Decorating the Tree
Christmas with kids is SO much fun! So much fun in fact that I couldn't wait to get the decorations out. We decorated the tree and the house before Thanksgiving. Emory really loved helping with the decorations this year. We let her help with the tree, and she did a great job. Of course she put all of her ornaments in the exact same area, but she was so proud! Miles even got in on the action by playing with the lights.
Party with Santa at the Mall
We went to a party with Santa this year at the Green Hills Mall. I took the kids, and the Conovers met us there. The kids got to follow behind Santa in a parade, then they had cookies and milk. Emory didn't want to take a picture with Santa, but she did give him a hug and a high five. Martin had to work this morning, but he met us at the mall. The kids loved running around the empty mall!
Probably my favorite Christmas event is going to Cheekwood. It was the last weekend before Christmas,, and I was home alone with the kids. I wasn't too excited about taking them to Cheekwood alone, but I also wanted to get a picture with Santa. He is the best Santa, and we have taken pictures with him for the past two years. So I packed the kiddos up, and we headed to Cheekwood. We went right when they opened, because I knew it would be a busy day. My plan worked, and we were the second people in line to see Santa! Emory did awesome! She went right to him and sat on his lap, and she old him everything she wanted. Miles on the other hand wanted nothing to do with Old Saint Nick. So I held Miles and we got a picture of the three of us with Santa.
After our visit with Santa we visited the reindeer, sat in Santa's sleigh, and made a few Christmas crafts. The kids also got to decorate a cookie, although Em just wanted to eat the frosting. Miles' favorite part was getting to see the toy trains. He ran to the trains, watched them go round and around, and pointed and grunted with excitement. I'm so glad we went this year, and I can't wait to go back next year.
Breakfast with Santa
We went back to the Franklin Rec Center for our 2nd annual Breakfast with Santa. The Conovers, Macys, Souths, and Baumers all joined us. We got there right when they opened and Santa came to say hi to Emory and Miles at the table. After breakfast Emory got her face painted, made a Minions hat, and had fun running around with her friends. Miles had a blast too! He loved looking at the blow up decorations and running around with the big kids. This event is a great cheap, but fun, Christmas tradition.
Class Party at School
Every year the kids' daycare has a class party the Friday before Christmas. All the parents bring food, and we hang out with the kids during snack time. This year we had to balance going to both Miles' and Emory's parties. Emory actually didn't even want to stay at her party, she just wanted to go to Miles' party. I love watching all the kiddos play together. They go to school with such a wonderful group of kids and parents. Oh, and Santa was at school that day! As you can see, Emory loved him...but Miles not so much.
Christmas Angel
We did the Christmas Angel again this year. Every morning in December Emory would wake up, find the Christmas Angel, and find out her nice deed she had to do that day. Some of the things she did included, making cards for her grandparents, bringing candy canes to her teachers at school, making cookies for Dr. Ragsdale, helping cook dinner, and helping clean the house. Miles will be able to participate next year, and I am hoping to branch out and do some other fun random acts of kindness.
Making Christmas Handprint Ornaments
For a fun arts and crafts project the kids made handprint ornaments out of salt dough. We had a great time making the dough and doing the hand prints. Sage even made one! We gave them as gifts to the grandparents, and we kept some for ourselves. I think this will be an annual tradition.
This was the first year that we have put Christmas lights outside the house. Martin did it one day while we were at work/school, and the kids were SO excited when they saw the lights. It is now mid January, and the lights are still up. I think Emory would love it if they stayed up all year long.
Decorating cookies
We started the tradition this year of baking and decorating sugar cookies for Santa. I had the very big idea of using Kathy's recipe and making them from scratch. However, she suggested doing something a little easier...and it was a great suggestion! I ended up just buying sugar cookie mix from the store. It was much easier and more fun for the kids. We rolled the dough out, and Emory used the cookie cutters to make Christmas shapes. Then that night she got to decorate them with icing and sprinkles. She loved it!
Christmas Eve Service and Play
This was the first year that we have stayed in Nashville for Christmas, so we actually were able to take part in the Christmas Eve service at our church. They had a 3:00 service that was only 30 minutes long and was geared towards children. What a great idea! They had cookies and hot chocolate before the service. The kids were able to dress up as angels or wise men, and take part in a cute play. Emory loved it, and next year Miles will too! After the play they did the candle light service, and Emory loved holding the candle.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning
Like I said before, this was the first Christmas that we have been able to celebrate at home. I must say, it was a relief not to have to figure out how to load all of the presents in the car without the kids noticing. After the service on Christmas Eve "Santa's Elves" left a package outside the door for the kids. Inside there were Christmas PJs, snacks, and a movie to watch on Christmas Eve. Dustin and Mindy came over for dinner, and Kathy cooked a great Christmas Eve dinner. That night Emory watched a movie with Nana and Grandpa, set out cookie and milk for Santa, and even left carrots in the yard for the reindeer.
Christmas morning was a blast. Emory received everything that she asked for (a wheelbarrow, dolls, a coloring book, and crayons). Miles recived a new couch, a lawn mower, crayons, some play dough, and a tunnel/tent. Of course they received WAY too many presents, but it was totally worth it to see their excitement.
We spent Christmas day playing with the new toys, and then we headed over to Dustin and Mindy's for Christmas dinner.
Birthday Cake for Jesus
Emory also baked and decorated a birthday cake for Jesus, and we sang Him happy birthday. It's so easy to get caught up in the presents and gifts, but I never want them to forget what Christmas really is about.
