Christmas Eve 2010 with the Kanes & Gran!

Christmas Eve this year was celebrated at Michael & Karla's house...with the added bonus of my mom, Gran, joining us! Here are some pictures of the craziness!

All the kids took turns reading the Christmas Story from a book that Karla had...here is Joceline (with John being silly and me trying not to laugh!).

Zachary

Tyler (aka Trouble)

Leah Joy


Jude

Jarod

Eva

Gran & Leah were on "trash duty"...Leah was so cute running to grab the wrapping paper and throw it in the trash bag Gran was holding, all the while holding onto her new doggie.

Zach's turn to read.

Getting ready to chow down on some yummy food!

Playing with Leah's new Weeble Wobbles (I loved those things!).

Michael, Grandma, Leah & Shane. Grandma & Leah were quite disruptive!!

Jude opening one of his gifts from Alyssa...a Mets Bear!

Gran & Alyssa.

More kids getting ready to eat...

Zach & Grandaddy.

MAYHEM!!!

Christmas 2010-Mom & Dad Schneider

We had a wonderful visit with Grandpa & Grandma Schneider on December 18th to celebrate 2 big events...Alyssa's 9th birthday and Christmas!

And here is Montana looking out the window, wondering, "Where is that cat???"

Grandpa & Grandma with Joceline & Alyssa.

Grandpa & Grandma...who will celebrate 30 years of marriage in June!


This is Alyssa's birthday cake that Grandma made for her.

And here is the birthday girl in her new dress!

Jasmine's 9th Birthday Party

This year we gave Jasmine & Alyssa the choice of either a combined party like we did last year, or individual parties. As I figured they would do they opted for their own parties.

Jasmine's party was on Saturday 11/6. Besides Joceline & Alyssa, she invited 4 friends from church. Jasmine picked a jewelry making party. Here are Joceline, Jasmine and Kira Gunderson working on their necklaces (they also did bracelets).

That's Alyssa at the end of the table, and to her right is Katie Gunderson and Rebekah Lilliendahl. Next to Rebekah is her sister Anna, but you can't see her face in this shot.

Yay! Another purse!

Classic games are back...Mastermind!

And here's a messenger bag she gets to color.

This card she is opening is from us...

And it goes with this dress.

Everyone had a great time! A big THANKS to Linda Doell of Stones of Heaven for her skill in jewelry-making. The girls all LOVE what they made.

Miscellaneous Videos

This first video is of Alyssa doing a front flip into the outdoor pool at the resort we stayed in in Virginia.

This second video is of John dancing when we were at Hershey Park with a business associate and his kids. What can I say? The man has rhythm!

Saddlebrook Fun Fest-October 30, 2010

With school starting there hasn't been much "extras" going on, other than our usual gymnastics and riding lessons. However, on October 30th was Saddlebrooks' Fun Fest. The students who take lessons there exhibited their skills for family & friends (no ribbons this time). There was also hayrides, pony rides and games. Here are Alyssa & Jasmine getting ready for the hayride.

One of the games was to try to win a goldfish...all 3 girls got goldfish! So now Uncle Phil's tank has 3 new guests. Oh, and this is Jasmine's crazy face!

Here is Jasmine on one of Joceline's favorites, Gypsie.

Then it was Alyssa's turn to ride Gypsie.
Here are the 3 girls, just as the hayride is getting under way.

Visit with Scott's Family

While on vacation in Virginia, we met up with Scott & Naomi. It was so great to see them again, and the kids had a blast at the Harrisonburg Children's Museum. Part of the museum is a stage with costumes (and makeup if you chose) to put on your own plays. Here is part of "Big Blue Riding Hood" (Joceline was the director...it was hysterical!). That is my nephew Grant as the lion-headed wolf, and my niece Autumn is Big Blue Riding Hood.

Here is Scott speaking into one end of a tube, and Autumn listening.

Scott and his youngest (for now), Maggie.

And here are all the kids together at dinner. From left to right there's Maggie, Joceline, Emma, Autumn, Grace, Alyssa & Grant.

And here are some of Scott's kids scaling the rock wall.

Another "fun" thing, racing around VA on stationary bikes. Here is Scott trying to beat Joceline.

My handsome nephew, Grant, and his lovely (and pregnant) mother, Naomi.

And here is Grace during the play...a dancing construction/firewoman (also a princess I think!).

Battle of the old dudes! Who will give out first???

Battle of the 8 year olds! Alyssa & Emma.

Massanutten Resort, VA

This year we took a vacation to Massanutten Resort, in Harrisonburg, VA. It was a gorgeous resort with lots to do. The girls favorite thing was the waterpark.

Here are my 3 favorite people~

We also swam in one of the outdoor pools. Both girls loved the diving board! Here is Joceline diving.

Almost every day we saw deer, up close and personal. Here are a pair of fawns...the mother was also nearby.

Here is Joceline getting dumped on while on the "Lazy River", which was more like the Rapid River...there was nothing lazy about it!

Alyssa practiced her front flips off the diving board, as well as split jumps.

Hershey Park

On Thursday August 26th we went to Hershey Park with one of the managers from Restaurant Depot and his 3 kids. We all had a great time!

Here is John dancing with Mr. Reece's Peanut Butter Cup!

The kids were hiding behind trees!

Here are Nick & Tommy, Billy's 2 boys...they were a lot of fun!

And this is Maegan with Alyssa...they were best friends the whole day!


And here are the kids doing bumper cars. Alyssa is all the way to the left (alone), Joceline is with Maegan right in the middle, and Tommy & Nick are on the right (blue shirt).

I took this while the girls were in this huge play area at Hershey. It wasn't overly hot, but that didn't stop them from doing every water ride there!