Christmas Traditions Article

There was a special insert in the local paper about the favorite holiday traditions of some of the kids on the Boyertown School District. Among those included is Alyssa's. If you can't read it here, please let me know & I will be happy to forward it to your personal email. She really preached it here!

Alyssa's 9th Birthday Party 12-31-10

As if staying up late to watch the ball drop in NYC isn't enough on December 31st, this year we had Alyssa's 9th birthday party that day.

Here is her cake that I made using my new cake pan...I can make any letter or number with it.

Alyssa chose an "A" shaped cake.

And here is the crazy party girl herself!


One brilliant idea Joceline came up with was blind-folded make-overs. Here is Gabriella Hallman applying makeup to her friend, M.E. Gery.

And now Lexi Hallman is getting her makeup done.

While girls where waiting for their turn, they could karaoke on the Wii (that's Lexi). Jessica Hutchinson was watching the make up lessons!

Lexi & Joceline singing together...Joceline was really hamming it up!

Jasmine's turn!

Cake time! It was pretty quiet...that was just about the only time it was pretty quiet!

"Pretty" girls...Alyssa, Lexi, M.E., Gabriella, Jessica, Jasmine, Joceline & Lauren.

Alyssa was the first one to get her make up done...she had a hard time not laughing!

Alyssa & Lexi

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.