More December Fun!

My mom has a St. Nicholas Tea Party every year for the kids.  This is the party that Elizabeth gets to invite a few of her friends to.  So all of the girls sat at this pretty table.

 Here are the boys!  Unfortunately Cooper had to miss the party because he had a basketball game.   He's going to miss a few of them while we are in Disneyworld so we didn't want him to miss another one.

 Hot chocolate in very special (and breakable!!) cups and yummy treats make this party extra fun!

 They played "hot rudolph" and look at Jackson...

 he did not want to play?!?

 Afterward they went outside and played and he was more than happy to participate!

 I had to get a cute picture of Jackson and his friend Amelia.

 I tried to get him to pose for a few pictures outside.  He was pretty squirrely but I liked this one :)

Afterward we went to our friend Ashlynn's house and her big sister has a real live hedgehog!  I've never seen one before in real life!  The boys were enthralled and they both actually touched it and tried to hold it. 

 That night we tried a new thing-we watched a movie and then slept in the family room in front of the tree all night!  The boys had so much fun watching the movie to the light of the Christmas tree and I think they enjoyed sleeping in front of the tree.  Ryan and I however, not so much.  It was not the most comfortable sleep.  I think next year we'll let the kids fall asleep in front of the tree and then move them into their room so we can all sleep in our comfy beds :).

Christmas Fun!

We had a MOPS Christmas playdate here a week before Christmas.  The kids played around a bit and then went right to lunch.  See Jackson?

 

 He was pouting big time because he was the only one who had a different chair.  We had a big talk about being a host and giving guests the best of everything.  But still, he looked like this.  Funny boy:)

 I made the moms take a picture, I love being the one behind the camera! 

 We tried out a few of the games that I made for Cooper's kinder class party.  So we first played fill the snowman with snowballs.

 That turned into a "snowball" fight.

 Then we tried to get the kids to pose for a picture.  Here are the majority of them.  This is as good as it was going to get!

 Then we played pin the nose on the snowman.

 Last we decorated cookies to look like snowmen!

 It was a fun party! 

THEN, that night, I got the kids in their pjs early and we heard jingle bells at the door?!?  (I knew what it was but the kids didn't know).  I said "I wonder who's at the door?"  Cooper was like "Do you know?  Do you know?"  I really think he thought it was Santa.  It was so cute.  Then he opened it and found Grandma and Grandpa there!  They surprised the kids and took them to dinner and then out to look at Christmas lights.  They were thrilled!

 

More December Activities

One of our friends from Kindergarten asked us over to make gingerbread houses.  Jackson's broke almost immediately.  He was quite upset.

 

 Cooper had fun building it for awhile...

 then his broke too.

 They weren't upset for too long. They really enjoyed eating it!

I had to share my birthday present from my mom and dad (mostly dad).  He built this mud room type thing for our entry way.

 See where it is?  I LOVE it, it's so beautiful!

 We also recently went to see a play:  "Snow White's Christmas"

 We're all the people in the front row and most of the second row. 

 It was really cute-very intimate.  Then afterward they let the kids come out and dance.  See Cooper in the plaid shirt in the middle? 

 The kids after the show.

 They were very wild.

 Jackson played simon says with them!

 Excuse the blurry picture but Cooper is playing basketball this winter and I wanted to post a pic of him playing.  He's number 13.

 Last but not least, a photo of dinner out with friends.  (Jackson, Emily, Holly, Cooper)

Some Christmas Activities

My sweet boys admiring the tree.  (and no, I did not pose them like this and take 20 pictures to get a good one) (yes I did! :))

 

 We went to our church's annual Christmas festival.  They have so many fun activities there!  A favorite is this snow slide. 

 Cooper thought it was so fun.  They have a smaller one for little kids but Jackson wouldn't go on it. 

 The boys were waiting in line for a ride and this is how they were standing.  Isn't this adorable?

 They loved this ride!

 I took these three to the bathroom (for which I deserve a reward :)) and we stopped to pose for a picture afterward.

 Another fun ride!

 After the rides Cooper, Ben, and Eliz had their faces painted.  Jackson didn't want to do that either?!?  We also got cotton candy and popcorn for a little snack to keep us going!

 Here's Jackson talking to Laura while waiting for the face painters.

 Last we watched the live nativity.  They even have a real live baby!  The kids watch it so intently, I think they really enjoy it.

We can't wait to go again next year!