Grandma's Scavenger Hunt

As I mentioned on the post about Christmas, we decided to do something different this year and designed a scavenger hunt for Grandma S.  She had been wanting a PS3 for several years, and this year we saved up to get her one.  Then we decided she needed to do a little bit of work for it!  She loves watching The Amazing Race and similar shows so I knew she'd get a kick out of it.

I picked up note cards and designed the clues.  Since they were coming over first thing in the morning, I had to pick clue locations that she wouldn't notice while walking around the house.

When we were opening presents, we presented her with this box:

Inside was her first clue..

And they were off! You can experience the fun for yourself:

Christmas!

We had a great Christmas this year!  It started on Christmas Eve when we went to Grandma and Grandpa K's house for dinner and exchanging gifts.  After dinner the kids put their Christmas jammies on and posed by the tree.  (Can you tell Alex just wants to open gifts and Aurora is in mid-sentence, as usual?)

Then it was time to open gifts!  Grandma and Grandpa loved the Wii and accessories that all the kids got for them! 

Aurora and Josh also had a calendar made with the astrophotography pictures they had taken this year, which was also a big hit.

 Aurora and Alex were quite spoiled, especially from Auntie and Uncle Joe!

 When we got home, we read "The Night Before Christmas" and set out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer.

The next morning, Santa had come!!  Grandma and Grandpa S had snuck over early to help us wake up the kids and be there when they opened their Santa stuff.   The kids got new bikes and Aurora got an easle and art supplies and Alex got a tool bench and some power tools.  

Aurora was also excited that she got the Aquasand she had asked for!

Alex was all about the dragons and playsets he got from the "How to Train Your Dragon" movie.

Everyone was excited by the family gift that Santa brought - an Xbox 360 with Kinect!

After Santa gifts, we got dressed and had breakfast and then opened the other gifts.

We had a surprise scavenger hunt for Grandma S. for her big present, which she loved.  I'll post more on that later.

Mr. Alex also got his first very own pet from Grandma and Grandpa - a pair of frogs!  He named them Mr. Frog and Mr. Frog 2.

We spent the rest of the day playing games, eating, and playing the Kinect.  It was a great holiday and a wonderful time with family.  We are blessed!

Grandma and Grandpa's House

The kids and I spent Sunday afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa K's house. They played and played and we had dinner there. A few shots from the day:

Aurora trying to look like Grandma



Alex loves to look out from their backyard, it's a fantastic view!


Playing with bubbles and the water fountain


Aurora showing off the birdhouse she painted with Daddy and Uncle Joe


And the day wouldn't be complete without a little temper tantrum!