Simply Having a Wonderful Christmastime

I know I am overdue in posting our Christmas updates, but as you can all likely understand – mama is wiped out!  I LOVE Christmas, and thankfully I usually arrange to have the week after Christmas off as vacation, because I need some time to relax!

The weekend before Christmas kicked off the festivities with our neighbors annual Christmas party.  Tatiana has adopted them as part of her family – as she refers to their dogs as “her dogs”.  She was super excited to see everyone (especially, yes, the dogs) and we had a great time.   Here is the Christmas Princess ready to go to the party – SHE picked out the shoes and the tights.  And she’ll quickly correct you if you call them “red shoes” – they are to be called RUBY SLIPPERS, please!

 

The morning after was the Children’s program at church.  T did really well through most of the service – even though it was a longer one.  She LOVED hearing the children sing (and may have to join them some day!) and liked going outside to give Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus their presents to celebrate Jesus' birth and showing spirit of caring for those who might need help at this time.   And of course, she was super excited to show off another pretty dress.  The girl loves dresses and tights…

The week seemed to fly by, mama was busy selling chocolate milk, juicy juice and coffee mate and praying she’d sell enough to hit the big December # (and she did! woo hoo – thanks Michigan distributors!!) and Tati still had school.  Wait.  What?  Yup – our school was one of the few that had school the week leading into Christmas.  Wednesday was the last day – so the morning class had a “party” (arts and crafts, snacks and a sing) and the afternoon class got to wear jammies, watch a movie, eat popcorn and play Christmas bingo.  TONS OF FUN!   Here’s a quick peak at the morning’s party:

  Top left: Tatiana with Mrs. Jex (teacher); Top Right:  Making homemade “snow globes”; Bottom:  hangin’ on the class rug

Finally, it was Christmas Eve!  It seemed like we were getting ready for so long… “Red Elfie” (Elf on the Shelf) was here everyday in December and we had a cool advent calendar to help count down the days.  We had some family over Christmas Eve night and had a great dinner – very traditional menu in our family containing:  ham, potatoes (that form may change year to year), baked beans (a MUST, my grammas' recipe) and some form of Jell-O.   And of course lemon meringue pie.  Don’t ask.  It’s a long story and completely mandatory.  You could loose a finger in this family if you steal someone’s LM pie. 

Christmas Eve Pictures ~   Helping mama get ready for family to arrive….

  Christmas Eve

With cousins Riley & Ashley

I didn’t think T would EVER go to bed Christmas Eve night – she gabbed and sang until 10:30pm!  Christmas excitement had taken over.  In all the festivities we forgot to put out the cookies for Santa and the reindeer feed they made at school.  Thankfully, Santa and his reindeer still paid us a visit…

Christmas morning

  

After all the present merriment from mama, Santa and then Gramma Darlin, we went over the Great Grammas' for some more family fun.  

Now… can you tell why mama is tired?  Merry Christmas and Happiest of New Year’s to you….