Christmas at Home

With the Zielicke side celebrating Christmas the weekend before and us planning to visit the Van Overmeer grandparents the week after, we were able to celebrate at home this year. Here are some photos from our lovely, cozy celebration at home.
The children were really into giving gifts of their own this year! Drawings that will need to be framed. Alstan made a step-by-step drawing of our holiday preparations that he gave to mom and dad. (The drawings on the wrapping paper roll.)
Alstan's big gift this year was a train. We were fortunate to be able to work it out so he could have the train his Uncle Jeff had purchased but was unable to use much. Alstan loved it!

Christmas at the Zielicke's

Zielicke Christmas

Setting up the Train

Alstan associates this train with Christmas at Grandpa and Grandma Zielicke's house. When we showed up on Friday and there was no train, Alstan just didn't think that was acceptable. Grandma told him he could set it up the next morning. Elsie woke up in the middle of the night asking to help set it up and Alstan woke up between 4:30 and 5:00am asking if he could set it up yet.

Alstan's Christmas Concert

Here are a few photos from Alstan's concert. If you are struggling to see him in the group, you know just what we felt like. Of course the only photo that wasn't blurry is the one of him pressing his sign against his head looking rather bored. In spite of what it looks like, he really did do a great job!

Videos from Elsie's Christmas Program

Gingerbread Houses

Mom was very excited to be able to come to Elsie's last day of school before the holiday break. The morning started with making gingerbread houses, followed by the children performing their holiday songs. There was a short walk to the library for a story and craft and then a surprise visit from Santa.

Hiding the Mouthwash

Alstan does not like using mouthwash, so from time to time he will try to hide it. This is where I found it tonight.

Cookie Decorating

Alstan was very proud to be frosting his own cookies this year. Although, he asked mom to take over again after only a few.

Christmas Cookies

Auntie Nette and Carrie came to spend the night on Friday and all day Saturday making cookies with Alstan and Elsie. It was a full day filled with Christmas music, dancing, smiles and way too much sugar.

Akers' Thanksgiving

Here are a few pictures of that favorite Akers family thanksgiving tradition: white elephant bingo.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Getting our Tree

We had some very excited children. We bought our tree a day early, so we could decorate it after Thanksgiving dinner.

Kindergarten Pet Show

This week Alstan's class had their pet show. They have spent the last two weeks preparing for their big show. They were asked to pick a "pet" they could bring in from home. They then researched their pet during library class. We had to make a cage for their pet as a family project. (Alstan forgot to mention this until Wednesday at bedtime, so he and mom had to quick make one after school on Thursday.) He was quite proud of it, and I heard he chatted freely with the guest about his "pet" named Color.

Alstan's After School Project

Alstan spends quite a bit of extra time in the art room while mom is trying to get work done. Her third grade students were working on small sculptures, so Alstan wanted to make one too. Check out the triceratops he made! This took him a few nights to do, but he did great! Mom helped with the taping and some of the plastering, otherwise, he did the rest himself.

We've Got Snow!

Gearing Up

Halloween 2014

Halloween

Elsie's Field Trip

Elsie had her first field trip on Thursday. They walked to the local candy store and then "trick-r-treated" at a few stores on their way back to school. This was followed by decorating pumpkins!

Making a Christmas Wish List

Dad brought home the Farm & Fleet Toyland magazine the other day. It has given Elsie hours of entertainment circling all the things she wants for Christmas. Yesterday she watched out the window, waiting for the "truck" to bring all the things she marked.

Craft Time at the Van Overmeer's

Anytime is a good time to be creative... Even at the breakfast table!