Christmas Presents

Rudy the guinea pig
New Year's Eve
The boys like to build "playgrounds" for Rudy
Guinea pig habitat- Nate built him a stand for the cage, he secretly likes Rudy
Isaac wanted a picture of his crazy hair
Caleb loved going down the slides, just not the really big, dark ones
The kids thought these bunkbeds were awesome
Arcade games

There was a dance party at night. Isaac and Julia had some moves.
Caleb preferred to sit and watch the dancing with Dad.
Moose pulling an Amish buggy?
Grandma DeMaster made this dress
Everyone needs a rooster picture

For Christmas this year we gave the kids a guinea pig and a family trip to a waterpark. We didn't want to buy more toys since they get toys from other family members and they don't play with half the toys they have! We spent one night at Splash Universe in Shipshewana, IN. The waterpark isn't as big as the ones at WI Dells, but it was great for two days. We spent as much time in the water as the kids could handle. The kids didn't want to go on the really big slides with us. I don't blame them. The ride is pitch black, even freaked me out a little. We spent some time in the arcade, eating ice cream, dancing, and sleeping in cool bunkbeds. Or not sleeping as the case may be. I always try to psych myself up for Julia not sleeping well, but it's still really hard. I loved the hotel breakfast because they had chai tea! Sometimes I am easy to please and I was desperate for caffeine. The kids made it til a little after lunch then we had to head home, they were exhausted. All three of them took naps in the car.

Our guinea pig, Rudy, is fitting in nicely. We narrowly averted a huge crisis. On the day we promised to get a guinea pig, the pet stores were all out. We were trying to prep the kids to wait a few more days, but at the last minute a pet store got a shipment of guinea pigs. Relief all around. At first I was nervous the kids picked out a sickly guinea pig, but he has since perked up and seems fine. He likes eating lettuce from the kids and sits quietly in our laps to be petted. He's also making cute squeaking noises. Julia has squeezed him too hard a couple times, so she has to be watched closely.

On New Year's Eve day some new friends invited us over. We went for a walk along the sand dunes (the weather was really warm) and went back to their house for ollie bollen. Ollie bollen is a Dutch dessert, kind of like a doughnut that is made for the New Year. It was fun to do a Dutch tradition. We had an uneventful New Year's Eve. Nate had to work that night. The kids and I got party hats, ate pizza and watched a movie. The kids were in bed by 8:30 and I spent the rest of the night reading a book and was in bed before midnight. Crazy times in the DeMaster household!

For New Year's Day I had the boys fill out a page about themselves. (I found the idea on pinterest, I take no credit.) This is what Caleb said:
Age-7, Favorite Color-White, Favorite Food- pizza, Favorite activity- socker, Favorite book- Erth book
Greatest lesson learned in 2011- math, Hardest thing of the year- sleaping (he's been having alot of bad dreams), Favorite memory- camping, What I loved most about 2011- socker
In 2012 he wants to learn- math, get better at socker and his biggest goal is going to a waterpark.

Isaac said:
Age- 4, Favorite color- light blue, favorite food- cheese pizza, favorite activity- play outside, favorite book- Cat in the Hat
Greatest lesson learned in 2011- didn't have an answer, hardest thing of the year- starting school, favorite memory-playing in the snow, what I loved most about 2011- camping
In 2012 he wants to learn-hockey, get better at swinging, and his biggest goal is to learn how to ride a two-wheeler

I wanted to preserve this on the blog because I'm sure the papers will get lost!

Happy New Year everyone!