were to be there.

I was working out in the weight room that is just off this gym and I heard music.  The gym teacher has never played music so I peeked out to see what was going on and Jack was teaching the kindergartners!  I sent Ila out to join and they had an awesome class with Jack.  I know it is days like these that make his day fun.