The Normandin Family: January 2014

Christmas Day

The kids woke up and got us all out of bed ready to open gifts together.

It was a mad dash to get the gifts open that were in her there stockings.

Katie got a girl hippo to go with her family of hippos. She named her Bella.

Zach got his long asked for pair of roller blades.

Aaron got his long awaited Captain America gear. He looks so cool.

We had a breakfast of cinnamon rolls yummy, yummy!!

Zach also got the game of Simon and we all spent lots of time playing together.

Aaron got a monkey blanket from Grandma Webb and he walked around with it all day.

We had a wonderful Christmas dinner together with lots of good food.

The boys both got legos so they spent the evening putting together their new cars and helping each other. We had a wonderful Christmas together playing with everyones new toys. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was spent with us at home spending our evening together. John had to work so we finished up our cookies and made some pizza for dinner.

We watched a few Christmas specials and then it was time to head to bed. The kids get one gift to open and its always PJ's.

They all look so good in new clothes and ready for the big day tomorrow.

Zach was kind enough to read the night before Christmas to us another family tradition I have carried on.

Zach was even nice enough to show us the pictures.

Katie put the cookies out for Santa.

Aaron got the cup of milk out and we were ready to turn in for the night and wait for the sun to come up on Christmas morning. Merry Christmas Eve!!!

Chritmas Cookies

One of our traditions that we have continued from when I was a kid is making Christmas sugar cookies and this year we were a little behind but we made sure that we have plenty of cookies to eat on Christmas day.

The kids did a good job helping me roll out the dough and cutting the cookies with the cookie cutters.

They each got to decorate a bunch of cookies any way they wanted and they had a blast doing it.

They all worked hard and the cookies came out really good.

It was a fun afternoon and I love watching all the different ways each of them decorate their own cookies. We were able to make so many cookies that we made a couple of plates for our neighbors to share our yummy goodies with them.

Ward Christmas Party

We had our Ward Christmas party and after a nice dinner the kids put on a program and all 3 of our kids had a part in it.

They acted out the Littlest Angel, Zach and Katie were one of the angels in the story. They also sang a couple songs.

The younger kids acted out the Nativity and Aaron chose to be a cow in the scene. They ended with all the kids singing a song together. It was a fun night and all the kids did a good job with their parts.

Zach's new Smile

We took Zach in for a consult to see the Orthodontist and he was given the new that braces would be needed for about 2 years.

This is his before smile.

Here he is on day one of getting the braces on. He chose red and blue for the Patriots. He had a rough weekend but once he got use to them he hasn't had to many problems with them. We are looking forward to all the colors he will choose over the next couple years and a great smile at the end.

Snow Storm

We had a great weekend with the family, and as we went to bed on our last night the snow was falling pretty hard outside. We woke up to a few inches of snow on the ground.

John and Zach got up and helped clear the snow while the girls packed the bags.

The boys worked hard and got the driveway cleared pretty quickly and we packed up the car and and said our goodbyes. We needed to get on the road early so we could get home before the sun set.

We got home and only was able to make it about half way up the driveway before getting stuck. We all got right to work at clearing our driveway trying to beat the sun before it got to dark to see.

Aaron is such a hard worker and is always will to help out when he is needed. He loves to be outside so shoveling snow is one of his favorite jobs to help out with and he always does such a good job.

Zach and Katie's help was short lived before they bailed on us and went to play in the snow. Zach made quick work of making a sledding track and had a blast taking turn sledding down it. It was a busy but fun weekend spent with our family in MA but we were ready to settle down at home again.

Christmas with Nana and Papa

After the cousins party we went back to John's parents to have our own party and open gifts together.

We started with giving Seany his gift.

All the kids let Seany help them open their gifts and they all had fun showing off their new gifts.

What a great way to end a busy day then to spend it together as a family. The kids even got papa to get up and play with them for a while. These are the times that its hard living so far away. What a great Christmas we had here.

Normandin Cousins Christmas Party

After our morning with the Shattucks we headed over to Uncle Ricks for our Cousins party.

Our kids being the oldest of the cousins become the center of the party and spend most of the time playing with the little ones.

Katie and Zach spent most of the time wrestling and giving piggy back rides to all the kids. It was so nice to have some time talking with the family and not have to worry about what the kids were doing since we knew they were having a blast with Katie and Zach.

Aaron and Seany spent most of the time hanging out together. They are 2 peas in a pod when they are together. Its hard living so far away and not being able to spend time with our family as much as before. We had a great day together and got to catch up with our extended family.

Early Christmas in MA

We decided to go back to MA to spend the weekend with Johns parents and have a little Christmas together.

We went to the Shattucks to open gifts with them. Aaron was having loving being able to spent some extra time with Nana and Papa.

Aaron is all about the Power Rangers right now, he got a set that has a mask and a blaster. That was the perfect gift for him.

He couldn't open it fast enough. He looks really awesome as the Red Ranger.

Katie got some more things for Jessica including earrings and some ice skates.

Zach got a cool remote control hovercraft. It was a great morning playing with the kids new toys and catching up with Grandma and Grandpa.

Katie's Winter Concert

Katie had her first concert here in Vernon and we were so excited to go and watch her sing.

Katie along with her class sang a couple songs, they did a good job and it was nice to see that Katie was standing in the front row.

Along with the songs her class sang they also sang with the other 4th grade classes.

Katie had 2 speaking parts and she did a great job. It was fun watching her have so much fun. Great Job Katie!!!

Happy Birthday Katie

Even though we had a family party when we were at John's parents we still wanted to celebrate Katie's actual Birth Day so we had a little party. Its crazy to think that she is now 10 and we have 2 kids in the double digits now.

After dinner Katie went to opened her gifts that were waiting for her under the tree, of course Jessica was by her side like she has been for weeks now.