Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Of course it was time for matching PJ's!
I think they turned out great. We tried a family photo, but it didn't turn out (I think we need to teach the dogs to take pictures)

Everyone was spoiled!

I had just gotten off of work (I was working nights for Christmas) and we all got to open our presents together in the morning

Of course, with all of the presents and loudness and fun, I was just happy we were all together!
Merry Christmas!

Christmas Crafts and Ugly Sweaters

We decided to do do some crafts for teachers gifts this year.

I had seen some pictures on facebook about these tea-light snowmen and thought it would be a great idea!

So I bought lots of supplies, and tea lights and ribbons and let Katheryn do whatever she wanted!

We did use white glue, but I reinforced everything with a glue gun.

We had some sparkly candles and beads and ribbons. Katheryn made one for her teacher, her choir teacher and her science/gym teacher. And kept one for herself.

Nick thought this was a great idea too. But I got to thinking that it would be easy to make some Avenger/Star Wars snowmen!

Nick helped paint them, and put them together. He picked which one each of his EAs, teacher, gym/science teacher and bus driver, and kept a Captain America for himself as well.

Because I was in the crafty mood, and the glue gun was already out, we had a lot of fun when it was Ugly Sweater Day!

Visiting the Value Village and the Dollar Store and ta da!

The kids were so excited with how it turned out!

Nick's was a little heavy, and the nose was supposed to glow, but he was happy with it!

All ready for winter!

A month ago when we got our first snow fall, I ordered a lap cover for Nick in his wheelchair.
The day of Nick's school trip in the forest (I don't have any pictures, but Nick said they had a special sled for him, and he fully participated and had lots and lots of fun), the cover came.

This is exactly what I ordered:
https://www.mobilitychoices.com/buy/mc000740/sheerlines-cuckoo-childrens-waterproof-wheelchair-fleece-leg-cover-royal-blue

It fits well on Nick's lap, and I fold the excess underneath his feet.
It is fleece lined, and keeps his legs warm and it is waterproof. So it does exactly what it is supposed to do.

It does have some room for improvement. The sides rub against the wheels of the chair. So I am always pushing it underneath his legs. There are velcro straps that attach in the back
 but I find the back part bulky. But it fits well over his winter jacket.
And it has to come on and off every time.
If there was a way for it to sit flat on the seat of the chair, and Velcro under the seat, and then come forward to be zippered over the lap I think it would work better.

The Woodpecker version is set up like that; instead of covering over the lap, it covers under the lap and zips at the front. Then you can just get in and out of it, instead of always taking it on and off. But it is also twice as expensive. And I worried Nick might get too hot, with the fleece covering his back.

We have gotten a lot more snow this year, and we are all excited for a white Christmas!
Katheryn loves climbing on all of the snow banks

Nick wanted to get out and place in the snow when he got home from school today. So put his snowpants on over his winter jacket and threw him in.

It was nice having all of the snow in December, when we still enjoy it. Instead of February when we are waiting for spring to come.

Sledge Hockey with Katheryn

We had a new sledge hockey player today!

Katheryn had the opportunity to get out and on the ice with Nick.
Nick actually did better with Katheryn on the ice. He certainly liked showing off!

Family Vacation!

We decided to surprise the kids with a little family vacation to Great Wolf Lodge!

Katheryn was worried about Twinkle, our elf on a shelf, so he came with us!

Of course we had to get a room with the bunk beds. Both the kids love them, but Nick never wants to go on the top bunk. He just likes sleeping in the same room as his sister

We decided we were going to try out the MagicQuest game this time.
Nick had fun, but he got really tired (I think we'll need his wheelchair next time).
But Katheryn had a blast running around!

We went for 2 nights/3 days, but I didn't take all that many pictures while we were there.
One morning at breakfast we decided on some selfies!

The have this giant gingerbread house in the lobby. And it is an actual gingerbread house! You can actually book to eat your meal there.

We also got to meet Santa and Mrs Claus (and this is inside the gingerbread house)

I only have pictures at the pool the last day (I didn't bring my water camera).

Nick and Kyle stayed in the big pool most of the day.

Katheryn and I would go out and explore different slides. We would go on the medium slides and race each other down. And we went on the big Wooly Mammoth slide multiple times (and a lot of begging), but I couldn't get her on any of the other slides.

BUT I did get Kyle and Nick on the Wooly Mammoth slide, 1 time. We carried Nick and waited in line to get on the slide, and then when we got to the top, they told us because of Nick we could have skipped the line.
But Nick wasn't interested in the slide again.
But I did get 1 great picture!

But the kids had lots of fun in the water. We would spend a couple of hours in the pool before getting out and doing 'land' stuff (MagicQuest, the arcade, bowling... which sucked... visiting the gift shop, or just relaxing in our room)

Of course once we left the kids were asking when we were going back again!

It was a wonderful winter mini-vacation!