Christmas 2017 and Catching Up

We tried to have a low-key Christmas this year, with fewer presents and more emphasis on service, and I think it was a great experience. Everyone got to open one present from Erik and I, one from their Call grandparents, and some family gifts from the Lindstroms. Everyone was so happy with what they received, and had a great time playing with their new gifts!

Kirstin and Johnny and Frances also came out to visit, and it was great to have them here to celebrate with us! We didn't really take that many pictures this year, either, but here are a few of the ones we did get:

Beautiful Frances and her beautiful mother!

Ezra and Isaac got "Spy Kits" from me and Erik. They were very excited about them!

I'm finally making progress in getting Isaac to use a napkin, instead of swiping across his mouth with his hand. That smear of food was a pretty constant thing for a few months.

Walkie talkies and magnifying glasses were part of their spy kits.

Fabric and buttons to go with her hand-sewing kit from me and Erik.

Binoculars are a spy necessity!

Those 100 dollar bills from G and G Call were a big hit with all three kids!

Johnny was so patient in helping Ezra with his Legos from his Lindstrom cousins!

Ginny gave Frances this doll for Christmas.

We love our cousins!

We've had some other goings on since Christmas, so here are a few of the things we've been up to:

Ginny had to do a project for her Nigeria unit at school. She chose to research Nigerian textiles and made a mini-quilt using one of the types of Nigerian fabrics she learned about.

Isaac received a writing award for school!

Ginny also received a writing award!

Ezra was recognized for his perfect attendance for the first half of the year. He promptly got sick right after, so no more perfect attendance awards this year!

Ezra loved his Christmas ornament from Grace!

Out to dinner at an Indian restaurant! It was very cold inside and out. . . 

Ezra has been a little jealous of all of Ginny's sewing and wanted to get in on the action, so I helped him make his own mini-quilt using Ginny's scraps and some old fabric I had left over.

This is Ginny's first hand-sewn drawstring bag that she did all on her own.

Here she is presenting her finished project!

Aunt Loralee bought us this fun Monkey Tower game and we have had a lot of fun seeing how high we can stack the tower!

In her sewing class in the fall/winter, Ginny made pajama bottoms, pajama shorts, and a pajama shirt. She is currently learning skirts in the spring session that just started, and she is loving it!