Getting ready for Christmas

Well, before we could start our Christmas activities, we needed to finish up some fall ones.

In the month of November, we made thankful trees and tried to put a leaf on everyday..... notice I said "tried".

"Simon, what are you thankful for?"

"Daddy" was usually his response.... should have put leaves on his tree for every time he answered that way.

I never got mentioned... even after Henry tried to prompt him :)

Finally painted our little pumpkins.

Never made a jack-o-lantern with our big ones... kids still talk about how we didn't.

Whoops.

Our church sent us an advent calendar along with Christmas activities to do each day.

We tried to do as many as we could and really enjoyed it!

Made paper plate angels

Henry drew a cross on one wing and an angel on the other.

We watched Veggie Tales, Saint Nick.

Here we are picking out our tree at Lowes.

We went after one of Henry's basketball games and weren't prepared for how cold it was!

Henry, Simon, MG, and I waited inside.

These singing toys kept the boys entertained.

Poor Tom... he was soooooo cold.

"Helping" at home.

We told the kids they could not get off their blankets until we were ready for them.

Memories.

On to happier times that day...

Tom and the kids gave me my Christmas present early.

The crazy thing is that I saw a picture of this exact nativity scene last year, but could never find it on the Internet to buy....

Tom did not know that.

Each piece has a verse on it.

I love love love this gift.

Earlier that week, we took the kids to pick out their new ornament to add to the tree.

Margaret Gray picked out this angel.

Henry, this nutcracker...

Don't have a picture, but Simon got a raccoon... or maybe it was a hedgehog??? 

Decorating the tree wasn't as peaceful as we hoped...

That snowglobe didn't last the night.

Henry broke an ornament. So did Tom. 

Cookies in front of the tree

Our last Christmas craft... Handprint manger scenes.

What our house looked like for days, while I got out the "decor".

Took Simon and Margaret to our Sunday School class' cookie decoration playdate.

We made our sugar cookies that morning.

Joyful.

Simon, may or may not have gotten into the flour while I stepped out of the room.

As good as the decorating got.

Henry got Don't Rock the Boat from his secret Santa at school.
Uncle Jack was in town and was able to play with the kids and make up a lovely theme song to go along with the game.

Our 1st family attempt to make gingerbread houses....

 Man, now I know why we haven't done them ourselves before.
Can't wait to go back to DFW and have Liz make them for us ;)

Bedtime Christmas devotional

We enjoyed our Advent season!