Visitors 2.0

Last weekend, we had the fun of having visitors in town - when it rains it pours!  Vohwinkles used to live here in town so have lots of friends, and they came out with their kids to enjoy the AHS Christmas party and Disney.  They stayed with us for the weekend, so the kids had a blast playing with their four children.  We started the weekend off by going to the Grodacks for dinner so that the Vohwinkels could visit with Grodacks and Isidros as well. 

The kids standing in line, waiting so patiently for an after dinner treat.

All of the families together - but everyone is comingled!

The next day on Sabbath we were driving home from church and noticed a VERY LARGE DOG.  But wait, it isn't a dog!!  It is a COYOTE!  We followed it down the road to our house, and then it turned on in as if it lived at our place.  The kids were freaking out, but it ended up running into the open 10 acres beside our house.

Saturday night we had the Touchards and Biris over as they too both know the Vohwinkels.  We played four corners (thanks to Corey!), and then transitioned inside for supper and games.

Playing four corners...

The kid table

The whole weekend was filled with playing these little craft 'beads' where they would make a design and then we'd iron it and melt the design.  The little beads were EVERYWHERE - we swept multiple times and secretly inside we were so happy as we will be glad when these things are all gone! :)

Again, we're a bit comingled in how we're sitting.

On Sunday,a friend from our PAA/CUC days came with his family.  Chad and Melanie are down for the week for a Disney vacation as well (Orlando rocks - everyone will come at some point to visit as Disney is such a major destination! - we love having the chance to see friends!).  Their two daughters had fun playing as well - Addison loved the 5 year old Becca and Paige their oldest daughter switched between playing with Zachary and Kaleb all day.

Being Canadian, they didn't think that the pool was too cold.  Notice that the Canadians are in the 'real' pool while the wimpy Americans are in the hot tub!!  Ha ha!

This week was the deadline for book reports (a story mountain)....normally the Zs book reports have been less than "stellar" but this time we amped it up a bit.  Zachary's story was about Crazy Horse, and we made a 3-D tippee on his book report as well as some color construction paper to make each section stand out a little more.

As it was the last week of school, the kids had their programs - keyboarding and their broadway plays.  It was a "snow" theme so they got to wear their tuques and scarves to school which was fun.  They both seem to be enjoying their keyboarding lessons, so it is probably time to get a piano and start lessons for real.

Kaleb is in the back with the blue hat, scarf and long white sleeves

Playing his song

Zachary's song was a little more advanced, but still very simple.

Zachary in his skit

Zachary's group at the end of their play.

Just to capture these moments for our memories later, we have included a few videos (more for the parents....but all may enjoy if desired! :))

Zachary's line was about 'yellow snow' - how gross but so funny for a male child!!

In this portion of the skit, they were about to engage in a snowball fight.

Thankful - God's Blessings Abound

You'd think that with a holiday weekend last week that we would have our normal weekly post, but alas we were so busy that there was no time!

To catch up, we had the FH gala two weeks ago, which was of course fun as always.  Amy had her hair done (thanks to Jenn) by Ashley's sister Marya - she was great and fast - and new to the area so if anyone needs a hair dresser, look her up!  The gala entertainment was Kristen Chenowith and Katharine McPhee from Scorpion and American Idol.  It was a last minute rush around as always, with Amy starting to pull dresses out of the closet at 4P trying to figure out what still fit.  Karis says "Really, we're going to do this NOW?"  "Ugh, yes...isn't this what Amy is known for....last minute "hope something fits!!!"  Amazingly, she still fit into a dress that she wore at a friend's wedding back in 1999 (okay, with a little Spanx help and a little shallow breathing, but it still was on! :)) The kids helped us prepare by washing Amy's very dirty car so that we had a clean chariot to take us there! Thanks kids!

Spick and Span when done!  Great job!

Doing a duet - they are on either spectrum of the height spectrum! :)

We caught up with the Johnsons at the end and managed to grab a picture together

Jennifer, Corey, Amy and Vasti

That weekend was also the church's Thanksgiving program at church, featuring reasons to be thankful from the children's drama club "kINd" - both Zachary and Kaleb got up in front of church and recited their portion without blinking an eye - we were proud of them for not getting nervous and saying their line so well!  Of course we practiced throughout the week how to stand, how to hold the letter, how to talk loudly....

