Gingerbread houses

We did not do a good job with keeping up with our family traditions this Christmas season, but we were able to get our gingerbread houses made.  As the kids get older, the houses get more elaborate (which also takes a lot longer).  But they got a lot of fun details in their houses. 

 

Chelsea made snow out of powdered sugar, some fun fondant trees and white chocolate cobblestones.

Mason made a landing strip and airplane in his backyard.  In the front he made some fun fondant presents to put by his trees.

 

 

 

Brianna had some snowmen, ice skating rink, and ice fort in her yard.  She also glued sliced almonds and cotton candy on her room for shingles and snow. 

Cord had a little bit of everything on his house.  When he saw the other kids doing things, he wanted it too.  Cord wrote his name on the roof with candy.  He used popcorn for his snow covered yard and he made sure to make a chimney.

 

 

Christmas Sunday

 

I love the Sunday before Christmas.  Here are my kids all dressed up and ready to go.  Chelsea, Mike and I sang in the choir. 

Christmas letter

I finally got our annual update letter written and Christmas cards are sent out. 

December 2012
Here’s a quick update on the McKelleb family:

Michael (Old): Working with Tiffany and Bosco and enjoys the people he works with. Finished the remodeling on the main floor (and it’s amazing!!). Logged thousands of miles and climbing feet on his bike while collecting virtual trophies and breaking personal records. He enjoys riding with his group, Biking Las Vegas. He wears his Notre Dame hat with pride this year, finally rewarded for twenty years of unwavering support.

Jalyn (still 29): After 18 years on the night shift, finally moved to days as a RN in the ICU and enjoys being home every night (WOOT, WOOT). Has enjoyed learning to be a Family History Consultant and is trying to find out more about the McKelleb family history. We are hoping to find out which Irish clan we belong to after which Michael promises to wear a kilt in the family colors. Favorite experience this year was a family vacation in Big Bear California.

Chelsea (18): Finally a senior at Coronado and looking forward to graduation. She has been accepted at several colleges but still waiting to find out about scholarships. Her number one choice is Utah State University. She will letter in guitar again this year and is the president of the guitar club. We have enjoyed hearing her perform solos at the concerts. She worked all summer and bought herself a car to take to college.

Brianna (16): A sophomore at Las Vegas Academy where she loves her dance classes. She joined the National Honor Society and more importantly, the Cheese Club. She turned 16 this fall and has her driving permit. She is logging her driving time and we look forward to the time when she can drive herself to dance. She changed dance studios to get her closer to home but is progressing in her ballet and pointe technique. She loves going to classic car shows with her daddy.

Mason (14): In his 8th grade at Bob Miller MS and joined the robotics team this year. They created a lego robot and competed as a team in the First Lego League Federation tournament. It was good experience. His goal for the coming year is to complete an Eagle project and has all but one of the merit badges required. He continues to play the saxophone in the symphonic band.

Cord (6): Loves his all day Kindergarten class and is learning to read. He finally turned 6 but told everyone he was 16. Maybe he just wants to be like the big kids. His favorite place on earth is at Momma 2’s house with all her boys. At home he is my little shadow and my biggest helper. He loves it when someone will play Uno or Sorry with him. He keeps us entertained with his imaginative stories and his blunt honesty. He is not “cool” or “handsome” but he is totally AWESOME! (He’ll tell you all about it).

We have much to be thankful for; great schools, many learning opportunities, and fabulous friends. We are blessed to be just a few hours away from family and try to visit as often as possible. We wish your family a Merry Christmas and best wishes for a prosperous New Year.

With much love: The McKelleb Family

Visit to Santa's workshop

I really wanted to take Cord to see Santa but time has been slipping away so fast.  I decided that the line would probabaly be better during the week so tonight we headed down to the Bass pro shop to visit Santa's workshop.  Man was I surprised when a whole lot of people had the same idea as me.  As we tried to find the end of the line as it wrapped around the store, I was trying to decide if it was worth it or not.  I asked Cord what we should do and he insisted that he really wanted to see Santa.  We were in line for over 2 HOURS!  We really bonded with the people in line with us as we waited.  This dog, Primus, was right in front of us also patiently waiting.   Cord loves dogs so it was fun to play with him.  I tried to keep him from being "board" by playing games on my phone or tic-tac-toe but finally had to let him play on the boats and 4-wheelers that were right next to the line like all the other children were doing. 

Finally at the front of the line!!

I love this Santa, he is so good with the kids and they let me bring my own camera to take pictures.  Cord remembered all the things he wanted to ask for and then told Santa a story about something that was illegal.  I had no idea what he was talking about.  Santa looked at me and I just shurgged my shoulders. 

Then he got to pick a candy cane from his box.

They also have an area with a lot of fun games for the kids to do.  We didn't get a lot of time here because the store was ready to close for the night by the time we got done.

I do think the wait was worth it though.  Cord seemed to enjoy the experience and I got a lot of fun pictures. 

Christmas guitar concert

We enjoyed the holiday musical numbers that the guitar ensemble played tonight.  Chelsea said that her teacher, Mr. Nishimoto, has never done holiday music before but decided to mix it up this year.  They played Carol of the Bells and Dance of the Sugarplum fairy.  They seem to get better and better every year.  I love seeing the kids in black shirts and white suspenders.  It means they have been in the guitar program for 4 years.  Chelsea came up with the white hair bow for the girls this year since the boys wear bow ties. 

 

 

 

Dance recital

Brianna changed to a new dance studio this fall (Studio 34) and they had their Christmas recital tonight.  We can't take pics during the recital but she took this for me backstage.  She did a jazz and ballet number.  I love to watch her preform!

 

The girls being silly at a dance workshop.

Cord turns 6

 

Horay! Horay! Cord turns 6 today!! (well, on the 11th).  He's been telling everyone that he's going to turn 16 on his next birthday and he's just going to "skip all the other numbers", but there were only 6 candles on his cake.  He had a great day at school and wore his crown ALL day long.  Mason had his band concert on the 11th so we celebrated afterwards with this awesome cupcake snowman and presents.

 

 

 

Today, Cord and I went to the mall to pick out his birthday buddy at Build-a-Bear.  He chose a gray dog that he named Max.  He put a dog bark sound in his paw.

Waiting to get stuffed.

Cord chose a red heart and made a wish before placing it inside Max.

Then Max got a bath to scrub off extra fluff.

 

Next job was to pick an outfit for him.

 

Then to print out the birth certificate.

 

On to the dressing station to get Max dressed and ready to go home.

All packed up in his cool gingerbread house, ready to come home and live with Cord.

At the mall there was a little Christmas train, so Max and Cord had to take a ride.

It was a fun birthday present.  Cord spent the afternoon decorating the house with stickers.  We'll do a friend party in January after all the hustle and bustle of the holidays.