Eagles 17 - Bills 9

I'm so glad the Eagles managed to win the game while Scott was in attendance! He had a great time, and can't wait to take all of us to a game.
This pictures makes me curious - are the players praying to not get killed on the field, or just to win? Actually, it's nice to see players with so much money and fame taking time for God, whatever their reasons for praying.

Scott had a GREAT seat - he was 8 rows from the field in the end zone. I think I might have spoiled him for the upper level, though!

We've Got the Beat

Whether tapping out tunes with our feet... Tickling the ivories as a sister act...
Or cutting a rug with Uncle Scott...
You gotta admit, Juli's got rhythm!

One Good Thing About Snow

If you look back through December, you'll see that snow got in our way more than once this month. But that does mean we had a white Christmas! And that means sledding. Belly flops, like Hannah...
Laughing crash landings like Kai...
And a cold butt and pouty face like Nick! Ah well, can't please them all. (And it was wicked cold!)

A Pretty Lousy Birthday

Poor Kai. She had a pretty lousy birthday. It was snowing to beat the band and we couldn't get out to the movies safely. She ended up just hanging around the house all day, and she wasn't very happy about it. At least she got presents! She also got the ice cream cake she asked for...
Although her cousin seemed to enjoy it more!
We did get to the movies the next night, and mom braved the snow to bring back pizza for her birthday dinner, so while her boring birthday was disappointing, it wasn't exactly life ending. Better luck next year, Kai!

Holidays Rollin' Along

Rollerskating was high on the kids' agenda when we headed to New York. We never go to the rink near the house, but they always want to skate with their cousins. Even two year old Faith was out and about on the rink. Now if we could only teach Scott!

You DO Know You're in the Same Room?

Footballs weren't the only popular item on this year's Christmas list - Hannah got a DS and all of the kids got games. Kairi, Nicky, and Hannah spent hours "pictochatting" and connecting on games. I usually think I'm fairly technology savvy - but I just don't get communicating by chat with someone in the same room. Seemed to work for them, though!

Getting to Know You

Isn't she a doll baby? Juli was full of personality this visit, and I was thrilled to get to know her. She's so giggly, and she just loves anyone who'll get down on the floor and play with her. She and Faith even hung out with me so that Mommy and Daddy could get out to a movie. Trust me, babysitting is MY pleasure!

Are You Ready For Some... Christmas??

Football and Christmas went together like Madden and Michaels at our house this year. Even Juli got in on the action!First, Scott got a ticket to the last Eagles game of the season. He loves the Eagles, but he's never actually been to a game, so he was psyched.Then, Nicky got a ton of Packers things - if it had Green Bay on it, Nicky loved it.
And if we're talking about Green Bay, we should check out the Snow Globe and Favre jersey I got, as well. My mom was ready to disown me for actually wanting football stuff for Christmas - she doesn't know where she went wrong! Then these awesome leather coats showed up for Barry and Scott. Yep. Barry's a Cowboys fan. How do all of us NFC fans get along? VERY carefully.

Finally, when he'd all but given up hope, the one thing Nicky wanted for Christmas - a REAL football. Official NFL size, real laces, leather - and one very happy little boy.

Is It Possible?

Can you have TOO many presents? Ya, you betcha. This year's Christmas was INSANE. There were just TOO MANY presents!! They spilled out from under the tree.
They were shoved behind and around the tree, piled on top of each other - notice that all those little packages are riding about as high as that silver tote?The stockings weren't even hung by the chimney with care - they were too heavy and overfull!

Dear Santa,

Next year, please don't bring so many gifts! In fact, next year, let's all give each other a trip to Florida.

Love, Us

PS You really need to shave.

(Sorry. Family joke.)

The Reason for the Season

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Luke 2:1-20

PJ's - It's Not Christmas Without Them

Grandma always gives her grandkids new pajamas on Christmas Eve. It usually takes a few years for a new child to catch on -but eventually they all figure it out. Oh, look! A package from Grandma that I get to open early! What could it be? It's soft... squishy.... RIIIIIP.... LOOK! PAJAMAS!

Seriously, though, the kids are always warm and cozy as they're bundled off to bed, and stay warm when they jump out of it a few hours later to rip open all those presents. Guess Grandma knows best!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

And all through the house - everyone was dolled up for Christmas Eve services. The house, the kids - everything looked beautiful. You never would guess the amount of running around that happened before this to get everyone ready - or just how late certain individuals would be up that night doing last minute wrapping. For a few minutes, there is peace on earth - or at least peace in our very little section of earth.

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto

What's more fun than a school project to build your own robot? The same project with a due date during the last week of school before Christmas vacation. *sigh* I didn't even know where to start with Nicky's robot until I came across a Japanese papercraft website that had a 3-D paperfolding robot model. Phew! I blew it up on the postermaker and brought the "blueprints" home.
A little coloring, a little folding, some glitter, a booklight, a few LED lights, two McDonald's toy cars that fit inside the robot's feet as wheels...

And we have the DrakeAndJosh-O-Matic 3000. (Yes, the kids are obsessed with Drake and Josh. It was Saved By the Bell when I was their age.) And we only got to bed at 10:30 the night before it was due. Domo arigato, Japanese paper site.

Christmas With The Korins

This may be the last time we have "Christmas With The Korins" - an early celebration with Scott's parents before we head up to New York to have Christmas at my sister's house. My sister is moving to Pennsylvania, so from now on, we should be hosting the whole family on Christmas day. That is, unless my mom decides she wants to host Christmas again. That's unlikely, because I think she's actually just sick of putting up the tree!

Anyway, it will be nice to have Christmas all together, but I think the kids will miss getting to open some presents early! We got a special present for Laurie this year - she loves "I Love Lucy" and we found the entire series on DVD at Target. The kids opened their traditional lifesavers books and a bunch of other really great presents. The gently falling snow (yup, MORE SNOW) outside just added to the festivity.

I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas

I've changed my mind on the whole White Christmas thing. Okay, so maybe not. But I could go forever without a snow storm on the morning of the Children's Christmas Program at church! We had exactly six kids performing in the play, and maybe 10 adults watching. *sigh*

On the plus side, the play was completely adorable, and Nicky got to rock out to Relient K's version of Angels We Have Heard On High in the big finale. Well, small finale. Six person finale. Whatever.

Christkindlemarkt

For a family from Bethlehem, having your daughter perform during the Christmas season in downtown "Christmas City" is pretty exciting. So when we found out that Kairi was playing at Christkindlemarkt, Scott took the day off right away. I couldn't, unfortunately, because not only would I have loved to see Kai perform, I have always wanted to go to Christkindlmarkt. Ah, well. Maybe next year! From the looks of these pictures, it was a beautiful setting for lovely music played by a very pretty girl.