Christmas

Woke up to a White Christmas! 

At our house, 

on Christmas Morning, 

we always start by eating breakfast

and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

We started this tradition when the kids 

were really, really little, 

because I wanted them to 

always remember that Christmas

begins with Christ. 

Christ is why we celebrate Christmas.

Then we spent the rest of the day

opening and giving gifts to each other!

We like to take as Loooong as possible,

because one day,

we're going to miss this. 

{MERRY CHRISTMAS}

*

Christmas Eve Things

My absolute favorite thing about

Christmas Eve this year,

was having my 3 boys in the kitchen

making cookies with me! 

They stirred and mixed,

and rolled, and cut! 

I LOVED it! 

A wonderful way to spend the day!

{Christmas Eve Shanigans}

Merry Christmas Weekend

We hosted our Second annual Merry Christmas Weekend! 

The weekend where my folks and sisters and our families, 

stay the weekend and do Merry Christmas stuff:

Operation: Feed the Hungry

50 Lunches/Goodie Bags packed to give the homeless.

Operation: Gladden the Weary

Earlier this year (see this post)

My sisters and Mom and I worked on making Christmas pillowcases.

We took them to a nursing home,

and as we caroled to the residents- 

in their lunch room, down the hall, in their room,

we left a little gift with each one.

We spent the afternoon decorating cookies and holiday baking!

And ended the day with a holiday dinner, 

Christmas trivia, Cousins' Gift Exchange, 

games, ping-pong, and sappy movies.

12.07.15

Tonight we hosted our 

Neighborhood Christmas Donation Night!

The past few years, 

our neighborhood has been doing this,

in lieu of neighbor gifts.

We bring items to donate to a local charity,

using the money we would have spent on neighbor gifts.

I had people dropping stuff off throughout the day,

and even this picture is not the full extent of what was donated! 

Thankful for my generous neighbors! 

Christmas at the Cabin

Escaped the City Life for the weekend 

and spent time with family 

moving into our new family cabin!

Snow, Christmas movies, hot chocolate, cookies,

watching squirrels, exploring, sitting by the fire,

twister, puzzles, games, and day dreaming.

Wisemen

Light the Night Festivities

Strolled through Christmas lights,

gazed at candy sculptures and gingerbread houses,

and nibbled cookies and sipped hot chocolate.

And!

I answered a Christmas trivia question and won us a prize! 

Thanksgiving Scenes

[Headed out for the drive to my homeland, trying to beat the snow storm]

[Making Pies, the Grandkids' Oreo Turkeys, and Feasting]

[Grandma's homemade gingerbread houses for all the grandkids to smother in candy]

[The ladies making chocolates on Chocolate Making Day]

[The serene 8 inches of snow that kept the kids thoroughly entertained all weekend!]

Not pictured:

The night all my sisters and I and our spouses

stayed up way too late 

playing our own version of the newlywed game.

The tears were rolling from so much laughter!

I love that we could all be home together for Thanksgiving.

Kick-Off to Christmas!

Our 5th Year of doing our fun 

"Kick-off to Christmas" Weekend!

We stay in a hotel,

eat out WAY too much,

and browse our favorite stores for Christmas List ideas.

This year,

we also went to a hilarious dinner theater,

for their Christmas show,

and we all LOVED doing that!

When we got home that evening,

we then all worked to rake and bag our leaves in the yard,

and working together as a cheerful team,

was the perfect ending!

I LOVE being a part of this Family!

Halloween

[Spooooooky Things]