I'm not even sure where to start. Christmas time is always a lot of fun for us but it is also an insanely busy time... especially the two weeks before Christmas! I must confess, I wasn't so great about taking photos....bummer... or maybe I should rephrase that and say I took photos but not a lot of them turned out great! LOL!
After Thanksgiving this year I was very eager to put up our decorations. For 38 years I have always had a real tree but because of allergies we decided to go the artificial route! I must say, it was still beautiful and much easier to decorate and decorate! I think what I missed most was the "experience" of going as a family to the tree farm. However, the boys still went out in the woods and picked out a tree to cut down for the front porch (we are all about the experience in this house)! Below is a pic of our "new" tree!
The boys kicked of the season by visiting their first live nativity with Nana and Papa Doc (we were celebrating our anniversary) in Friendship. The boys thought it was so cool... live donkeys and camels and according to Ben Ben, the REAL baby Jesus! He really thought he got to see Baby Jesus... so cute... of course big brothers kept trying to explain that he did not see the REAL baby Jesus. They loved it. I hope next year Tim and I can go! Thanks mom and dad for taking them to experience this, I know it really emphasized the real meaning of Christmas! What a way to start the holidays (no pics, dad tried but they were all dark)!
There was the church Christmas party for the kiddos which was a lot of fun! Pizza, crafts, and games! What is not to like? I was trying to assist 3 kiddos with painting, bead-stringing, hot gluing, etc., so the iphone pics are few!
The next big event was Ben Ben's Christmas program! He was a sheep this year and was so darn cute! He did excellent in the program and the preschool kiddos were AMAZING! They had all worked so hard. It was the Christmas Story from the Angels point of view! Isn't he the cutest little sheep ever!
The last day of school was crazy busy trying to navigate Christmas parties! Three in one day! Thank goodness they were all at different times! First was Ben Ben's party! They drew names and traded gifts! It was chaos and a lot of fun!
Zac's was after lunch. He was so sweet and wanted me beside him at all times. The decorated sugar cookies and each got big stockings filled with goodies!
Nate's party was in the gym with all of the 3rd graders. They sang some songs with their choir teacher and then had their Christmas goodies! By this time I was worn out from party hopping and after the choral presentation it was a "free for all" so these are the only photos I have! Yes, Nate is in there somewhere!
Here is a pic of the cute "teachers gifts" I made this year! Coke Cola Reindeer and some Chex Reindeer Food! I also made peppermint play-dough and gingerbread play-dough for the kiddos in Ben Ben's class! I thought they all turned out cute! Thanks Pinterest!
Then after all of the parties were over.... "Christmas Break" began.... next post.... CHRISTMAS WITH OUR FAMILY!
