Christmas Happenings

Last weekend we had quite the eventful weekend. We had lots of Christmas stuff packed all into 3 (ish) days.

Friday it started with cookies with Santa at Kade's school. 

Kade was over the moon-excited! Tadd... not so much. In fact lately, he's been telling me, "No Santa movies. Those are too scary for me. Just happy, kid movies."

Max was very intrigued. 

Then they got to decorate and eat sugar cookies. I thought it was really cute when Kade was trying to help Tadd. 

There had been a "severe weather alert" for a couple of days. We were supposed to get freezing rain. This being our first winter in Texas, it was humorous to me, the panic that came with cold weather. Notes, emails and Kade telling me over and over, "It's going to be cold, I need to dress warm." So dress warm, what's the big deal? It did get pretty cold, and there were icicles! I kept saying that winter was meeting me half way. We really are missing the snow. I know everyone in the snow right now thinks we are crazy, but it just doesn't feel like Christmas time. 

Aaron and I keep saying we broke Texas. So far no season (since we've been here) has been "normal". Kade was in. heaven. with this cold weather!

Saturday we put up lights in our yard, it was definitely cold. 

We also learned that Tadd is not built for cold weather. He cannot handle it. 

Kade said he wasn't cold at all. He also insisted on the ski-goggles to keep his eyes from getting frozen. 

That night we headed to Burnet, with Katie and Adam, to go to a Nativity production. However, "because of the cold weather" it was canceled. So we drove to Round Rock and looked at Christmas lights!

Monday night we did graham cracker houses. They are the poor man's (or lazy man, you choose) gingerbread house. For the houses themselves we worked with what we had, both supplies and skills. Then the Lewis' came over and we had a lot of fun decorating with the kids! I was sort of surprised though that houses made of candy held the attention of the adults longer than it did the kids. Oh well. It was still fun and then we ended the night with a Christmas book and a video about Christ's life. 

Max was pretty sure he needed to be jealous about something, he just didn't know what because he couldn't see the table. He kept screaming at us to get our attention though. 

All the houses. 

And Just Like That... It's Christmas Time

Thanksgiving came. We celebrated. On Black Friday though, we packed it up, kicked it out, and invited Christmas.  We only have the one tree this year so decorating went relatively quickly. 

This will be Max's first Christmas. He's nearly as old as possible to be celebrating a first Christmas. I'm pretty excited. I think it will be a fun Christmas. 

Aaron got a bloody nose during a failed attempt of Kade putting the star on the tree... So we scratched our previous plan and Aaron put it up himself. Tissue in the nose and all. 

All day, following the decorating, Tadd would motion toward the tree and say, "Welcome to Christmas tree!" It was hilarious. This is such a fun age for holidays!

It definitely feels more like Christmas around these parts. 

Thankgsiving or "Friendsgiving"

This year, because of Aaron's work schedule, we were at home. It was really fun though. We are lucky enough to have some of our favorite people, living close by. Katie and Adam, Char and Blair, and the Lewis'. 

Katie, Adam, Char and Blair came for dinner. We all split the responsibility. I made pies, the turkey, stuffing, asparagus, and a cranberry salad. Katie made the rolls, potatoes and gravy, Adam made pavlova (a New Zealand dessert that changed our lives.) Char and Blair brought drinks, and a salad. 

I wanted to be as stress free on Thanksgiving, as possible. I did the majority of the work, the night before. The boys helped me make the French silk pies. 

The day of, I was super lame. I got pictures of the table... but no humans. I lose. I didn't even take pictures of our yummy foods or pies!

The Lewis' came over for dessert and brought a delicious lemon pie that they made with lemons from their tree. It was so yummy! Char and Adam supplied me with the following photos. The photo on the right is the pavlova. Yum. 

We were so grateful that even though we weren't with family, we still got to be with friends who we love like family! We've been so blessed to have them close by!