Garate Gnus: "What we did over our Christmas Break"

by the Garate Family. :)

Now, right after how to always have a good snacky-snack available, the Garates have perfected the art of vacation. During our last 2 weeks of 2010, we went from "frantic paced" to totally relaxed. We played, we slept, we played some more, and the best part- we spent 16 solid days with Dad!

Perhaps I feel the most grateful for the break, as I found myself having a little trouble keeping up with the holiday school schedules for my 3 favorite students ever. And even though everything was really fun, it felt just a little bit like someone was always chasing me w/ one of those automatic nerf guns. But then the vacation officially started, and we were able to go from running to almost running. ;)

Here are a few of the highlights from Christmas Vacation 2010...

Kennedy's Daisy Troop gift/cookie exchange

I'm pretty sure Kennedy giggled her way through the ornament making,

Secret Santa reveals,

gift exchange,

passing out of the cookies...

Birthday Parties

Gwen showing off her wacky hair for her Wacky Hair party.

And no it wasn't a pajama party, but it had been pj day at school.

We took a gamble that there would be other girls still in their pjs.

And lost. ;)

But she still had a great time.

Ben took Ty to his gymnastics party, so therefore, no pics. ;)

Playdates

And lots of 'em.

Seems like we couldn't get in enough cookie decorating this year. ;)

And lots of creativity.

Like this Lego Club.

Shoot. Ben and I just missed the cutoff.

So, basically, the house looked like this oftentimes during the break.

But it wasn't all chaos, 'cause Nana came into town. ;)

And helped me make these amazing basket liners for Kennedy's room.

Yes, they're awesome.

And what did I do?

Besides clean up duty, I made the ribbons and hung the signs,

thank you very much. ;)

Oh and to make it even better,

she baked/played with the kids, and even sewed with the girls while Ben and I got to golf.

Now, what I really need to get, is a pic of my little Kennedy sewing on the sewing machine...

by herself.

Yes, it evokes a myriad of emotions. ;)

And then it was time to bid 2010 farewell.

So we met up w/ 7 families and headed for the snow.

I think we may have started a tradition. ;)

This year I made sure we were all "snow ready" before the season started.

Here's a few of the snow bunnies.

And here's a few more... on what has to be one of the clearest days in Tahoe.

Gwen got in a little skiing... and Ben snowboarded.

Ty and Kennedy got to take a little spin...

and climb a huge pile of snow.

Our cute pink snow bunnies. ♥

That night we met up again to ring in the new year...

The little boys...

and the little girls.

And this was all that was left by midnight.

Apparently the snow took its toll and only the brunettes and tall people could go the distance. ;)

And now it's back to reality.

Well almost.

Last Sat night, the kids wanted to make a fort while we watched that owl Guardian movie (which took us an extra 30 minutes to view, as we would pause, explain what was going on, then repeat, as apparently all owls look alike, but we ended up with a "we've got to buy this movie" review regardless ;). After we finished the movie, the kids asked if they could sleep in their fort. Since it wasn't a school night, and after making them promise not to wake up early, we agreed and I put the "lid" on their fort after tucking them in.

Then it all suddenly became worth it, when I heard Ty pseudo-whisper to Gwen,

"See, I told you this was going to be the best night ever!"