Christmas Festivities 2009

What a fun Christmas season it has been this year! We're pretty much wrapping up the go and do Christmas festivities (except for Zoolight Safari, which we've been rained out of twice and are still hoping to make it to). And we're just beginning the family celebrations, with my dad & Margared arriving tomorrow. I'm a little tired and a little energized by all the activity (and a little overwhelmed by all the Sweet Petits still to be made). Here are some of the fun things we've done so far!

Hunting for the perfect tree - not exactly at the tree farm, more like Home Depot, but the kids still found a way to make it into an adventure!

This really was the best picture because Noah kept jumping around and being blurry in the pictures

But I won't totally leave out the little guy. Here his blurry self is!

Noah at the Hoover Christmas tree lighting

Bennett hopping off of Santa's lap at the Hoover tree lighting

(and he immediately rattled off his list as soon as he was told it was his turn! Santa laughed!)

Bennett decorating his gingerbread house at his school Christmas party

Bennett showing off his candy cane & stocking in his classroom

Noah & Bennett eating the ice cream cone Christmas trees they made for dessert at school

As a last minute replacement for the little girl who was supposedly afraid of camels, Bennett took over the part as "Camel" in the Christmas Program at school. He got to bring a jug to Mary & Joseph and had one line saying "Weep, weep,weep" about what he did when Jesus was born. He sang every song and did all the hand motions well. I won't bore you with the 20 minute video - just trust me it was adorable.

Have you ever seen a cuter camel?!

Bennett is second from the right in the line of animals in front of Mary & Joseph

Now that school is out, we have to occupy our time somehow! So why not make lots of goodies all in one day?! Below is the Fireside Coffee mix, Toffee Peanut Clusters and Corny Snack Mix we made for my dad's visit and for my neighbors. I think I went a little overboard but had lots of fun, especially when Bennett helped and Noah "helped" (also known as "ate as much as he could stuff in his mouth at once")

We also visited the Briarwood Live Nativity and were very impressed. We had a great time despite the cold and look forward to going back each year as the kids understand more and more about the Christmas story. This year it was marked by Bennett's disappointment that the baby in the scene was not the "real" baby Jesus and Noah's disappointment that he couldn't "play with baby Jesus". Nothing a little hot chocolate & cookies couldn't cure.
We're still working on our Jesse Tree, although a couple of days behind. But I'm sure we can catch up before the end. Shane says we're overloaded with "Christmas Traditions" (only to try to dissuade me from trying to add one more thing to the calendar) but I find it all fun and hope it will create great memories for the boys!

Now onto Grandpa & Mimi's visit, then Granddaddy & Leeza's visit, then Christmas Eve service and dinner at Grammie & Papa's, then Christmas morning at home, then Christmas Day at Grandmother's with Shane's whole family, then the day after Christmas at Grammie & Papa's with Aunt Julie, Uncle Blake and cousins Anna Grace & Brock. It should be busy, exciting and lots of fun!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!