A California Christmas!

DeGroot Family Christmas Party

We Kicked off California Christmas with our Annual DeGroot Family Christmas Party. We started the night off with the usual kisses and hugs to all those we haven't seen in a while. The Shannon's had a fantastic feast immediately to follow everyone's arrival. After diner, we played the White Elephant Game. You know the one where you pick a number and get to steal each others presents? We chit - chatted some more and had some cheesecake for dessert. It was so much fun and thanks again Heidi and Craig for hosting!

The party favors!

And yes, the night wouldn't be complete without Reese eating their Ginger Bread House (mouth first).

Cookies With The Cousins!

Cousin Jonah

Kaden decorating his cookies

Reese and Kelsey

Forget about the cookies... Kaden just wanted frosting

Every year Brandaan's mom has all of the kids over to her house and decorates cookies. The kids had an amazing time and were all covered in frosting.

Christmas Eve!

Turkey Dinner

Brandaan made the turkey and it was the most juicy turkey I've ever had. Way to go!

The kids table...

Christmas Eve P.J.'s from Gramma and Pappa DeGroot

The Nativity Story

Jonah was Joseph and Kaden was a wise man

Every Christmas Eve the kids dress up to act out the Nativity Story. Pieter reads the story and all the kids stand there and look precious. I think next year they're old enough we can actually give them lines. It's so much fun and rewarding to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Getting Ready for Santa

The cookies...

Writing thank you cards...

Kaden and Jonah in their Christmas PJ'S guarding the cookies...

Uncle David and Kaden dancing around in circles...

Brandaan got these Santa bags last year with the kids names on them

Reese wanting to make sure the egg nog is just right..

and Kaden ready to snatch it out of her hands.


Christmas Day

What?  A blackberry!  For me?

Do you love the Santa footprints on the floor? 

Kaden got totally roasted!

Oh...Pieter!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Santa giving him a gift.

Kaden opening his present from Santa.

Kaden's school had a Christmas Concert this year.  His class sang two songs, in which we spent an entire month memorizing.  I'm sure I wasn't the only mom in the audience singing along quietly.  I was on the edge of my seat the entire time because Kaden had cold feet and decided right when we got there that he wouldn't be joining his class.  What?  After some extreme coaching, he decided he wanted to sing with them (mostly because his teacher said he could shake the bells during the song.)  He sang both songs and knew all the words.  When he was done, I could finally breathe.  I never knew these things could be so stressful.  How come nobody told me?  Thanks fellow moms!

The First Snow of the Year!

We came out of the house to find KADEN making Snow Angels.  We didn't even know he knew what Snow Angels are!

Oh, Christmas Tree... Oh, Christmas Tree...

REESE decided she's rather undecorate the tree instead.

A Trip To The E.R.

Brandaan and I had just sat down in our seats in Sunday School when one of the ladies from Nursery called to me from the doorway.  I thought, "Oh great, a poopy diaper already.  It's only been five minutes!"  The lady then told me that Reese had an accident and was bleeding.  My heart sunk and I rushed down the hallway towards the Nursery.  Reese was screaming at the top of her lungs while two other ladies were holding a wet paper towel to her forehead.  She removed the paper towel when I got closer and blood just started gushing.  I started to panic and asked another lady to get Brandaan.  I'm the worse in these kind of situations and he's always so calm.  Luckily, we have a lady in our ward that's a nurse and told her we should take her to the E.R. and get her stitches.  We pulled Kaden out of Primary and headed for the hospital.  After Reese was buckled into her carseat, she began to calm down.  She then noticed that her new dress had blood all over it.  She started crying again and kept saying over and over, "oh nooo, my dreth...my dreth..."  She's my daughter through and through.  

We met with the doctor and he said she needed stitches. They suggested Kaden not be there.  I left the room and waited with Kaden out in the lobby. We could hear Reese screaming all the way out where we were waiting.  Kaden asked, "mommy, why are they hurting my sister?"  I explained to him that they were helping her and he decided he wanted to go see her.  We went into the hospital room and Kaden took one look at her and said he was ready to go back to the lobby.  It was so funny, he was so worried.  When the crying stopped, Kaden and I went back into the room.  Reesey was given 4 stitches and Brandaan said he could see her bone.  The doctor did a great job.  I wish I had a before photo.  I didn't have my camera, having to rush and all.  The gash was really wide and deep.  The doc sewed it together so well, it looks like it will be a thin scar.  Reese went back to being upset about her blood stained dress and wanted her necklace and shoes back on.  She would dress like she was ready to go to Church every day of the week if I'd let her.  After she got all her precious items returned to her, she gave the doc and the nurses all hugs and said, "bye."(with her little wave)

Kaden and Reese playing around the house...

Yes, those are underwear on her head...
Eating a snack and watching Little Mermaid II...
Ready for the snow...
She sleeps with the bunny Gramma DeGroot made for her when she was born.