Twas the Night Before Christmas

Every year we look so forward to Christmas, but when it gets here, we are all just worn out.  So, I decided to take a little bit different approach this year.  On Christmas Eve we just hung out at the house all day--no running around town, just chilled down time.  Perfect.  Lila took a nap and when she woke up it was time to get everyone ready for church.  Thank goodness our church has a 4:00 service, because that worked out perfectly for us.  These two rugrats clean up pretty well, I think!

J man offered to take a picture of Daddy with his (almost) three girls. I think he did pretty good, and no, I didn't tell him to shoot from the waist up!

We got to church about 25 minutes early and were able to get seats with Gigi, Boom and Maddie.  This year I didn't bring anything to entertain the kids.  Last year, I thought I was so on top of things.  I brought snacks, toys and their leappads.  That all backfired on me big-time when they began arguing over them DURING the service.  It ended with Lila screaming crying, hitting me, and then we had to make a hasty exit.  From the front of the church.  Can you say "embarrassed?"  So, this go round, I told them that there that would be singing and then they would listen to the pastor speak.  And they would not talk.  A novel concept, I know.  And ya know what?  They did AWESOME!!  All three of them. 

So happy to share this special night with my parents.  My favorite part was watching all the kids sing Silent Night and hold their candles.  It was really too precious for words.

After church, we headed home.  Lila and I went to Carrabba's to pick up dinner, while the boys stayed home to wrap some presents.  We had a really nice meal in our dining room (so fancy!) and then it was time to enjoy the birthday cake we had made for Jesus.  The kids love this tradition, so even though we are literally drowing in baked goods over here, we went ahead and made the gingerbread cake.

After cake time was over, we all got to open one gift.  Jackson had made something for me and Jared and really wanted us to open it.  I gotta say, it's one of my very favorites.  How sweet is this kid?  Love him.

Jackson opened the card game SET and Lila opened her personalized princess book.  The book talks all about Princess Lila, who lives in the Kingdom of Murphy.  She has a white horse named Emma and wears pink gowns and diamond tiaras.  She loved it!

Then it was time to make sure Santa's reindeer got fed.  Jackson put out the carrots and celery...

while Lila very meticulously spread out the sugary oats she had made for them.  She must have spent 15 minutes making sure she got it right!

Afterwards, we changed the kids into their Christmas jammies and then got out Santa's milk, cookies and pictures.  The kids thought it was funny to taunt Santa, but they didn't really eat or drink any of his goodies.

They were so excited to color him pictures earlier that day.  I'm sure he loved them, too!

 

Then it was time to load up in the car and head to Deerfield in Plano to look at Christmas lights.  To say they liked this would be an understatement!  There were plenty of other people with the same idea, so we were moving really slowly through this neighborhood.  The kids were thrilled beyond belief when we let them stick their heads out of the moon roof to be able to see a little better.  At one point, Lila looked at her brother and said, "Jackson, I will love you forever.  Merry Christmas!"  Then they hugged and she kissed him on the cheek.  Oh my.  Melt this mama's heart.

I didn't get too many good pictures of all the incredible houses, but the lights really were worth it.  This neighborhood was amazing.  We saw dancing Santas, reindeer flying over the street, a huge Grinch who was set up in a deer blind--they thought of everything.  It was a magical night for all of us and one we won't soon forget.

Santa came to town!

A few nights ago it was cold (but not raining!) and we were all excited for the big guy's arrival at our house.  It's a tradition that was started by my parents when I was about 3 years old.  We started it up again when Jackson was 3 and have loved being able to create magical memories for our kids.  I thought long and hard before deciding to host it this year, mainly because I am seriously pregnant, as in 36 weeks!  I finally decided that I just couldn't deny my kids this amazing time, but there was no way that I could do it on such a large scale as in years past.  This time, I just let the kids invite some of their friends and I asked everyone to bring a side dish, appetizer or dessert.  Now don't get me wrong, it was still a lot of work, but it was the only managable way for me to do it!

