We have had the most amazing holiday season. We decorated a week earlier than normal and even so, it feels like time has just flown by. We have built lots of fun memories and spent a lot of time focusing on Christ. We hope the kids will remember at least some of it.
We started by going to the Irmo City Tree Lighting Ceremony. It was a lot of fun. Kids from Irmo Elementary performed and Baylie and Jalen saw lots of friends there. We ran into our good friends the Baltzegars. We laughed because they are actually Jewish. We ended up going to their Hanukah celebration a couple of days later. Santa was there and there was also free pizza and hot chocolate. All our favorites! Jalen was afraid to see Santa because he thought Santa would see him and say, "Next!" because he'd been naughty.
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| Baylie and Isabella |
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| Jalen, Baylie, Isabella and Jackson |
Ever since she was about two years old, David has taken Baylie to see the Nutcracker. This year Jalen wanted to go too. We got free tickets to go during the day, so David decided to bow out and let me take the kids. I checked them out of school so we could go. They both enjoyed it.
We made our annual pilgrimage to Lights On At the Zoo. It's always a fun night complete with Santa and s'mores.
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| South Carolina snowfall |
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| Playing in the snow?? |
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| S'mores! |
Next we were invited by Sister Johnson to make her famous gingerbread houses. She makes houses and sleighs for local businesses. She's been doing this for years. She makes all her own gingerbread and her house smells amazing. She is so generous to share her time, talents and candy with us.
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| Front porch |
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| Back porch |
We got the idea for a gumball tree from Baylie's field trip and decided to make one for our gingerbread house.
We also made the fruit with cloves. It brought back memories and made the kitchen smell so good, especially when simmered in water.
We made goodie plates for friends, neighbors and the staff at the school. We made peppermint ornaments for the kids' teachers, but I didn't take any pictures of those.
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| More frosting than cookie! |
David and I helped out at the kids' class parties. They were both fun. I love Baylie and Jalen's teachers. We have truly been blessed to have them in our lives this year. They love Baylie and Jalen and their personalities are perfect matches for each kid. (Plus they each surprised me with a gift!)
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| Pin the clothes on the snowman. |
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| Treat station! |
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| Treat station part deux! |
Krystle had a very busy December. She caused trouble all over the house. Probably the worst day was when she strung Baylie's underwear and bras all over her bedroom. They ere even hanging from the light fixture. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of that.
She drew on our family picture.
But the Avengers made her pay for that.
She even pooped chocolate kisses. Gross.
We had Christmas Eve dinner with our good friends the Ellsworths. It was amazingly good and super fun. We have such amazing friends.
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| David's dessert plate! (He probably lost weight chewing...) |
We acted out the nativity. As usual, Baylie was Mary and David was the donkey.
David and Xan were the shepherds.
Then they made a re-entrance as the wise men (we were short handed).
After we got back home, the kids were able to open their one Christmas Eve present...
...Christmas jammies! They were so cute! But perhaps a bit warm since we've been in the 70's.
Jalen completely wore himself out! Baylie had a harder time falling asleep. She woke me up at 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 - when we finally just decided to wake up.
Santa had come!! (He doesn't wrap his presents.)
I think our tree was beautiful.
The kids were so happy with everything. They were really grateful and excited. We were so proud of their attitudes.
They even got excited about the little things.
So did Baylie.
When Jalen realized that Santa handn't brought him the Hulk Buster he really wanted, he said, "I didn't get a Hulk Buster. But that's okay. The true spirit of Christmas is that I love my family." We couldn't believe it. We were amazed by his response.
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| Spiderman - with fuzzy jammies under his costume. |
Books from Aunt Shanelle, Uncle Erik and the boys.
Ant Man - also from Erik's family.
Sibling love.
And then Jalen finally got his Hulk Buster. It was worth waiting for!
And Baylie got her password journal. It has kept her entertained all day.
David got a frame for his doctorate degree. I managed to catch him by surprise! It looks amazing.
My present arrived a few days earlier when we bought a new camera. I am having so much fun learning how to use it. It's AMAZING! It has been years since I had a really good camera. It's a Canon Rebel and we also got a Sony Handicam. They a were both from a former senior sister missionary we knew in Houston. She practically gave them to us she charged us so little. What a generous gift!
The kids destroyed the gingerbread house and dug in to eat the candy.
I wanted a closeup of the one of the ornaments my mom tats us every year. They are works of art.
And because we're in South Carolina, there is no snow, but there are lots of leaves!
This has been a memorable Christmas. I love this time of year. I love my little family. And I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.