Zachary was "I is for Inspiration from that first Thanksgiving day"

Kaleb had "N is for Nations and the freedoms that we share"

                                      

After church while Addison napped, Karis heard about an animal rescue place nearby that allowed visitors to come in and look at the animals, so the men headed off to explore.  It was fun to see all the animals!

That next week was starting the holiday preparations, which is always fun in the Z house - we love to put up the tree!  This year we did it in a bit more of an orderly fashion so there were no broken ornaments thankfully.  The kids did most of the placement, so literally there was one section at the back of the tree that was BALD but they had a blast and of course it was easy enough to re-arrange afterwards! :)

Even using a chair to get to the top...

We love Christmas!

That transitioned us into the holiday weekend, which Karis started off on Thursday with his once-annual golf outing.  He drew the short straw and golfed by himself, which meant that because they played best ball, he had to hit twice for everyone else's single stroke-- so he played 36 holes in essence!  However, it all worked out for him as he won the "kitty" a whopping $55 which he was delighted to put into his bicycle fund.

On the way home, Karis and William were driving side-by-side and a driver in front ended up stopping unexpectedly to do an illegal U-turn - so suddenly that William was not able to stop fast enough and rear-ended him - totaling all cars involved.  Karis saw the whole thing happen but fortunately was not involved - he of course though turned around to help with the aftermath and wait for the police/ambulance etc.  Thankfully no-one was hurt seriously.  A new car for William though! Amy and the kids baked banana bread that morning, so we enjoyed the fruits of our labor for the rest of the weekend!

Each kid made their own batch of banana bread and muffins!

That afternoon we headed over to Grodacks for our annual dinner with them - Corey is an amazing host opening her home to MANY people!  The kids all looked forward to it, remembering the games that they played the last year.  The adults looked forward to the fellowship and good food! :)

Grodacks, Duncan's parents, Corey's brother/wife, Isidros, Allen's parents, Bergherms, Zs & Grandma Bobbi, Allen's brother/family, Tangie's brother/family.  Wow!  Awesome fun!

Let the games begin!

Even the parents played 4-square

That evening, Amy and her mom headed off to shop which was apparently open for most of the day so was already crowded at 8P!  That plus the next morning did find some new deals entering our home, which was always nice to save some money overall (if you have to buy....might as well save some money!).  Friday morning, we joined the Cochrans down at Ice.  It was amazing and beautiful.....and COLD!  Addison insisted on being carried, and then asked Amy "where are we?" "We're at Ice."  "Well, I DO NOT LIKE ICE!  It is cold!  I want to go home!"  So apparently we have two Canadian children who love the cold and one Floridian who does not!  It'll be interesting to see how she does in Canada in the cold!

The theme was "Twas the Night before Christmas"

The nativity scene - hard to see the figures or us, but it was beautiful!

the whole group in our matching blue coats!

There was tubing as well, but the kids felt like it was too hard of bumps - apparently the Utah huge tubing place that we go on ski trip has ruined them....

Saturday evening, we joined Biris and friends to go to the "Light up Mt. Dora" which was a really quaint and lovely way to start the Christmas holiday season.  Afterwards, we walked around and enjoyed some ice cream, the Christmas tree lights set to music.  There were thousands of people there!

Nativity scenes part of the program

Yummy ice cream afterwards

 

 On Sunday we kept up the madness by spending all day looking for a new dining room table (to no avail) before rushing home to gather the whole clan to go to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer play at the Rep - it was very fun and the old-fashioned rendition of the play.

Addison napped on Grandma while we were out shopping.....what a life!

A few of the little ones with us....

The whole group!

Now that the holiday season has begun, we love to go looking at lights.  One night as we got home, Addison said "I want to lay outside and watch the stars come out like the Berenstain bears!"  So that is what we did - what a fun memory!

The boys are enjoying a few months of gymnastics in between their football and basketball seasons, which was something that Kaleb has been wanting to do for a while.  He enjoys it very much - maybe we'll have an Olympian on our hands! :)

A few random pictures from our Thanksgiving fun!

A card from Zachary

tip your head to read this one!:)

Here is out little turkey and Evan the Indian!