 

I bought crafts to keep the kids busy--they had their choice of Christmas coloring pages, ornament decorating or writing a letter to Santa.  This worked for the younger ones...

not so much for the older ones.  They had wrestle mania in J's room and it was crazy...

with a capital C!

A little while later it was time to put on our their antlers and head outside to try and find Santa.

The kids sang a few Christmas carols and walked/ran down our street in search of Old St. Nick.  And then we spotted him!

Lila and Caitlin were so excited!!

Madison led him back to our house...

and then all the kids gathered around him to listen to a story.  Lila was the lucky girl who got to hold his jingle bells.  Very cool!

After fielding a lot of questions from the little ones, Santa read "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  Lila stopped him during it and said, "Santa, are we on the naughty list?"  Ha!

Needless to say, she was not shy around Santa at all!  She promptly told him that she would like a Barbie SUV, wedding Barbie, Big girl car for her to drive and a cheerleader baby doll.  Her list has been the same for the past month.  Let's hope he comes through!

Makes my heart happy:)

And so does this.  Gosh, J sure looks huge compared to when he first started sitting on Santa's lap!

They are all growing up so fast.  Big smiles from this reindeer girly, too.

It won't be too long before Baby Samantha gets to really enjoy Santa Claus, but this year, she snoozed for most of the party.

Like I said before, we let the kids pretty much make the guest list.  Not surprisingly, Jackson wanted lots of his Cubs buddies with him.  He was stoked that Garrison, Matthew, Caden, Cole and Ian were able to be there.

Merry Christmas from our soon-to-be expanding family!

Baby Cameron, all of these people love you to the moon and back...

and can't wait for you to be in the family pictures with Santa next year!

After lots of good times with Santa, we handed him the letters and said goodbye.  He flew back to the North Pole just in time to make the final preparations for Christmas Eve.  I know two kids who are sure hoping that he swings by their house tonight.  Fingers crossed!

Party Down!

Friday, December 20th was quite a big day for us!  First, we arrived at Jackson's school a little after 9am to help them get ready for their Christmas Party.  They had three really cute activities and J's first station was to make a snowman out of powdered donuts, chocolates and candies.  His little Frosty was so cute.  Almost too cute to eat...almost!

Lila and I were in charge of the ornament station.  She got to color one, too, which made for a very happy and content 3 year old.

Each student got a Hunt Hound dog bone ornament with their name on it.  They got to decorate it any way they liked.  J's has a baseball and Christmas tree on it, and it says "Ho Ho Ho" and "Merry Christmas."  That just about sums it up, I guess:)

They also got to play Holiday Bingo with red and green M&M's.  The kids had to get a few refills...not because they got a Bingo, but because they kept eating the game pieces!

Reindeer games with his good buddy, Gage.  These kids were wired!

We left school a little before 11 and ran a few quick errands.  Then it was time to get Lila to her school for her Christmas program.  Maddie and Jackson were so excited to watch her sing in a performance that they used to be in themselves.

And then it was time! My baby girl was up on the stage singing her heart out.

"Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head..." 

She was so focused and did great...

but she still found time to wave to her big fan club every now and then.  The smile on her face when she saw all of us was just priceless.

We are all so proud of you, Lila!

After a nap for the little one and a movie for the big one, we were in the car again and headed to Buca di Beppo to celebrate Memaw's birthday.  Like I said, party down!

After a delicious italian meal, we sang to Memaw and had cake.  Happy Birthday, Shelley! 

