Given that it is now only three days before Christmas and neither Will nor I have submitted our final grades, we can't help but feel slightly panicked about the encroaching holiday. But, Christmas Spirit stops for no man! Our family has been getting ready for Christmas with activities such as...
We got our Christmas tree up. This was the weekend after Thanksgiving. We were very pleasantly surprised to find that we had purchased a prelit tree after Christmas last year, which meant no more stringing lights.
Daniel gave away all of his savings. This was a few weeks ago, but nothing says Christmas Spirit like your 5-year-old deciding randomly to give away his entire life savings to the Sunday School offering one morning. Way to go, buddy!
Christmas cards are decorating our kitchen. I LOVE looking at our Christmas cards! I think this is the first time that I have actually implemented an idea from Pinterest, given that our non-magnetic fridge negates the typical way to display cards.
Will got the outside lights on our house up! On Wednesday, the high was in the 60s (which is crazy to think of, given that on Friday the high was in the 20s and it was bitterly cold with the wind). Will took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather.
We drove around and looked at Christmas lights. This picture didn't come out well, but it is on Oregon Street in the State Streets areas, and all of the houses have strings of white lights across the yard.
Also in the State Streets area, a Blue House.
This is my favorite house every year - the Blue House in Sharingbrook.
The kids dubbed this the Rainbow House - it is on the other side of the Sharingbrook area.
We baked cookies! Between caroling, class parties, and gifts, we had a need for a copious amount of cookies. Julie came over and made gingersnaps that she gave to us (thanks, Julie!!) while Will found a recipe for the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Ever.
The kids wanted in on the action, too, especially when it involved licking the beaters.
A sample of our finished product!
Daniel brought home many wonderful Christmas projects from kindergarten. I went through Daniel's backback on Friday and was amazed at the many Christmas treasures that he made in class.
"Reindeer Feed" and a Milk Jug Snowman, which you can put lights inside of for it to light up.
And the most ambitious Elf Project ever! I measured and this is almost 3 feet tall. It is like a giant Daniel is now watching us at all times in the kitchen. A little creepy but totally awesome!
We went Christmas Caroling! Our good friend Abby organized a Christmas caroling event in her neighborhood on Friday night. This was the first time for the kids (and mine, too) and it was a ton of fun.
Getting the kids organized.
Caroling! We did have at least one house turn us down, but most of them seemed to really enjoy it.
Bundled up with flashlights.
Back at Abby's house, we had a giant Cookie Exchange. I then proceeded to eat something like a dozen homemade cookies of different varieties.
Annika decorated cookies with Mother/Daughter Book Group. We had mother/daughter book group at our house on Saturday morning. Instead of reading a new book for December, we finished up The Mysterious Benedict Society (well, we were supposed to anyway....) and the girls decorated Christmas cookies together. I love these girls and their moms!
We got to have lunch with our good friends, the Millers. We miss the Millers so much since they have moved to South Dakota, so we were thrilled they were able to sneak in lunch with us and the Thorntons on their holiday drive.
Daniel and Keagan hugging good-bye. Hard to believe that when we first met Keagan, he was only 10 months old.
Annika read books to Greg.
I got to spend time with my super special nephew! He also told me quite clearly, "You're old." :)
We welcomed our first legit snow of the year...and on the first day of winter, no less! While we were at the Thorntons, little ice pellets and bits of snow began to fall down.
Will and Charlie decided that this was a perfect time to run over to the track and run a timed mile. I mean, doesn't everyone run faster when tiny ice pellets are in their face?
This morning, we woke up to a beautiful winter wonderland.
Reports are that Manhattan received 7.3 inches of snow. I am sure that Will would agree, given that he is now out shoveling the driveway while the rest of our family is snug and warm inside.
Christmas cookies, lights, crafts, caroling, and snow....I think we are all getting in the Christmas Spirit!
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