DECEMBER 23RD

Ty and I's anniversary was on a Sunday this year. It was also the first Sunday my mom was feeling up to coming over for Sunday dinner in a long time! Since we weren't going to be at their house for Christmas Eve, we did our nativity story after dinner! It actually went really well! There were no tears and the sheep dog even cooperated! lol! 

After everyone headed home, we hopped in the expedition and went to pick up Ty's parents to go around town and look at Christmas lights! We had a ton of fun! We have a few houses that have lights choreographed to music nearby. And Ty and his dad are now discussing a light show of their own. Haha. 

 

RANDOM PICTURES

While unpacking I found a picture of Lily. Her teacher used it on the wall in the hall last year and would clip their work to it to show it off. Adorable idea!

Ty and I often end up with an animal on top of us in the evening. The cat on me (or my laptop if I am trying to get stuff done) and the dog on Ty while he tries to play his computer games. lol. 

CHRISTMAS BREAK

 

We went to 2 movies over our break. First we went to see Bumblebee with Ty's parents! It was a really good movie and the kids LOVED it! The second movie was Mary Poppins Returns with my parents and my brother and his family! It was such a good movie as well! The kids have been singing and dancing around ever since watching it. Haha. 

My whole family went to my parents' house for New Year's Eve. It was nice to have everyone together again! We stayed till about 11 and headed home to finish New Year's Eve off in our new home! Crystal was bummed we left Grandma's early so we told her we would play a game when we got home. She chose Monopoly. We were up till 2 AM when she finally ran out of money and started to cry at which point I showed her how to properly end a game of Monopoly (flipping the board over and calling it a dumb stupid game). She was not impressed. 

I was floored by the stomach flu for 4 days last week which means during the day the kids were kinda on their own to entertain themselves. They did go play at friends houses here and there (once I was sure they weren't going to get it) but for the most part they were playing/fighting/watching tv/making a huge mess in the living room. One day they spent all day building forts. Crystal's had an entryway and continued between the loveseat and the wall. Jay's was under the coffee table and Lily's was under the dining table. That night they all insisted on sleeping in them. Haha. We didn't think they'd actually sleep but once we got them settled down they fell right to sleep. We had a fun break (other than the stomach flu part), but I think we are all ready for school ... and routine ... to start again tomorrow! 

CHRISTMAS DAY

SANTA CAME! He and his elf helper ate their treats (this year it was smoked mussels, smoked oysters, 2 candy bars, and 2 sodas) and he filled the kids Santa bags full of goodies and toys (I couldn't find their stockings so they had to put out Santa bags instead. haha).
They were extra spoiled this year. I'm not sure how it happened. I only bought them one toy each... lots of clothing items, winter necessities, a ticket to Hogwarts in January, and a TRAMPOLINE ... which they can't use till spring hence the reason I got them each another toy. But I shouldn't have. Oy. 
Grandma and Grandpa Cook had them go outside to get the present from them. It was 'wrapped' in a tarp in the back of Grandpa's truck! It was a Go Cart! They have had quite a bit of fun driving up and down the street with it even in the freezing weather we've had! After playing for a bit, we had breakfast casserole for brunch. 
Early afternoon we headed to my parents where it was Christmas all over again! We had leftover ham at my parents' house for an early dinner and headed home to relax and enjoy the evening.