Elf
So...Our elf, Princess, once again, brought us into the Christmas season. His arrival came at the beginning of December while we were grocery shopping! While we were gone, Princess arrived to our home to set up and decorate the Christmas trees in the kids' bedrooms. And boy, were the kids excited to see Christmas trees shining out their windows as we were pulling into the driveway after our trip to the grocery store! Makayla knew instantly that the elf had arrived!
We always know when the elf has made his arrival because he brings Christmas trees with him! Last year, Princess (whose name was Elf last year) arrived in the middle of the night and did all of his tree decorating while the kids were asleep.
So...Our elf, Princess, once again, brought us into the Christmas season. His arrival came at the beginning of December while we were grocery shopping! While we were gone, Princess arrived to our home to set up and decorate the Christmas trees in the kids' bedrooms. And boy, were the kids excited to see Christmas trees shining out their windows as we were pulling into the driveway after our trip to the grocery store! Makayla knew instantly that the elf had arrived!
We always know when the elf has made his arrival because he brings Christmas trees with him! Last year, Princess (whose name was Elf last year) arrived in the middle of the night and did all of his tree decorating while the kids were asleep.
Every night, Princess would fly back to the North Pole to tell Santa how Makayla, Mason, and Mia behaved throughout the day. He would always be back by morning, perched in a new spot to keep watch on the kids.
...chandelier in the foyer
...coloring under the Christmas tree
...hanging upside down from the fish tank
...along with hiding in the refrigerator where his magic turned the milk green, gathering all of the cars throughout the house and driving in a parade, snuggled up sleeping inside one of Mia's diapers, playing with Barbie in a lego built house, flying from the ceiling fan, etc. Once again, he brought a lot of fun to our home this season and I'm already looking forward to next year with Princess!
Baking
We actually did some baking this year! Sugar cookies with loooots of icing and a million sprinkles with a few other holiday goodies!
We actually did some baking this year! Sugar cookies with loooots of icing and a million sprinkles with a few other holiday goodies!
Christmas with the Allen's
We had a wonderful night at Aunt Kathy's house celebrating Christmas! We were able to spend quality time visiting and playing with Great Grandma Allen, Aunt Kathy, Uncle Darrell, Kari, Ryan and Uncle Gary.
We had a wonderful night at Aunt Kathy's house celebrating Christmas! We were able to spend quality time visiting and playing with Great Grandma Allen, Aunt Kathy, Uncle Darrell, Kari, Ryan and Uncle Gary.
Makayla got a pogo stick...something she's always wanted (for real), along with a few other cute things like a scentsy buddy and bath soaps.
...and Mason got a choo-choo train...something he's always wanted, along with a few other cute things like a scentsy buddy and bath soaps.
...and Mia got these beautiful socks that I'm absolutely in love with...along with a few other cute things like a blanket and adorable diaper cover!
Christmas Card
I did not have time to do Christmas cards this year like I wanted to. Normally, I spend a lot of time in putting together Christmas cards and I put a lot of effort into them. This year, that didn't happen and I felt okay for not sending any out...but the more Christmas cards we received from others, the more guilty I felt! So, one night, we sat in front of the Christmas tree and took about 150 self portraits (it felt like 150, anyway). I picked the best one and ran to Wal-Mart. We had Christmas cards in 1 hour.
Festival of Lights
One night, we headed up to East Peoria to see Santa and drive through the Festival of Lights. It was awesome to see Makayla and Mason's reactions to all of the lights! There were fire trucks, Clydesdale horses, skiiers skiing down slopes, ducks, whales, deer, trains...it was very cool and the kids loved it!
One night, we headed up to East Peoria to see Santa and drive through the Festival of Lights. It was awesome to see Makayla and Mason's reactions to all of the lights! There were fire trucks, Clydesdale horses, skiiers skiing down slopes, ducks, whales, deer, trains...it was very cool and the kids loved it!
Santa Visits
We made several trips to see Santa and as many times as we saw him, we never got Mason to sit on his lap. He always stood off in the distance and said "Ho Ho niiiiice" and would tell him that he wanted a basketball hoop and choo choo train.
We saw Santa at mommy's work...
We made several trips to see Santa and as many times as we saw him, we never got Mason to sit on his lap. He always stood off in the distance and said "Ho Ho niiiiice" and would tell him that he wanted a basketball hoop and choo choo train.
