Lest we forget the celebrating

This December has been full of so many fun things!  Being with my kids and feeling the festive and beautiful spirit of Christmas is wonderful.  To name just a few of the activities:

 Pa and Betty took us to a carousel they are just in love with.  All of the boys had to have a turn on this dragon, each of them were so excited to be out on the town.  They even got to see Santa that night.

 Peter was recognized as Student of the Month for Academic Achievement.  He was very excited!

 We built a child friendly nativity set.  Haley and William love the hands on aspect of the blocks.

 Just a couple of the many crafts we have been doing.  Those are elves if you cannot tell.

 We have been doing the Holiday ABCs all this month.  For each letter I have had the boys draw a mini-picture of what the activity or letter was that day.  Caleb has really gotten into this with great detail.  You can also see the nativity that each of the boys got to make for the letter N.

A close up of Caleb's depiction of the nativity.  He did such a great job.

 And just today my children have been especially sweet with each other.  Haley, being the girl of the family, loves her cinderella.  So, Peter chose to play with Haley and wrapped up a different doll so that he could be with Haley.  So far so good.

Then there are the other two, making a fun mess with legos and enjoying every minute of it.  I will not complain, they are being good to each other.
Not pictured but just as important to remember:  Caleb bore his testimony in church and was so sincere and honest about his simple testimony.  Our oven broke, big time, and thus we receive a new oven for Christmas.  We have had fun ding-dong ditching a few families and also had a few families come looking for us and eventually finding us, bummer deal.

But the month is still young, we have so many other things planned to do and make.  It is going to be fun and memorable, just what Christmas-time should be.

The season is upon us

The pretty and fun Christmas music is playing.  Peter even found a song that he loves so much that he will not let another song play before he turns it back to that one.  Caleb is getting pretty sick of this song, but not Peter.  It seems to be his theme song this year.  It is called, "Spotlight on Christmas" by Rufus Wainwright.  I think Peter likes the catchy, fun beat of the music most of all.

 

The house is looking very festive.  The trees are decorated and shining brightly.  I was about to clean up the scattered toys and beads strewn everywhere under the tree before I took this picture but then I stopped myself.  I thought to myself that this is my house, with kids and messes here and there, and I am happy with it, and I am thankful for it.  Even the messes, they prove that I have happy, healthy children who had fun today.

 And speaking of fun, these gingerbread houses were awesome to make!  What a fun tradition.  William is not seen in this picture because he was down on the floor, with a pot, about to throw up from eating way too much candy while making his gingerbread house.  But luckily for him, he did not throw up.  Each of us had a mini-house to decorate.  We all loved it!  Yeah for Christmas!  For the music, the decorations, the traditions, the crafts, the fun times together, and the memories.