So It Begins

 T minus 5 days we drive half way to Twin then the next day to Pocatello to drop Camden off at school. I knew this day was coming, and I feel really lucky to have had this last semester with him, but I'm so excited for him to get out and spread his wings and 'adult'. Does that mean I won't cry... no. It will be a hard weekend, but a good one. 

It started as a big mess...

But now he had a nice pile to take with him. 

Emery's Time Off

Emery is our most social kid. She has a group of friends and this second week of break they got together a lot. She had sleepover, ice skating, New Years Eve Party, hanging out at the mall. She has a good group of friends and it's good to see her get out with them. 

She is wanting to redo a wall in her room and add a bunch of random things. She make a SpongeBob window and it looks super cute. 

Emery Catch Up

The Squishmellows have been organized... kind of. It's an organized mess. 

Each year Emery and her friends go to Build a Bear and make one together. This year they did frogs.

And rode the train through the mall. 

Christmas Day

The kids let up sleep in until 6:30 this year! Actually I guess Brad said they could come at that time and on the dot Jacks came in. They probably were sitting downstairs for a bit longer than that anyways. We did have to wake up Beck.

Have to love the mess that piles up when throwing all the paper down. 

This year their paper was put on their picture on the wall. Emery said they found it pretty quickly.

Jacks got a lot of figures and had to make space to put them up. He spent most of the day doing that. 

Cam got a few games and spent a little time putting them together. He was the first to crash and took a very long nap. Beck was the second to crash and sleep. 

Emery got a few Legos. I got some too so we spent the morning building Legos and watching movies. 

It took about 2.5 movies but she finished the Tuxedo Cat.

Emery's favorite gift was the Lego or Convers shoes. Cam's favorite were the games he got. Beck's favorite was cologne and Jack's were the figurines. 

Christmas Eve

Christmas came too quickly this year; it does every year now. For breakfast, Cailey joined us this year. We went to Black Bear again, which was good, however they did shorten their menu, so there wasn't as many things. We left all stuffed to open Pjs and gifts. 

Our Pj's this year were bands (Cailey was Studio Ghibli-her favorite movie studio). Everyone liked what they got for their gift exchange too. 

Jacks got me Legos and we build one. Then we played Rock Band. We all played random things after and made pizza for dinner. 

Emery went through her Squishmellows and has a lot more than she even thought. 

After dinner Brad and I took the presents down, then most of us played games for a bit. 

Annual family picture. 

After a bit Brad and I set up gifts and went to sleep until they wake us up at 6 am tomorrow. 

Pottery

 

Emery took pottery this past semester. It was not her favorite class and I think were all happy with her being done with it finally. The things she made turned out cute. I'm pretty sure I smashed all of mine the day the class ended. 

Gingerbread Houses

The other day the older boys were gone and Emery and Jacks wanted to decorate gingerbread houses. We got 2 of them and watched Elf while they did them. I don't enjoy doing them, but they had fun. 

It is tough to pick one that's better. Until next year. 

IB Graduation

It takes a bit for the people to grade all the papers and test from the kids who do the IB program then around this time each year they do a certificate ceremony. Not all the kids are able to come to this, but most were there. Cam took 4 test and got 3 fours and a five. Passing is a two. This and being at Renaissance got him 18 credits in college. 

With Cailey home from college they have been hanging out every day. They  have done a few art projects too. I think they look pretty good.

His is the bottom one.

Emery's Post

Since getting her license, Emery hangs out with friends all the time. Thankfully she does take pictures and she even smiles in these ones. 

She went to the Boise Tree Lighting with Jenna and ended up seeing another friend Maddy there as well. 

For YW they did a Grinch night. We went to one of the leaders mom's house and it was decked out with Grinch all over. She had a project for the girls to do and it turned out so cute. We played BINGO and got prized, had a door prize and a hole punch prize. She said she gets all she can at the end of each Christmas season and saves us. I know all the girls had fun. I am now with Emery in the 16 year old class. 

Her and Jenna went today to Build a Bear to make bears for Christmas. Have to love these .5 photos.

Emery wanted to make gifts for all her friends, perfect trifecta for her friends. Little candy, fuzzy socks and a little Squishmallow. She also crocheted flowers as well.