We saw Santa at mommy's work...
...at Grandma Curry's house,
...at the mall and at Bass Pro Shop!
Baby at Christmas Time
It's a lot of fun to have a baby at Christmas time and as much as I am looking forward to going back to work, I am soooo thankful to be able to have time off with my baby and having the time off at Christmas time feels a little more special.
Curry Christmas
We had a Christmas party at Grandma and Grandpa Curry's house. First time in years that everybody was together and the first time ever that Makayla was able to see and play with all of her cousins.
Santa surprised the kids with a visit!!
We had a Christmas party at Grandma and Grandpa Curry's house. First time in years that everybody was together and the first time ever that Makayla was able to see and play with all of her cousins.
Santa surprised the kids with a visit!!
...all of the kiddos together except for Mason and Mia. Of course, Mason is standing off in the distance repeating "Ho Ho niiice. Mas want a basketball hoop"! Since he was too scared to get too close to Santa, I kept Mia out of the picture, too. I didn't want Mason to be the only one missing!
Makayla and Kyleigh, playing with make-up and barbies! Girls are so much fun!
Cousin's Christmas
...and yet another Christmas celebration with more family!
Makayla and Nolan playing and coloring on the house that Aunt Mona and Aunt Julie got the kids...
...and yet another Christmas celebration with more family!
Makayla and Nolan playing and coloring on the house that Aunt Mona and Aunt Julie got the kids...
Aunt Nancy, Sandy, Kathy, and Grandma Allen holding Mia
Mason playing Hide and Seek with Grandpa Allen!
Choir Program
Makayla's first performance of the season -
A "Celebrate Christmas" musical program at church.
(blogged about this earlier in the month)
School Program
Makayla's second performance of the season -
A program for school that unfortunately got cancelled due to the blizzard we were having. Makayla was terribly upset so we quickly took away her sadness by preparing for her to put on the program at home for us. Grandma and Grandpa Allen and Grandma and Grandpa Curry were crazies and fought the weather to come over to watch Makayla go on with the show! She put on her pretty dress, sang a few songs for us in front of the Christmas tree, and opened a present (a book and candy cane) from her teacher. Even though we didn't get to go to her school and watch her perform with all of her friends, it was still a memorable performance in our living room!
Makayla's second performance of the season -
A program for school that unfortunately got cancelled due to the blizzard we were having. Makayla was terribly upset so we quickly took away her sadness by preparing for her to put on the program at home for us. Grandma and Grandpa Allen and Grandma and Grandpa Curry were crazies and fought the weather to come over to watch Makayla go on with the show! She put on her pretty dress, sang a few songs for us in front of the Christmas tree, and opened a present (a book and candy cane) from her teacher. Even though we didn't get to go to her school and watch her perform with all of her friends, it was still a memorable performance in our living room!
Christmas at Grandma Mac's
No pictures from Christmas at Grandma McWilliams'! What we were thinking?! A Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve with Grandma McWilliams was a good night with lots of family, yummy food (prime rib and twice baked potato), and kids laughing and playing. It's always a fun time at Grandma Mac's with the family!
No pictures from Christmas at Grandma McWilliams'! What we were thinking?! A Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve with Grandma McWilliams was a good night with lots of family, yummy food (prime rib and twice baked potato), and kids laughing and playing. It's always a fun time at Grandma Mac's with the family!
Candle Light Christmas Eve Service
So thankful to have been able to attend a beautiful, moving candle light service on Christmas Eve at church. Christmas carols, communion, a beautiful service, and candle light!
...brought me to tears.
So thankful to have been able to attend a beautiful, moving candle light service on Christmas Eve at church. Christmas carols, communion, a beautiful service, and candle light!
...brought me to tears.
Merry Christmas!
We are so blessed to be able to have so many family and friends to spend the holidays with! I think we had almost every night of the month of December filled up going somewhere or doing something - driving around town looking at Christmas lights, listening to live Christmas music, Christmas dinners, intimate Christmas parties...! It's definitely been an exhausting month (celebrations + 3 children, one being a newborn baby = a very tired mama), but I am so grateful to be here, alive, and well...to be able to celebrate Christmas with those we love, doing things that make our heart feel good!
...and out of everything we did this season and every where we went, I think the one thing the kids are going to miss the most is going up to the bell ringers and dropping in their pennies and dimes in the Salvation Army's red buckets!
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