From Thanksgiving to now an Update to A Merry Christmas.

I've had a busy few months.  We hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year for the first time in almost eight years!  My 16 year old brother accidentally turned our oven off and we didn't notice for hours (don't ask I realize we should have but it was crazy lol) dinner time was rolling around and I found the cold turkey.  We ended up eating burritos and waiting until around seven to eat.  The following day everyone returned for left overs and we had a second Thanksgiving dinner.  It was really nice to have everyone here. 

Our turkey.  We cook it in a brownpaper bag to hold in the moisture and 

give us that nice golden look.

Yes we still stuff the turkey and boy was that good stuffing!

We also went to our city's Christmas tree lighting and that was okay.  They had a small jazz type band play and then the Major hit the button to light up the tree.  The tree did not light though.  It took them several times to get it to  work which was quite funny.  The children then got to see Santa.  Mr. A asked him for an

iPad but luckily Santa was smart and said 'That's a big present have you been doing your chores?' He then began listing off a bunch of chores including dishes, making his bed, cleaning up,

sweeping, mopping, taking the trash out, and mowing the grass.  When Mr. A

said he hadn't been doing all that Santa said 'Well your old enough to do all those you need to start.  No iPad this year.'

I could have kissed Santa. 

Mrs. Claus had the most beautiful earings I really want to know where she got them!  My pictures didn't turn out that great I had my camera on the wrong setting oops but if you can see them and know where to get a pair like that please let me know!

Our downtown Christmas tree pre-lighting.

The tree again from the side.  I love the tree with the leaves and the lights!

My littlest sibling with my littlest child.

The band with kids surrounding them.  They let the children sing along with them on some songs which they just ate up.

Our tree finally all lit up.

Santa came to town with his beautiful wife (and some photo bombers to the side lol but they do look nice)

Santa the gentleman helps his wife out of their carriage.

Mrs Claus entertains the children while they wait for their turn to see Santa.  See her pretty earrings!!

Santa with Mr. A on the left, Monkey in the center, and Pumpkin on his lap.

For school one day I decided the boys should play with their lincoln logs so I told them they had to make a house out of the blocks.  For some kids this may seem normal but my children do not like to make things with blocks and so they have no skills in that area.  

It took them some time but these are their structures.

Monkey's house

Pumpkins house

I've really got to start checking my camera settings because I'm ruining pictures ahhh!  

Next up was the boys Christmas concert at our Wednesday night church.  It was at the Hanging of the Greens which I love!

Monkey in the back 

Mr. A who was not right in front of the mic but a ways back.

Having seen that picture of Mr. A from the concert you will understand why these next pictures had to happen.  P.S. you must know that I have not cut hair before without just buzzing it all off.  So there are a lot of mistakes and we are just living with them :P

Pumpkins hair was the hardest.  He has so many cowlicks in the back that it made it all look uneven even though it was even.  I have to keep cutting and cutting.  It looks better now but his head is definitely the hardest.  I still need to cut Monkeys but after Pumpkins I got scared so his hair is still long lol.

For dessert one day we had smoothies.

Which of course the boys wore.

My mother and I did some Christmas crafts.

The deer as we started with it.

The deer afterwards

Glittering ornaments

A finished ornament drying on a candle

My mom glittering her sleigh she's had for years

The sleigh almost finished

Glittering old fashioned Christmas light bulbs

Our Christmas tree pre-decorations

All decked out now oh wait we forgot the candy canes and angel...

The Budweiser Clydesdales came to town and the boys wanted to see the horses.

I thought this dog looked so regal but maybe minus the bling.

The moon 

We went to a churches Live Nativity and it was a lot of fun they had different tents with activities 

along the way leading to the star and stable where a real baby waited with his parents and a 

real donkey was in his pen.  PS I want that donkey her was beautiful and so soft.  My camera 

died though so I didn't get a picture of it :(

First vendor Monkey (in the train hat my grandma made) got to make a felt pouch

to mimic the leather ones they used.

Working hard at it.

Pumpkin in the blue hat also made by my grandma, trying his hand at rolling oats for bread.

All three of my boys stirring some bandannas in a purple dye.

Mr. A making some rope.

Monkey making some rope.  Next to this booth they saw a man making some 

bricks.

Monkey (train hat again) making some pottery

Mr. A and Pumpkin making a wooden sheep toy.

They had other booths at one the boys made me some perfume, another they saw baskets being weaved, and at another there was food to be had.  They had french bread with on olive oil and herb dip,

fancy olives (I don't eat olives so don't ask what kind they were just fancy and I ate them) on top of

goat cheese, almonds and bread, and grape juice.  There were barrels with fire to warm yourselves and animals to be pet.  The had two llamas, a sheep, and some goats.

We went into the stable and saw the little family

then headed back out.

There were more things but remembering is not my strong point.

I can say that it was a lot of fun and the boys really enjoyed it and it was educational yay!

The next thing we did was our homeschool groups Christmas party.  We started off the morning at a friends house.  It was really nice to sit down and visit with them the children all get

along so nicely!

We then rode with them over to an elderly care home and sung Christmas carols with our group and handed

out some Christmas cards that the children made.

After the caroling we headed over to a church were we had pizza and desserts while the kids played together.

It's so nice to have such a large group and one that cares.  We have been blessed by them they are beginning to feel like family.

Today we were supposed to go with our MOPS group to carol again and have our Christmas party but 

after I took my mom out Christmas shopping all day yesterday to not get in until after one 

I just didn't feel like it plus Pumpkin has been under the weather and 

he was also out late with his dad last night so he needed

his rest.  We are sad to miss it but looking forward to seeing them in the 

new year!

Christmas is coming so fast I can't believe it!  How did is sneak up on me?  I need to go get some wrapping paper and get working!  Are you guys ready?  

My sister and her husband are coming into town on Saturday and Sunday we head

up to the mountains for our Christmas vacation with the whole family. 

My mom rented a house up there so they could go skiing.  They decided that there really

wasn't anything they all needed so they bought only a few presents

and spent the rest on this vacation.

For us we bought presents it will be a meager year but a happy one.  While they are skiiing

we will be playing in the snow with snow ball fights and sledding.

We will also go skating and maybe tubing. 

Can't wait for the hot chocolate and fireplaces!

Blessings to you all and Merry Christmas!!

Mommaraff