Sherman and Bendy

I didn't think it would happen, but Sherman was actually social with a visiting dog yesterday.

But who could not love Bendy?

Christmas Traditions

Another one of our Christmas traditions is Sherman's annual nature walk, which he probably hates more and more every year. He is scared of other dogs, a little out of shape, and doesn't like traveling out of sight of our driveway. 

Just your typical everyday dog..

But it is Texas and the weather is always beautiful around this time of year. 

So we enjoy it at least :)

Twas' the Night Before Christmas

Most of the kids are now starting to ask for just gift cards and money, but we still manage to fill the space around the tree pretty well.

Christmas Eve Traditions

Indian food followed by candlelight service- every year.

Happy Birthday, Lukas!

Do you know that if you add up the ages of all our kids it comes out to 52 years?

In the meantime, it's time to feel young again and celebrate Lukas's 14th birthday!

Lukas facts:

Fav color - blue
Fav food - Beef and broccoli
Fav fast food - Chick-fil-a
Fav junk food - Doritos and cherry 7-up
Least fav food - peanut butter and cereal
Fav action figure - Boba Fet
Fav games - Overwatch and Halo
Fav vacation - Jamaica
Fav book - Percy Jackson last Olympian
Fav Youtuber - PewDiePie
Fav tv show - Stranger Things
Currently watching - Dragon Prince
Goal for this year - Get more fit
Friends - Aiden, Nathan, Gwen, Sibley, Tennison, Lauren
Fav performer / singer / band - Green Day
Fav memory from the last year - New York CIty trip
Fav animal - Llama
Future career - Game designer
Future place to live - Somewhere where it snows
Birthday presents - iphone 8 (Mom and Dad), XBox Gold and Game Pass (Mom and Dad), video games (Grandma and Grandpa), Darth Maul action figure (Uncle Peter), gummies (Katharine), pillow (Keira)
Cat or dog - both
Time travel - Greek and Roman times
Fav school Subject - Science
Fav Kassidy toy - Fantasia
Least fav school subject - Math
Fav thing to do with Mom - talk and hang out
Fav thing to do with Dad - Legos and video games
Fav thing to do with Keira - Build planks
Fav thing to do with Katharine - play Overwatch and hang out
Fav thing to do with Lennon - everything
Fav thing to do with Kassidy - play cars
Favorite Lego character - his imperial royal guard
Fav season - Winter
If the house were burning, what 3 (non-living) things would you save - XBox, Boba Fet action figure, and cold puppy)
What scares you - heights

Favorite album from last year - Newsies

Favorite video game characters - Krieg, Junk Rat, Master Chief

Pre Concert Pics

The girls with their friend Amy before the big church Christmas Concert that was held tonight. 

Or as we like to call it, "the calm before the storm".

Christmas is all downhill from here :)

Gazowsky

Sherman's buddy, who he rips into shreds every opportunity he gets.

Card Shark

Who thought Lennon would be good at poker?

Just about everybody..

Christmas Crafting

Christmas season is in full swing around here, and Keira has started up on the crafting (with a little help from Kassidy).

Nutcracker Season

Nutcracker season is in full swing again this year.

Keira is playing a mouse and a clown in the official TBT Nutcracker production at the Winspear Opera House.

Katharine has outgrown the main production, but still helps out the school by dressing up and reading the Nutcracker to groups of kids.

Pokemon Cats

The other artist of the house is Kassidy, whom I am a big fan of.

It isn't technically proficient, but it is super weird.

And I like that :)

Here is one of her latest sketches of a Pokemon cat character.

Neat And Not

Kassidy has taken over one side of Keira's room with the German ladies visiting. 

Those two are like Felix and Oscar. 

Keira likes everything neat and organized, and Kassidy is.. well.. the opposite.

Thanksgiving with the Fr'uncle and Fr'aunt

The frousins weren't there, but there was still a lot of great fun and fellowship to be had over Thanksgiving at the Martel house.

And for some, here is also your first peak of Lennon with his glasses. They are just for reading and watching TV, so they won't show up in many pictures.

Kittens

The girls put on a production of 'Cats' for us this afternoon.

We only saw Part 1 and Part 2. Part 3 was cancelled, apparently due to "creative differences".