Christmastime Fun

Here are a few Christmas activities that we did during December:

Aunt Deb came in town one day and we had a little dinner celebration at our house one night. She brought some sweet Christmas gifts for the kids.

silly faces

Our Elf, Buddy Snowflake, came back and he was awesome at teaching us a little each day about the true meaning of Christmas and kept us in the Christmas spirit by bringing a few small treats and activities to do.

I did not at all take a picture or document everyday but, here are a few.

Buddy Snowflake told us to drive around and look at Christmas lights which we did a few times. Our favorite is always the Texas Night Before Christmas neighborhood in Bedford. We all crammed in Mendy's car to go one evening and it was so fun. Clearly Dylan is crying out of pure joy and excitement for the lights.
This year the elf really helped us learn about all the people in our nativity scene by telling us to learn about the shepherds who first heard about the birth of Jesus, and learn about Mary the mother of Jesus and the Wise Men who brought gifts to the newborn King.

 The elf told us to light our advent candles on our advent wreath each sunday during the Advent season and that was a very special time for us.

Buddy Snowflake and told us to make cookies and take them to friends...which we did in full force.

He told us to make Christmas ornaments and deliver them to a nursing home.... one of my absolute favorite activities each year.
 
And he brought us a gingerbread house to decorate which we did with the expert assistance of Aunt Minnie.

 And to go to have breakfast with Santa at Gram's hospital which they loved.
And to wear matching Christmas PJ's and read the Christmas Story together.
 Such a precious memory.


We had a few other Christmas events too like Christmas playgroup at Lindsey's house where the kids decorated sugar cookies.

We had our annual couples Christmas dinner We spent an evening on Grapevine Main Street with the Nordells just looking at all the lights and decorations.

And we had an ugly Christmas Sweater Bunco at Leslie's house.

 We had to get up and model our sweaters to point out all the best features.

 

 I just directed attention to 1) my mock turtle neck 2) the fact that there are WORDS written on my sweater...I mean, it's practically a book too 3) and it is has plenty to loook at on the front AND back of the sweater AND all down the arms...a 360 degree treat for the eyes if you will. Not to mention, this sweater was genuinely my mom's from back in the day AND it was a winning sweater for Ben one year.

All that to say, I alllmost won but got beat out by Donna's handmade one.

 Maybe next year.

 I am sure this baby will make it out for years to come.

 

We had Howe family Christmas earlier in the month because Bart, Olivia, Matt and Sandy all went to Wisconsin for Christmas and sadly we took like zero pictures that night except for a few late night pics of these boys in their Christmas pjs. Kinley was already asleep. But these boys sure are cute!

  And the next day we went to the Ranch to see Inie for Christmas and got to help Boss count the hay bales.

We loved our Christmas season this year!