Hounds and Reindeers

This morning we were all up bright and early, and I do mean EARLY.  As in, I found both kids awake at 5:45am--all the lights on in the kitchen and living room, searching for Johnny the Elf.  Good grief!  They are so intrigued by their elf!  I made them both get back in bed, but they never went back to sleep.  One day they will cherish their sleep, I'm sure of it.  Anywho, their early morning wake-up call actually served me well because I was out of the shower by 6:30.  I hustled to make their lunches and get J ready, all while trying to get myself ready at the same time.  Oddly enough, he didn't ever ask why I was getting ready so early.  I was trying my best to surprise him at school because he was getting the Hunt Hound Award at the school assembly.  I said goodbye to him at 7:20, finished my hair and make-up and then got Lila dressed and ready.  We were walking into the school by 7:50, just in time for the assembly.  Whew!  There were theatre kids from Plano East that performed a skit with the Grinch, Frosty, Rudolph and Mr. and Mrs. Claus.  Yes folks, you read that right.  I was so happy to see Christmas being celebrated in a public school.  And you know what else?  Everyone sang along to We Wish You a Merry Christmas at the end of their skit!  And the world didn't end!  It was so refreshing, especially when I've been reading about kids not being able to discuss Christmas at school, for fear of offending anyone who does not celebrate it.  Just another reason I love Hunt.

Drumroll please...the first Hunt Hound award for the First Grade goes to...Jackson Hays!  He got lots of cheers from his classmates.  I guess Caleb was so excited for him that he hopped in the picture with Mrs. Garner.

Way to go, J man!  We are really proud of you.  He has gotten excellent reports from his teacher and this is the second year in a row for him to receive the Hunt Hound Award.  It's tradition now, buddy!  Let's keep this good thing going:)

Fast forward a couple of hours later.  I had finished my last minute Christmas shopping, taken Tyson to the groomer, grabbed a quick lunch and then made it to Lila's school for her Christmas party.  I love that she goes to a Christian school and we don't have to worry a thing about giving them Christmas snacks or crafts.  They had the cutest reindeer water bottles, clothes pins and rice krispy treats.

She loved her snack.

Then they got to decorate these precious wreath ornaments that had their picture on them.  Ours in now proudly hanging from our Christmas tree. 

After that, it was time to make some reindeer food.  These reindeer are going to have plenty of oats and sugar sprinkles when they stop by our house on Christmas Eve.

Funny outtake--yes, she's definitely got a silly side!

Their last activity was to sing Christmas carols and pass the big red bows around the circle.  If you were holding the red bows when the song ended, you got to choose your gift.  Sounds so simple, but with 3 and 4 year olds, you never know what you're gonna get.  Let's just say it didn't go that well!  There was one girl throwing a fit and refusing to sit in the circle.  One refused to pass the bow when it came to her, so her mom had to wrestle it out of her hands every time.  And almost all of them found it very hard to sing and pass the bow at the same time.  It was like asking them to pat their head and rub their belly at the same time, I guess!  But we made it through and they all went home with a gift.

Lila couldn't leave without telling her buddy Cowen goodbye and snapping a quick pic with these busy brothers.  Afterwards, they gave each other at least 5 hugs.  So cute!

One class party down, one more to go tomorrow.  Then bring on Christmas.  I hope I'm ready!

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

This past Sunday we drove downtown to the Magestic Theatre--how urban of us, huh?!  We were so excited, especially the kids, because we had tickets to see Rudolph the Musical.

The theatre was beautiful and we even ran into some of our good friends there, too.  Hello Pointers!Gigi had a pretty good looking date escorting her to the show:)

"When's it gonna start, mom?"  Thankfully we didn't get there too early, so the show began within a few minutes of us getting in our seats.

I so wish that I could have taken pictures during the show.  It was really cute and looked JUST like the movie.  All three kids loved it and sang along with all of the songs that they knew.  Lila sat in my lap for most of the show so that she could see better.  When we sang "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" at the end of the show it was one of those precious, yet rare, moments when you actually get to slow down and enjoy the holiday season.  I'm really trying to make time for more of those!

These three will remember the show for a long time, I know, and they also came home with a red nose that lights up.  Thanks, Boom!  You're the best.  It was a fun night out with the fam and dinner at Campisi's afterwards was just icing on the cake.