Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve has got to be one of the best days of the year--all the excitement and anticipation!  I love it!  That afternoon we wanted to do something a little different--so we got tickets to see Babes In Toyland at the Children's Theater downtown.  Oh my stars---it was soooo good!  We have never been before, but now want season tickets!  It's a small theater and it's only three rows deep on three sides, so everyone has a good seat--very up close and entertaining!  The cast had me cracking up the entire 2 hours--everyone was laughing!  I was very impressed.  In fact, Bridger and Kennedy are still quoting lines from the play and making each other laugh :)  (such as..."you look like a big, fat ugly raisin!", "watch out for the unicorns by the gum drop fountain" and "that's what I say!") 

We were sitting on the front row and at one point Cinderella came up to Kennedy and asked her if she knew the name of the bad elf (Rumpelstiltskin...) and then Red Riding Hood asked her if she knew how to get to grandmother's house!  Kennedy loved that :)  Bridger loved Tweedle Dee and Dum, they were pretty funny...

Santa was in the play too and at the end, all of the children got to sit on his lap.  Such a fun time!

The Children's Theater

Afterwards, we went to Jeremy's parents house for a fun Christmas Eve party--we played some fun minute to win it games and ate lots and lots of yummy food.  When we got home, we let the kids open one gift under the tree.  A few weeks ago we drew names and went to the dollar store to buy gifts for each other, these were the gifts we opened.  Jer had Charlotte's name and he got her this cute pink pig--which she loves to eat :)

Bridger had Kennedy's name--he got her this pink clapper that lights up when you clap it--although, since this came from the dollar store, the lighting action didn't really work....she still loved it.  Most of all, she loved that it came from Bridger, her "prince" :)

I had Bridger's name and I got him this dinosaur puzzle.  The kid loves puzzles.  At least that's what I thought.  Until right before he opened it.  When he said to me: "Mom!  I hope you got me those awesome army guys--that's what I would love the most!"  Great.  After he opened it, he said: "Oh, cool puzzle.  Maybe I can get those army guys for my birthday???"  Sheesh!

Charlotte had my name and she thoughtfully picked out this two sided frosting spatula.  She must know I really love frosting :)  And even though it came from her, Bridger was most excited to give it to me...he had been giving me hints up until Christmas Eve..."it's something you use in the kitchen...",  "it's green...",  "it's bendy..."  I pretty much knew what was coming :)

Kennedy had Jer's name and she gave him this squirting flower....  who doesn't want one?  Let me tell you, it was a TREAT shopping with her that night.  It was between this and a loofah......he already had a loofah.  :)  But seriously, (and I was serious about the loofah thing...) it is pretty fun to squirt water in the kids faces...especially after they do something bad...hee hee hee

Then we dumped out our reindeer dust, laid out cookies for Santa, had Grammy and Grandpa read "The Night Before Christmas" and went to bed!

Aren't they so cute and snug in their beds?

With visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads?  (Kennedy cracks up every time she hears that line!  She thinks it's some kind of joke...)

They are definitely settled down for a long winter's nap!  I just love sleeping kids!

Ice Skating Is Hard...

I just love winter-- I mean, I wish it didn't last quite as long as it does...but there are some fun things to do.  Gingergread men, for instance, you can't make them in the summertime....well...I guess you could, they just wouldn't taste as good. 

Cute hats?  Too hot in the summer!

And ice skating.  This is definitely not something you can do when it's warm outside!  At least not where we do it :)  Our city has the funnest little outdoor skating rink.  There's a big Christmas tree in the middle of it which makes it SO fun to skate around. 

And they have the teeniest little skates!  So cute!

Of course, you have to bring your own baby seal...

The kids were so excited, and even though it was raining (yes, raining in December...) it was still a lot of fun and we managed to stay very warm. 

My camera kept fogging up!  And there were lots of raindrops on the lens--I think the pictures still turned out pretty though :)

Gotta love those rosy cheeks!

The kids were excellent skaters!  Bridger was all over the place--I think he felt very secure with his helmet on...one time I even caught himself banging his head intentionally on the ice...hmmm...

