Christmas fun

We got to do a lot of fun things this December. Ryan constructed a gingerbread house, which the kids decorated. Well, G decorated it. Scout couldn't stop stuffing her mouth long enough to actually put anything on the house.

We went to Home Depot again this year to get our tree. It was freezing the night that we went, but we managed to have fun.



The kids got some cute Christmas pj's. It's so hard finding matching ones for a boy and a girl!


Garrett got to play Joseph in his school Christmas program. His friend Emma was Mary, and Scout's friend Brooklyn was one of the sheep. They were all so cute!



Ryan's parents came to visit. His dad brought two projects to put together for Scout - a rocking chair, and a cradle for her baby. Garrett helped a little. She absolutely loved them! Thanks, Pop. We roasted chesnuts together, went to the Galleria and saw Santa, and went to a Christmas laser light show. The kids had a lot of fun with their grandparents, and it was a fun visit.

Roasting toes and chesnuts

G doing his signature dance move to the Christmas music

Nonni, look at the lights!

Dancing to the music with Nonni

Snow in central Texas!

Let it fall!

Mommy even got some in her hair

Looking at the lights with the special glasses Nonni brought (it makes the lights look like Santa or a snowman)

Enjoying hot chocolate and popcorn after the show

We baked, decorated and delivered Christmas cookies to our neighbors. It's one of our traditions that just keeps getting better as the kids are more able to be involved and understand what we're doing. The kids even got something in return. The sweet neighbors across the street gave the kids a Christmas cookie cookbook and cookie plate, and they gave Garrett a bike that they bought for their youngest grandson when he came to visit this summer. So sweet!

Christmas Eve was fun. Our kids had spent a few nights at my parents' house, so we were happy to have them back. We let the kids open a couple of presents. G loved his new fire truck that makes noises and lights up, and Scout served us tea all evening with her new tea set that makes noise when you pour it. The kids sprinkled reindeer dust on the yard to attract Santa's reindeer, and then we set out for the Christmas Eve program at our church. It was a family-friendly service, and the kids got to go on stage and sing Christmas carols. Scout got really into it and raised her arms in the air at the end of the last song, then clapped for herself. It was a miracle that we didn't set ourselves or the church on fire with the candles. We came home, set out cookies for Santa and carrots for Rudolph, and went to bed. Merry Christmas, everyone!