christmas. 2013

This post is all of December.  I needed to be done with last year, and get it over with.  Right?  So let's start from the beginning shall we...

We took the kids to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop.  But realized quickly that you have to have a pass to get a photo with the ol' man.  We were outta luck, and were not going to be driving back out, to get a free photo with Santa.  We figured it was just the same as just driving over to our nearest mall and buying the photo with Santa. So instead...we looked at big fish and rode on a moose.  She thought he was a reindeer...but I wasn't going to tell her otherwise.  

See?...happy as a clam.

A week into the month of December,  we went to see the annual Christmas parade in town.  The best part for the kids was the roaring fire engine trucks and free candy.  Happy kids.  Happy Parents.  

And a little intermission for ya...

Christmas around the house.  

Don't mind the dirty TV with all the fingerprints...I can only do so much people.  

Now back to our regularly scheduled post.

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A week before Christmas, I caved and bought Lizzie a Hello Kitty Gingerbread house.  Largely due to the fact that it was basically the only one left.  I think back to when we did these as kids and how mom used to make the gingerbread herself--I don't even.  I'm pretty stoked that some genius person thought of this instead.  Cuz as much as I love building homes and creating things, certainly don't ask me to bake one.  It would be a disaster!

Further into the month, we made our way over to the mall to get a picture with Santa.  As plan ol' luck would have it,  we had the delight of waiting in line for an hour and half to get our photo.  Oh, goody.

 Gotta love Christmas, right?

This reindeer kind of freaked me out.  You?

Sunday before Christmas, the kids got dressed in their Christmas outfits.  Some days I wish I were a better mother and still got their photos taken every year :-(  ...but these ones will have to do for now.

On Christmas eve, we spent the night at home.  Normally we'd be out with family, but this year was different and we spent the night with my family earlier in the week.  It was nice actually because it was the first time we'd spend it at home with just us.  It turned out to be one of my favorite days!  While Phillip had to work during the day, he was still able to be at home for dinner and the night activities.  The kids and I stayed in all day, watching Christmas movies, baking cookies for Santa and getting ready for the evening.  It was nice not having to run off somewhere and we could enjoy the time at home. 

Ben happy enjoying a cookie.  Or upset that a fat man would be visiting us.  Or he just saw a ghost.  Haha!  This was actually his response to my, "Ben, smile!!!" 

Frosting cookies for Santa!

I was also a little excited and a little nervous, because I actually prepared and cooked Christmas eve dinner for us.  Now if you know me well, I do not like to cook.  Like, at all.  If I could, we'd have hired help to do that for us.  Mama can do lots of things, cooking is just not at the top of my list.  Now, baking?  I can do baking.  If there's a cookie involved, count me in!  

So this year, since we'd be home for Christmas eve, I thought it was only proper we have a festive meal with all the trimmings.  I cooked turkey ( I know!!..go me!), mind you I got smart and realized I could cook that baby in the crockpot, so I did!  I also made mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, orange rolls, and stuffing.  It was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself.  But I'm sure it won't happen very often.  Or anytime soon.  We'll shoot for next year--maybe.   

Setting a table.  Now that I can do!

After dinner, we sat around while dad gave told the kids the story of the Nativity.  It was short and sweet, and when daddy would ask Lizzie about why do we celebrate Christmas, she would say, "Santa brings me gifts!"  She's slowly getting it.  Maybe we'll have better luck next year. Ha!  After that we did the whole cliche, opening up their Christmas jammies.  I'm not sure if this tradition will always continue, but I thought we'd try it.  

Christmas jammies!

Santa ate the cookies!!

Christmas morning came and went, and we had a lot of fun.  The kids loved their gifts.  Ben got a toy truck, movies, new school clothes, books, and a trampoline.  Lizzie got a DS, play medical-kit, Ariel doll, Monster High doll, books, new boots, a bow & arrow, among plenty of others.  They certainly were, not without.

Ben, say cheesssseee!!

Such a happy girl.

We ate cinnamon rolls for breakfast, played with our gifts, and then headed up the hill to spend the day with the rest of the family.  It was a wonderful month, filled with lots of fun activities and remembering the reason for the season.  

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Love...Phil, Sara, Benjamin, and Elizabeth