He loved to spin around, fall down, slam into poles and into the tree...really, he did love it. :)

Kennedy was very brave by the end of the night too!  She was great on her skates, just hasn't figured out how to stand up again yet :)  Her preferred way was to crawl on hands and knees all the way back to the side until she could get off the ice and stand up again.  Just to do it all over again!

Charlotte LOVES being outside!  No matter if it's hot or cold.  Jer and I took turns holding her while the other one skated--we just aren't good enough to do it at the same time!  Actually, Jer is pretty good.  He can skate backwards, and in my book, that classifies you as being a good skater.  Me?  Not so good.  Of course, there wasn't a lot of opportunity for this in the small Florida town that I grew up in.  At least that's what I'm blaming this on.  I can do a lap.  I didn't fall.  Although, it's hard to skate and carry on a conversation at the same time....  However, my ankles really hurt by the end!   Does anybody else have this problem?  Any tips from you experts out there?  I'll just keep practicing.  :)

After skating, we went out looking for fun Christmas lights.  Here are a few of our favorites:

And a night like this just couldn't be complete without hot chocolate and candy canes.  Who am I kidding, we do that every night :)

The first Christmas Party

Last Saturday we celebrated Christmas with Jeremy's family.  We always do this the week before Christmas, since everyone gets so busy.  It's been really nice to break it up this way.

There are a few things that make a 'party' a 'really good party' for me.  First thing I notice?  Decorations.  And boy does Jeremy's mom know how to decorate!  I should do a video tour of her home sometime.  Better yet, I should just schedule a real home tour--she would love that :)

Isn't her tree gorgeous??

And I have a thing for deer.  I really want/need some.  I don't know why, I just do.  Except, the deer I want would have little white spots on their backs...

Silver bells and candy canes--I'll take some of those too!

The second thing a party needs is gifts!  And there were a ton of gifts!  I know not every party throughout the year has presents, but I think we should change that :)

 

And food.  What purpose is there in life without food?!?  Yes, we start with dessert first at this party :)  There was coconut bread, poor man's cake, fruit cake, poppy seed bread, candy, chocolate covered pretzels, toffee, caramels, cookies and more!

We had appetizers galore and then finished off the meal with lasagna and stuffed shells.  Why do we have to get full?  It's a curse!

Even Charlotte got in on the action.  I caught Hudson feeding her her first cookie!  It was a bonding experience for them :)  She loved it!

Another thing a party needs is purpose--there were a lot of reasons for us to get together, but remembering the birth of Jesus Christ was a big part.  We re-enacted the nativity.  While Jeremy read, Kennedy played the part of Mary, Hudson was Joseph, Bridger was a shepherd and Madison was the angel with the star.  It was so sweet!

Kennedy's holding that baby a little possessively don't you think???  I think she wanted to make sure that "Joseph" didn't get his hands on him :)

I wondered if Charlotte would participate this year in the nativity, turns out she just wanted to eat bread sticks all night!

After that, we played a game.  Every party needs games!  It was our ornament exchange and it was a lot of fun.  

Are you wishing you were at this party yet?  Well, to top it all off, we each get to take home a dish filled with all of those desserts I showed you earlier!  And a tin full of toffee.  Yes, we are very spoiled :)

The kids all got the most beautiful presents and they made sure to say 'thank-you' after each one.  (thank goodness!  We only rehearsed it at home for a good hour...)

My brown eyed girl.

The kids showing off their new pajamas.

Jeremy's sister Jen wasn't able to make it this year--we really missed her!  She is so fun to be around :)  But she sent over her gifts and I thought just the wrapping was adorable!  She always decorates her bags for the person she's giving too.  Cute, huh?

I made Hudson this little car carrier--I think he likes cars :)

And for Madison, I made a quilt.

We even exchange presents for our pets :)  Scout was very appreciative :)

Before the party was over, we watched Mr. Kreuger's Christmas and the Nativity.  It was a wonderful end to a wonderful party.  Merry Christmas!