Yes, that is what we have been doing... Or I guess it depends on what part of Christmas you mean... I am talking about the part "spending time with friends and family and exchange gifts". Alex went down to Miami with Marlee and Noah two days before me so the last night we had in Ormond together was our first little Christmas. Opening presents that we had received by mail so that we did not have to bring them to Miami and back, and to be able to give each gift a little more focus. I knew it would be crazy when we got to Miami :-)
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| Yes, it was cold enough for the boys to wear these :-) |
The next day Aunt Jackie visited us to have another mini Christmas and we had a very good day together!! She helped us to put up a "surprise bunk bed" for the boys while they were over at at friend's house. Later that day Alex, Marlee and Noah left for Miami and I started with some fun Christmas gift projects :-) I was so excited about it I slept less than I do when I have all four kids at home. It was just so much fun I could not go to bed :-)
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| Project #1 - Making Super Brothers t-shirts from regular white t-shirts |
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| So relaxed |
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| Project #2 - Turning their room into a room for three, including a fort :-) This is Noah's and Marlee's beds |
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| Gabriel's corner |
The big day came and the boys were truly excited!!! They waited so patiently to open their gifts. When we started, some of us still in their PJs it was literally like saying "Ready, steady, go!" and all the kids (ours and Cory's and Felicia's) opened all their presents at the same time. Me and Alex tried to keep track of who opened what and from whom but it was difficult.
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| Craziness by the tree |
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| All about cars, with so many boys in the house!! Here with cousin Eli. |
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| Christmas gift |
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| Christmas gifts. Maybe future "The Newman 4", as in "The Jackson 5" |
Later, the normal "Miami Christmas Crew" (except Kristi and Alex, who got married two weeks ago and was on their Honey moon :-) came over and had delicious or appetizers and food!!!!! After dinner it was time for more gifts. The boys were totally spoiled!
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| Playing with new gifts and cousin Andy |
Today we would probably have preferred to just relaxed but with all the energetic boys (not talking about the ones over 6 years old ;-) around here that was not an options! Me and Kathy started the day with taking all of them but Andy to the playground. They had a great time.
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| Noah in one of the trees by the playground |
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| Marlee up in the same tree with a new found friends |
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| Find Marlee, chilling and eating a Clementine in the tree |
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| Having fun with farmor |
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| Selfie with Noah <3 |
Back home we had lunch Cory and Felicia had to leave. Me and Kathy took the boys in the pool. It was kind of windy outside and the boys got cold quickly. Dinner and then off for Pinecrest garden to see the Christmas light. It was a perfect little trip with the kids!!
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| By the Cinderella horse buggy |
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| Polar bears |
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| Cherry blossom Christmas lights. Does not really makes sense to me but still so beautiful!! |
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| Beautiful Christmas lights looking like small oak leaves |
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| The boys went on a Ferris wheel (looks more like a moving cage but they loved it, G was a little scared, but brave!) |
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| Noah on the Merry-go-round |
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| Marlee on the Merry-go-round |
They also got to ride a pony but those pictured did not turn out so good. It was such a perfect little trip before bedtime :-) How lucky we are to have so much loving people around us, near and far!!
Now we have a few more days here in Miami to catch up with friends and family before we go back to Ormond.
