Monday, January 20, 2014

Christmas

December was filled with all kinds of wonderful celebrating.

We visited with friends and Santa made a surprise appearance! The kids were stunned that Santa knew their names and what they wanted for Christmas.

I couldn't leave this picture out from our visit. As the kids have gotten older they've started to play even better together. Although the music they were playing was not like angels singing, it was cute that they were sitting together.

The kids also had fun building gingerbread houses. Okay, maybe it was great fun eating everything that was supposed to go on the gingerbread houses.

Of course the kids both had holiday parties at school. Abby's preschool sang wonderful Christmas songs.

Abby made cute Christmas crafts at the party. Here she was making a baby Jesus to put into his bed.

I'm not sure why anyone bothers having kids decorate cookies and cupcakes. It's fun and a great activity. Unfortunately I think most of the decor ends up in the mouth of the kid doing the decorating and less on the item being decorated. I suppose that's part of the joy though!

Abby made a wonderful Christmas present for us. It's a glass plate with her hand print made into a Christmas tree.

Abby loves her preschool teachers!

Gavin also had fun at his Christmas party. Abby was eager to get into her brother's popcorn.

Abby was so excited when the room mom told her she could have a cookie and a juice box.

She was even more excited when her friend showed up to the party too. Gavin played t-ball last summer and Abby's friend is the sister of one of the boys on the team. The same boy happens to be in Gavin's class and is also in his Cub Scout den. Abby and Emily see each other every Monday night at den meetings and they spend the hour palling around.

The kids played a boys vs. girls game of who can eat the Hershey Kisses faster.

They were all so cute cheering each other on.

The girls won and at the end when there were a few left in the bucket the room mom told them it was a free for all for the rest. The kids piled on trying to get as many as they could.

The class played a game of hot potato using a candy cane.

Trying to get a class full of first graders to focus and smile at one time is like trying to herd cats. It does not work.

Unfortunately I was sick during the week of Chrismas so we didn't get to church on Christmas Eve. We stayed home and read Christmas stories on the couch.

Mocha joined us.

Of course per tradition we read The Night Before Christmas.

Santa informed Gavin and Abby when they saw him at our friend's house that chocolate milk is his favorite. The kids helped get chocolate milk and cookies ready for Santa's arrival.

Ta-da!!!

Gavin has received his super food...SUGAR!

The kids said goodbye to their elves before they went up for bed.

Gavin was up Christmas morning before his sister. He was thrilled to see Santa visited.

The three of us gently woke Abby up and she was eager to get downstairs. She brought down her gifts for Gavin.

From the moment we started Mocha wanted to be the center of attention.

The kids had so much fun opening their gifts! Mocha was thrilled to open her own gifts too!

Gavin made this for us for Christmas. Too cute!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas day. We stayed in our pajamas until the afternoon and spent the day helping the kids assemble all of their new toys. We cooked a delicious turkey dinner. I brined a turkey for the first time and the results were amazing. I will definitely consider brining a turkey again.

I hope everyone else had an equally enjoyable holiday. I look foward to sharing our New Year's post with you soon!

 

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