December 20, 2007 - Playgroup Christmas Party with Our Friends!

Every year we get together at "Miss Shannon's" house for our playgroup Christmas Party. We formed this playgroup when Nicholas was 6 months old. We started with around 5 kids, and I think we grew to 12 at one time. Playgroup has grown through the years as our families grew. Right now, there are 3 families with a total of 11 kids between us ranging in age from 10 months to age 7. Most of the kids are in school now, and last December, one of our families the deJongs moved to Kalamazoo. Now that most of the kids are in school our weekly get togethers now consist of the 4 kids (3 of which are mine) plus a couple of boys that Miss Shannon has for daycare. Even though we don't get together every week, we have managed to stay in touch and meet somewhere every month or so. Our Christmas Party was no exception.

Group Picture
Nicholas - 5, Kylie - 7, Carson - 6, Aubrey 5
Allison - 2 1/2, Gabrielle -4, Nyla-almost 5, Tori - 4 1/2, Arie John- 2 1/2
Sam - 11 months (Annaliese -not pictured - 9 or 10 months)

Decorating cookies

Sam got a hold of some legos as we set up to do a cake walk for our gift exchange.
Our tradition is that each child buy a book for our exchange.

December 19, 2007 - A Preschool Christmas !

Gabrielle decided she wanted to wear her Santa Hat to her Preschool Christmas Party. She actually left it on through the entire party. A class song....Allison loved being included in all the festivities

When Santa dropped by for a visit. Sam walked right up to him and put his arms up for Santa to pick him up - didn't even blink an eye. It's really quite amazing in my mind. To this day, I can not recollect any time, ever that Sam has been afraid of anyone. He has never cried when dropped off at nursery, and is very quick to request that anyone pick him up.

Allison took a turn as well. Unfortunately, Gabrielle was too shy to take a perch on Santa's lap.

Miss Monica decided to let Sam play with her cell phone.
He loves phones, and knew just what to do with it.

Gabrielle works on one of her projects - a snow man.

Snack time! They used frosting to hold an ice-cream cone onto a graham cracker.
Then they frosted the entire cone and decorated it with M&Ms.
It was a really cute holiday snack.

Allison was mainly interested in the "yum-yum's"
(Allison's word for M&Ms)