i don't understand the fighting...{MAX}

1 helmet flying in the stands...2 over times...3 broken sticks...and too many fight to count!

The Kutz family spent our New Years Eve at the Hershey Bears hockey game.  And although we had a great time at the game...there were a couple of teary eyes over all the fighting. 

Here is a you tube link of one of the fights we saw...

i really like that one...{BRAD}

No, Brad is not talking about any Christmas gift.  Brad is talking about a photo that Max took...on his new camera.  One of Max's Christmas gifts this year was a children's digital camera.  Max is really excited to be able to take his own pictures of whatever he wants.

Today I popped the memory card into the computer to see what Max had taken some pictures of.  Most of the subject matter was random, some pictures were blurry...and every once in a while there was a good one.  Here is one of the pictures that both Brad and I really liked...

can you tell aaron rodgers what to do...{MAX}

Brad received a very special gift this year from Max and I...stock in the Green Bay Packers.  Yes, you guessed it, Brad can now proudly call himself an official NFL owner.  Cool right?  Well, when you find out that the stock has no real monetary value, and no, he can not tell Aaron Rodgers what to do...you might not be as excited as Brad.  But being an owner of your favorite team is still pretty cool. 

this is the best christmas ever..{MAX}

Max thinks that every Christmas is the best Christmas ever.  But truly, our family has been very blessed this year...each Christmas we spend with each other is the best Christmas ever.  May you and your family have the best Christmas ever!

(pictures from Christmas Eve)

(pictures from Christmas morning)

ho ho ho, i have a lightsaber...{MAX}

Now what would Santa be doing with a lightsaber? 

May the force be with you this Christmas Eve.

do you want to go for a drive...{BRAD}

Yes, you are right...it does sound like brad is a 90 year old man. 

The reason Brad asked both Max and I if we would like to go for a ride is Christmas lights.  Max can see the different Christmas lights from his bedroom window.  There are a few lights that Max wanted to see up close.  So tonight Brad took both Max and I on a little car ride. 

Although the neighborhood lights are not as spectacular as some I have seen in MN...we still had a great time as a family!

done...{JEANNI}

Done!  Done shopping, done sending out cards, done baking, done shipping, done wrapping...DONE! 

As I look around the house and realize that I am now ready for Christmas, I took a moment to notice some of the little "treasures" of the season.  One of my favorite things...Christmas wrapping.  For those of you who know me well, it will not be a surprise to you that I love wrapping gifts.  I love the ribbons and bows, and all the trappings of gift wrapping.  One of my favorite things is to see how the boys wrap gifts.  Take a look at a few snap shots of our families different styles of gift wrapping. 

(Max's wrapping job)

(Brad's wrapping job)

(Jeanni's wrapping job)

I hope that you can find some little "treasures" around your home this holiday season!

if I got coal I would still find a way to play with it...{MAX}

There is much talk of Christmas at the Kutz house these days.  All the gifts are wrapped, cookies are baked, and plans are being made for the weekend.  Max loves to discuss the holidays and how excited he is for Christmas day.  He loves the magic that Christmas brings, from the food to the music, movies, treats and lights.

While in the car today, Max was talking about Santa.  With all the splendor of the holidays I thought that Max's comment was interesting!  It reminded me that I should be satisfied with all the blessings that I have in my life.

mele kalikimaka...{MAX}

This past weekend Max participated in the children's Christmas service at our church.  He did a great job singing and reciting. 

The theme of the service was Christmas around the world.  The children sang traditional Christmas hymns, however, the first verse of the hymn was sang in a different language.  At the end of the service each child said "Merry Christmas" in a different language.  Max chose Hawaiian. 

it's hard being a bully...{JEANNI}

With temps in the sixties, our weather has been warm compared to MN standards.  Even so I have been turning on the fire place during the day.  And it looks like I am not the only one who likes a nice toasty fire.

That's right...big old bully likes to belly up to the fire every chance he gets.  Sometimes I am surprised that he hasn't melted!

this is going to be yummy...{MAX}

This weekend our family has started some Christmas cookie baking.  Although the boys love the cookie baking, what they really love is the cookie tasting.  Max loves to lick the batter bowls and spoons when the cookies are being made, while Brad loves to try all the cookies when they are done.

how do you like this sixty degree weather...{BRAD}

We have had some pretty warm days out here in PA.  And although it feels like Christmas will be here any day when I look at the calendar, outside it feels like spring is right around the corner.  Even our flowers are confused! 

(these are some flowers that I planted in the spring) 

(they are still growing and flowering in this warm "winter" weather)

ooh crap...{GUESS WHO?}

Normally I am the one who ends up saying...ooh crap, that is crap, crappy, ect.  But today that was not the case.  I was not the offender of "crap".

Today our family was playing a game of Uno, which has become pretty intense with a whole slew of different and unique rules.  Max gets pretty into it! 

This round started with Brad dealing out the cards.  After we all had a chance to arrange our cards, Max promptly plopped down a take 2 card, which he had intended for Brad.  What Max didn't realize was that I would be the one to start this game and then the turn would go to Brad, making Max the last to play a card.  When he realized that he could not bamboozle Brad with his card, he quickly said..."ooh crap."

It was hard not to laugh as Brad told Max we don't talk like that.