Christmas Eve

We started opening presents while we were still in our pajamas!

The three kids went first, although Tuck needed a little help.  :)

We dressed up and went out to a special Christmas lunch at one of our favorite "date night" restaurants.  The boys were won over with the prospect of mac and cheese and root beer.

We took a complete family photo at church before the service.

After the boys were back in pjs, we got a family photo of the three grandchildren.  :)  I love the way this one turned out!  It almost makes me want to get a dog.  Almost.  Then I remember that Tuck and Tat don't really get along.  And that dogs are a lot of work.  And I realize that having Tuck visit is a great arrangement for our family and my sanity.

The boys prepared cookies and milk for Santa, spread reindeer food on the front lawn, and settled into bed to dream of sugarplums.

More Family Fun!

While everyone was in town, we decided to spend the time before Christmas hanging out together.  We started off the day with a trip to the Science Center {P and C requested the outing}.

When we arrived at home, it was time to make and decorate some cookies!

We ended the day with some special Christmas cocoa.

With only two days until Christmas {and sweet treats before bed} it was hard for the boys to fall asleep!

Family Fun {for all ages}!

lessons and carols

P did a great job with his reading. His "Thanks be to God!" at the close of the reading was full of enthusiasm, too. :)

I was very proud of his effort and his willingness to help lead worship. In fact, he filled out a Time and Talents survey a few weeks ago at church and offered to be a regular liturgist.

At the end of the service, we took some family photos. It was a wonderful service!

lessons and carols practice

P was selected to be the first reader for the lessons and carols service in December. We went over to church the day before for a run through.

downtown fun

When Grandma Paige and Poppa Fred arrived to help us celebrate Christmas, we headed downtown to see the sights.

We ran into Santa on his golf cart {Yes, that's a thing. Don't you see the photographic evidence?} and the boys each had a quick chat with him.

After a few years of trying, we finally managed to take a carriage ride!

The driver offered to let P run the show. He LOVED holding the reins. In fact, six months later, he is still asking when we can go on another carriage ride!

The carriage ride was one of my favorite holiday memories this year. It was a great way to start our Christmas break!

While I was cleaning whipped cream off of my face...

...the boys were across the street making another mess! A supervised mess, though. Our neighbor invited several friends over to make gingerbread houses. The boys had a great time!

Happy Pieday!

As part of a fundraiser for the new school playground, each class was challenged to raise money and earn prizes for their class. The coveted prize was the chance for each student in the classroom to earn the right to throw a pie in the face of the staff member of their choice.

P's and C's classes both worked their way to this prize, so on the half day before Christmas break, as the entire school gathered in the multipurpose room, they prepared to throw pies at... ME.

Each of the boys "threw" their pies, and then smushed them into my face.  {P, in particular, had a lot of gusto behind his smush.}  To be technical, they were aluminum pie pans of whipped cream, not actual pies.  They were messier than pies.

I'm not a fan of playing with food, but I did enjoy seeing the boys' faces {after I wiped my own off, of course}. They had lots of fun, and all three of us definitely made a memory that will stay with us for a long time. How many people will one day be able to tell their children, "When I was in elementary school, I threw a pie in my mom's face in front of the whole school! The principal was watching, and he just laughed..."

NDS Christmas program

This year's school Christmas program covered several different aspects of a winter holiday. P's class was bundled up and ready to go sledding.

C's class, on the other hand, was going on a trip to the islands for some summer weather in December.

Both boys and their classes did a great job!

breakfast with Santa

P's piano teacher holds practice competitions a few times each year to encourage good piano habits for her students.  In December, she took the three students who practiced the most to breakfast with Santa at the local community house.  It ended up being three boys, and they all attend the same school.

I think the contest winners always feel so special - Miss Sally will come and pick them up at their homes and take them to the destination.  P feels so grown up and independent when he goes places without a parent.  Since I didn't get to attend breakfast, P's sweet teacher sent me some pictures of the event!

You're {Not} a Mean One, Mister Grinch!

Unfrozen!

Yes, this year's pageant had a bit of a Frozen theme... but it was about God's love, and how that melts the hearts of his people.  There was a traditional nativity scene as well.  Every actor and actress in the production did such an amazing job!  They worked really hard, and I could not have been more proud.  At the end of the show, we made them all continue to stand still so we could take photos of the full cast.  Great job, guys!

Christmas pageant promo

Two of the speaking roles in our church's Christmas pageant went to members of our household this year.

Any guesses on our theme? Here are the promotional photos...