December Fun

This is one of the first years that I can recall where we didn't spend the entire month trying to get ready for Christmas (decorating, shopping, wrapping, etc).  I think that's for a few reasons.  We started early this year.  As soon as Thanksgiving was behind us, I started planning.  We ordered almost EVERYTHING online, which helped a LOT.  I guess when you don't have a lot of time, you just do things more efficiently, I'm not sure.  But I'm sure that we were determined to enjoy December with the kids and I think we did a great job of it.  Yes, I did have to do some last minute shopping on 12/23 but it really wasn't bad!  So, let's see if I can recall all the fun we had...


Let's start with the obvious!  We went to see Santa!  And the kids did great!  We did not venture to the land of the "Legendary Santa" at CMoR.  We opted for the mall where there were 2 other children in line in front of us and the whole thing was over in about 20 minutes.  It was glorious!  Last year, we thought we'd do the Legendary thing and they told us the line was (literally) 3 -4 hours long when we arrived!  I think there are better ways to go about it (tickets and teas and such they offer), but neither of them really like Santa much yet, so this was perfect.  Jack was not a big fan but did cooperate and even told Santa that he wanted superhero legos.  Max screamed but then was pleasantly intrigued by the little green frog the photographer waved above her head!  

Dillyn went with us...which was a lot of fun...and she's such a good sport she even took her turn on Santa's lap! :)!  Jack is happier here because Santa had already handed out the lollipops! :)!

Next up was the great Christmas sing-a-long at the kids' school!  I cannot tell you how much I love this event.  They have the neatest lady, Miss Elva, that comes to teach music class once a week.  She went to Yale and holds a JD in addition to a school counseling degree!  And she comes every week and teaches them fun songs and brings instruments and they just think she is the greatest thing ever.  So at Christmas every year she comes in the evening and they just sing all the holiday songs for the parents that they have been learning all month.  It's not a show, it's just Miss Elva and the kids sitting around singing songs.  No stress, just FUN.  They invite everyone to sing along and it just always reminds me how much I love our school and how grateful I am to be able to send them there.  

Miss Elva tried to get Max to sing, but he was much more interested in the Green Bird toys.  And Miss MegAnne.  She entertained him the whole time so I could watch and take pictures.  She's Jack's old teacher and that's just how things are there...they just all play with all the kids and love on them whenever they get a chance.  And this is why the Lion Boys LOVE going to school!  

Then there was pajama day at school...so much fun!  Jack chose the lion jammies that were Emory's and we couldn't resist putting Max in Jack's Christmas jammies from last year.  They were too big but he looked so cute.  At school they thought he looked like Hugh Hefner! :)!

Jack's friend Emerson and his family invited us over one morning to decorate gingerbread houses too!  That was SO much fun!  Jack and Emerson were in the same baby room at school and have really become good friends in the past year or so. We often see Emerson and his family at the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings and his baby sister is just a few months younger than Max.  They are great folks and we were really excited to be invited over!  Emerson's mom made the houses from scratch and the kids decorated them.  They loved it!

We also went with Grandma to Lewis Ginter to check out all the lights.  They were really cool and I think we'll be sure to go back in years to come.  Jack LOVED it.  It was pretty chilly, but it was still fun.  

 Grandma bought me this really cute hat to keep me warm...

Kenny said it gave him a glimpse into the future as to what I'll look like with white hair.  Somehow I only packed one pair of gloves for the kiddos, so Max had to wear mine...but he didn't mind!

In addition to all of that fun, we also had a really nice visit with Joe and Anna who were home from Prague for a bit and had a fun happy hour with Altria folks.  I finally met up with my girlfriends for dinner and loved every second of being with them.   We also were thankful that Kenny survived another round of cuts at Altria and were overwhelmed with joy to hear that some of our very best friends are expecting a baby this summer!  More on that later...we really couldn't be more excited for them!  It was one of the most wonderful Christmas seasons I can recall.  We really soaked it all up and enjoyed all that the season had to offer.  Stay tuned for a post about Christmas itself...it too was wonderful!