Let the Celebrations Begin!

The Christmas season fun (and busy-ness) increases when you have a kiddo in school; here are the holiday celebrations that we enjoyed leading up to the big day.

K4 Christmas Party

Eli's class had a Christmas party on the last day of school before Christmas break. The kids made reindeer ornaments from their hand prints, listened to stories, decorated gingerbread houses, and played games. It was fun to be able to feel their excitement in the air.

Working on a tasty gingerbread house

Everyone busy decorating

Holiday picture search

Eli with his wonderful teacher

The whole class

The finished hand-print ornaments

Eli and Mommy

Water Mama Holiday Gathering

We continued our tradition of celebrating Christmas with the Exercise for Two families - it is amazing to think how much that group has grown over the years. The kids had fun running around with their buddies, and we even got them all to sit in one place for a picture (thanks to Charlie Brown Christmas on TV). So thankful that this group of families is in our lives.

The mamas and babies (big kids!)

How did she get the train table all to herself?!

Evie and her buddy, Gus

Friends Christmas Celebration

Another one of our favorite Christmas celebrations is our gathering with my college friends and all our families. We recently transitioned this party into a whole-family sleepover, which means the parents get a chance to chat and celebrate once all the littles are in bed!

Enjoying pizza dinner

yum, yum

So many kids (and smiles!), but still missing one...

...there they all are!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

This year, we were blessed to be able to attend not one, but two preschool Christmas programs - and in the same weekend nonetheless! First up was the 4K program. The kids were adorable, and you could tell that they had worked really hard to learn all their songs and movements. It was our first true encounter with the Parent Paparazzi; as you will notice in our limited pictures, there is barely a shot that does not have a bunch of other cameras (or ipads) in it. The second show of the weekend was the church Sunday school program - complete with Mary, Joseph, and a kid dressed as the donkey. So sweet, and such a nice way to embrace the Christmas spirit. Unfortunately, Eli came down with the cold that has since cycled through the entire family (Mommy's turn arrived on Christmas, of course) that day, so he was a bit tired during this performance.

Getting lined up for the show

He finally sees us in the crowd!

So many 4-year-olds sitting still!

There's the silly smile

Looking a little tired...

 During the show

It's Christmas Time in the City

As we zoom through the last few days before Christmas, here's a look at some of the holiday fun we've been enjoying thus far this month.

Christmas Tree Selection

We chose a bright and mild Saturday to hunt for this year's Christmas tree, and luckily the little members of the family were in good spirits for the long hike through what seemed like the entire Christmas tree farm to find the humongous tree that we convinced Daddy to drag all the way back to the car. We had a bit of a set-back when, just as the car and cashier hut came into view over the slight, icy hill, Evelyn slipped and took a face dive resulting in a bloody lip. She is a resilient little lady, so after a brief visit with Nurse Mommy and a little snack back at the car, she was ready to continue in the tree farm fun.

He looks like such a big boy now

Ready to search for our tree

The search party sets off across the field

Did you guess that her favorite color is purple?

Daddy and Eli and the tree (Evelyn is currently behind the tree, refusing to be in a picture)

Eli is supervising

Evelyn informed us that this stick was a "baby tree"

Our tree is cat-approved

Cookie Decorating

We've spread out the cookie-decorating fun over a few days this month...gotta love the pre-cut, frozen cookies that make it really easy to bake just a few at a time.

Very focused on his edible art

Mimi helps out

Evelyn has been taste-testing

Pa and Evelyn

Gingerbread Houses

After refining our decorating skills with the cookies, it was time to move on to a larger canvas...the gingerbread house kits! This year, each kiddo got to assemble and decorate their own house, so we did an evening build/decorate session so that Mommy and Daddy could both help with the fun.

The seasoned pro, hard at work

 Little lady was very serious about having her own house this year

The finished product - back

The finished product - front

Little lady's house

The boys

The girls

That's a Wrap!

Once again, the kids set up their wrapping table as close as they could get to the Christmas tree. They were excited to decorate the wrapping paper and bags for their gifts for their cousins and friends.

Busy little elves

Lots of Frozen stickers were used as wrapping decorations this year

Giving Thanks!

We started our long Thanksgiving weekend with a long drive over the river and through the woods to Grammy and Grampy's house. The kids were so excited to get there that we only made two stops on the way, which resulted in a record-setting trip time. Once our travels were over, we enjoyed a relaxing weekend celebrating Thanksgiving with many family members, viewing the holiday lights parade (oh, the candy!), and squeezing as much enjoyment as we could out of the light cover of snow that was on the ground. We have so much to be thankful for this year!

Helping Uncle Randy feed the cows their Thanksgiving feast

Evelyn helped, too

Breakfast time!

Enjoying the toys (and toy bins) at Grandma's

Chocolate milk moustache

Faster, Daddy! Faster, Grampy!

Mommy and Evelyn zooming around the yard

Tackling Daddy in the snow

Ready to tackle...

...Go!

All bundled up for the lights parade

Bundled-up family

Riding in style

Tired from the fun weekend

Naps on the way home for all riders