Christmas Update (finally!)

This year our "Christmas Day Surprise" was having the kids complete 'tasks' to earn the next round of presents. I put the following tasks in envelopes with a corresponding tag on the envelope so the kids knew which presents to get after the task was completed. All tasks were cooperative so there was absolutely no competition between the boys. It turned out quite fun! (once again, I got too wrapped up in it all to remember to be the family photographer:(

1: Your task is to build a 2 ft high structure out of straws that will support one of our blue plastic plates.
2: Your task is to stack 50 matches on top of a pop bottle.3: Your task is to play Grandpa in ping pong to 60 points. You must each switch off every 10 points.
4: Your task is to use Ruckus cards and build house that is at least 12 x 12 and that has 3 stories.5: Your task is to earn 30 points by shooting a bow and arrow at the front door. The arrow must stick to the door for the points to count. Inside each rectangle on the front door is worth 5 points outside of that is worth 10. You must earn 30 points all together each taking 3 shots at a time.
6: Your task is to land 50 bouncy balls into the bucket. The ball must bounce once before going in. You will each throw 5 balls then switch off.
7: Your task is to untie all of the knots in the rope provided. You must each place your hands on both sides of a knot. You may not take your hands off the rope until it is all untied.8: Your task is to blow up one balloon and put a marble inside before tying it. You are to keep the balloon in the air at all times (no holding it) for 3 consecutive minutes.
9: Your task is to use Grandma and Grandpa Bingham's book to look up the answers to the questions on the enclosed sheet.

On Christmas day we also take time to play with things as we open them up so opening presents took over 7 hours this year. So fun! (The kids are used to it, but Grandma Great wanted to pick up the pace!)

We also did two other fun things this Christmas. The first was having 'Intermission Gifts'. We got each of the kids 8 different, unique and fun food items that they don't usually get. They each have a favorite food so they got different varieties of their favorite food. Cache got 'selected beverages'. . . mostly different kinds of soda and sparkling juice drinks. Caleb got a combination of things. . jerky and sauces (like a special mustard and Pick-a-Pepper Sauce etc.). Chandler got fruit. He got a star fruit, a pummelo, a tangerine, a container of black berries, a mini pineapple etc. Tess got mini boxes of sugar cereal. They got to open one between each task/gift set. This was a huge hit!!

The second fun thing was getting all of the kids a "DI Find". I was at DI one day early in December and saw a couple of high ticket items that the kids would like. I called Tom on the way home and told him we should get all the kids something from DI. He loved the idea. So almost every day in December and on many of our date nights we hit the DI in search of exactly what we wanted. We found Cache a bowling ball, which included a bag, shoes (that even fit!) a partially used score card and some talc powder. (it was only $3!) (the picture I found is cropped from another one, but he LOVES these shoes!--I love the quirkiness of teenagers!) We found Caleb some hockey skates. He has been wanting some new ones but since he is in adult sizes but hasn't stopped growing we can't justify $200 for something that won't fit for long. So getting him some at the DI was an excellent idea. And our luck was good in finding a very nice pair. He loved them!

And Chandler has been wanting a desk for his room to do his homework on. We found him this awesome old school desk. We scored with that gift also. (He's the only I have a picture of with his gift--it is the refinished picture with him in his new pj's from Grandma Porter.) Tess just got a few clothes for her DI find since she doesn't play with much else. (she's easy to please!) Although it was a bit difficult finding exactly what we wanted, we may just revisit this idea for another Christmas. It really was fun!
Just wanted to end with a cute picture of Tess in all her Christmas stuff. She was a happy girl! I just have to say our day was so awesome with all the fun extras we added this year and having my parents and grandma here. . . This will go down in my book as one of my favorite Christmases!