Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we spent at my parent's house in Wilsonville. The Barney's (Alva & Wendy's family) joined us from Camas, WA. We had a delicious meal, opened our presents from grandparents, acted out the Nativity, and sang Christmas songs and listened to the girls play songs on the piano.

The Three Wise "Men".

Bringing gifts to the Baby.

Here is Spencer, opening his jean quilt from his great grandmother, Ruby (my mom's mom). She has now made quilts for all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This Christmas she gave all the great grandsons quilt, plus a few others. She made 43 in all (this fall)! At 91, that is quite the accomplishment; she is amazing!

After the festivities at my parent's, we came home and opened our Christmas pajamas. This year I decided I wanted to make matching jammies for everyone to open on Christmas Eve. I bought all the fabric like a month before Christmas and then never got around to making them. The Monday before Christmas, my mom came down and helped me make them all in one day. I couldn't have done it without her! Thanks, mom.

It was so fun to all be matching on Christmas morning when we woke up! The boys all had matching pants; Kylene wanted a night gown and I had pants that matched Kylene's.

Kylene opening her jammies.

Go Cougars!

I could easily label this post a Christmas tradition, as all holidays definitely include an onslaught of college football bowls. The Tuesday before Christmas we all gathered at my parent's house to cheer on the Cougars as they defeated the Beavers of Oregon State! (All my Beaver fan friends, please don't be mad:)!) Good food and good times: the adults sit around and talk and watch football while all the cousin play upstairs.

Here's a shot "in action":

Poor Spencer ended up with a fever, so slept through most of the excitement.

Kylene with her cousin, Stephanie. (It's so fun to wear matching clothes!)

Our sweet little Skyler present! He loved pulling the bows off the presents under the tree, so we finally stuck one on his head. I'm glad to unwrap him:).

Merry Christmas from the McCune's!!

Christmas Traditions, Part 3

TRADITION: White Elephant Christmas Party with the Godfrey's & Richards.

Here are the kids getting ready to do their gift exchange. I didn't get a picture of the cool, "I went to the Godfrey's White Elephant Party and all I got was this shirt" shirt I "won" at last year's party then re-gifted this year, but we had a good time laughing and eating, as always!

Kimball, Zach & Kylene have been buddies since they were about nine months old. It's so fun to see how much they have grown!
TRADITION: Salem's Festival of Lights Parade

Even though it's usually freezing, and sometimes raining, we love going to the parade with the Godfrey's and Richards. We found a great street near a restaurant (okay, it's a bar) that gives out free hot cocoa that we can enjoy during the parade.

The gang.

Can you spy Santa on top?

Trying to keep my sweet lil' guy warm. TRADITION: Go see Santa Claus!

For the last several years, we have visited Santa in his little house that a law firm in Salem has in their parking lot. They decorate all the offices around them with lights. Kylene loves that Santa gives the "big" candy canes.

This year she walked unworriedly up, hopped on his lap, and snuggled in to him. Spencer, on the other hand, was still a little bit wierded out by the whole concept and nervously scooted toward him just close enough to be able to grab a candy cane from his hand. (Oh, the lure of candy!) Skyler didn't know what to think, except that he didn't know this funny looking man!

TRADITION: Go see the Christmas lights in Keizer.

I forgot to get any pictures of the actual lights as we drove through the neighborhoods, but here is a picture of Kylene & Spencer immediately following.

I really didn't realize we have so many Christmas traditions until I started blogging about them. It is so fun to feel the joy and excitement each of these events brings to my kids. It makes it all the more special!

Gingerbread Houses

This week for our activity with the MiaMaids (LDS youth group, ages 14-15), we decorated gingerbread houses. Since I helped bake the gingerbread, I had some extra and thought it would be fun for the kids. Jana kindly donated their leftover Halloween candy (Yes, they really did have tons left!) and the kids were in heaven. They seriously worked non-stop on them for two hours. Just decorating with candy. (Kylene and I had "assembled" the "houses" earlier in the day.) It was a lot of fun to watch their excitement, although I think they ended up putting more candy on the houses than they even got trick or treating. No joke. (And we won't mention the mess it created!) But they loved it.

Kylene focused on getting it just right.

It's not hard to get a smile from Spencer when there's candy involved!

Spencer's finished product. We didn't even attempt a structure with him. Just give him a slab, some frosting and some sugar and he is happy:).

Kylene's finished product. Can you see Santa and his sled on the roof with his bags of toys? The m&m reindeer are beside him. Mrs. Claus is the large lollipop on the ground (lying down). Then there is a picnic table with food in the foreground.

My kids have been on a major sugar high the last two days. Joy. Notice I didn't label this post "Christmas traditions". Call me a scrooge, but I don't think gingerbread houses are my thing. My poor kids.