December 13

Ryan and the kids set up the Christmas train under the tree.

And I made more cookies.

What's With the Blogging Binge?

Well, it's about Christmas and you should probably start here and work your way back...

December 12

Our house has been a cookie factory today.  I've made lots of different kinds of cookes.  But the focus for the sake of the kids was decorating sugar cookies this evening.  Still have more cookies to make...

December 11

We made our favorite Christmas cookes.  Secret recipe.  Don't ask.  They are so tasty.  Mmmmm.

December 10

The 10th was a big, busy day.  It started with Ryan going to pick up our route for Baskets of Joy.  Then we headed to Georgetown with my parents to try out a new tradition.

The kids went with my mom for a horse drawn cart ride around the town.

They had fun.

We even got a quick pic with the beautiful horses:

We had some tasty candy from the local shop, ate chestnuts roasted on an open fire, listened to the "Jingle Singers" and browsed the local shops.  This is what I would have loved to buy:

When we got back from the mountains we picked up the Baskets of Joy from the house and set out to deliver them.  They are put together for Seniors who might not have a lot going on for the holidays.  We didn't get to see each of the people on our route, but the people we did see were very happy and grateful for a visit.  The kids had TONS of fun and can't wait to do it next year.  They wished we had more baskets to deliver.

Overall it was a really fun day!

December 9

We watched The Polar Express.  Ryan made yummy food.  And after the kids went to bed we watched another Christmas movie.  It would have been our traditional Christmas Vacation viewing, but we had to move that to a different night.

December 8

The kids each have a special Christmas book given to them by Ryan's parents.  Each year we take time to read them with their accompanying letters.

December 7

We had fun decorating our lovely tree.  Here it is all finished.  And re-arranged 20 times by Becky:

Please take a moment to notice my reciently finished sheer curtains that go behind the drapes in the living room:

(Close-up for easy viewing)

December 6

I have pictures for this one!

Ok, one picture.  I made the gingerbread this year.  Fancy.  Then I got Sciatica for a week.  I blame it on the gingerbread.  (really it's from laying 264 fourteen pound bricks in my front yard...that's another story).  Ryan, his dad, and the kids made the houses while I was gone teaching violin lessons.  I'm not fond of making them so it was perfect for that day.

December 5

We got a lovely tree from the "Trees for Charity" lot.  The man who runs it is so nice and easy going about people who might change their minds.  Multiple times.  He also runs a wedding and party business so he sets up his giant blow-up bounce houses and slide and lets kids play on them as much as they want to.  Our kids jumped in the bounce house for at least 10 minutes while we sat in the warm, running car after we got the tree.  It was 4 degrees out.  They didn't notice.

December 4

We really enjoyed the Christmas Devotional.  Sometimes it's hard to get the kids into this so we made Ginger cookies and drank hot cocoa or apple cider.  The kids had fun and really listened too!

December 3

We went to the Ward Christmas Party.  The End.

December 2

We brought out the Christmas music CD's.  Christmas music is a pretty big deal in our family.  Ryan's dad has an extensive collection (that is a major understatement) and so we listen to LOTS of Christmas music.

Some of the kids' favorites this year are:
I want a hippopotumus for Christmas-becky
R2D2 We wish you a Merry Christmas-b&z
I'm A Christmas Tree-b&z

Some of my favorites:
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella (by Hilary Weeks)
Ave Maria (by Celine)
O, Holy Night (Celine, of course)
Christmastime (Hilary Weeks)

December 1

Here's what the card in the calendar looks like

I have a confession to make.  Sometimes I don't get into the Christmas season very easily.  But on the first I decided that I needed to suck it up and get into it.  So, that day the kids didn't actually take anything out of the calendar because the christmas boxes were still packed away.  But that day I took them out and put out some of our decorations.  I also got out the Advent Calendar and we got all geared up for the rest of the month!

I REALLY need a wreath.  This is the one I want above the mantle:

It doesn't look exactly like this in "real life".

Or I could make a wreath like this:

OR what I would also love would be a wreath something like this if it will stand out enough:

Or this:

Ok, I'm done.

25 Days of Christmas

They're half over and I haven't blogged about them!  First let's start with this:

Each day of December leading up to Christmas includes some type of Christmas activity.  Each morning the kids open that day's door and find a little card that tells them what it is.  Sometimes there is candy behind the door too!