Leading Up to Christmas

So many fun Christmas activities went on in the week leading up to the big day.  The Friday before Christmas we had our family Christmas dinner at Nana's.  Nana always has her house decorated so pretty!  We all eat and open gifts from Nana.  Bryce was very interested in all the tissue paper and boxes.  He was the most interested in Nana's staircase but the paper was fun during present time.  The girls loved their gifts from Nana.  Kate got a bag with puppies to carry around (our animal lover), and Cohen got an art set and a new scarf.  A scarf she has tried to sleep in since she got it despite it being 75 degrees outside.  I know she will have some scarf weather soon though.  Bryce got a big truck and a cute outfit.

Kate & Bryce thought it was fun to fix Pop's hair!

The next day we had a fun Christmas party with our close friends.  We look forward to their Christmas party each year and this year's theme was the 70's.  This theme had me in the attic dusting off some old Halloween costumes.  IT was hilarious to see everyone dressed up.  I love how much fun we all have together!  The Christmas party is also the annual ping pong tournament and this year's winners were none other than Kelly & Westley.  These boys were proud to show off their winning bracket!   Now all they were missing was that umbrella prize they scored for me and Dawn!

 

On Sunday we did a little caroling at the assisted living home with some of our church members.  I'll have to get some pics from that because I was too busy chasing Bryce to have my own.   I did get this sweet picture leaving church Sunday morning.  Bryce has really taken off with his walking but on this morning he was glad to hold hands with his sisters going through the parking lot.

On Monday we had a little Christmas party with our friends.  The kids had several different ornaments to make.  We had snacks and enjoyed being with our friends.

Cohen had a little Christmas party of her own on Tuesday.  She invited a few of her friends over to make some cute ornaments and have a little party together.  These girls were all so sweet and had such a fun time together.

This is what I found when I got Bryce up

Making ornaments

These 2 got in on making ornaments too

Warm weather means eating on the porch

On Wednesday we celebrated Christmas with Papa, Grannie, Aunt Vicki, and Aunt Danette.  This time Bryce chose to ignore the bags, boxes, and tissues and was instead happy and content to carry around his "bawl" which was a potato.  He loved picking it up and throwing it back down.  Each time saying "bawl" as he did it.  He might glance at his gift and play with something for a second but it was always back to the potato he went.  Santa may just get out real cheap this year!

With Aunt Sara holding his potato

around with his potato

"You keep the gift Mama, I have a potato."  

Here are some other random pictures we have from December events.  It has been one busy month!

 Someone likes crawling in the cabinet! 

 Bryce loved the Christmas tree, especially pulling off the ornaments or "ointments" as Kate calls them.

Happy Birthday Sug!

Kate sings at church!

 Bryce wanted to ask Santa for a new car seat so we had to try them all out at the store!

Cohen and Kate making Christmas ornaments.

Cohen's Christmas Party & Kate's Christmas Program

Cohen's last day was on Thursday but it was a fun day at school.  She also had her class Christmas party that we got to go for.  Again we were bringing the brownies!  I actually had Suzy keep Kate & Bryce for me so I actually could focus on Cohen instead of on Bryce & what germy item he was putting in his mouth.  I love watching Cohen interact with her classmates.  I did get to snap a few pictures.  I know one thing, Courtney and I have some great pictures of Cohen and Brody over the last few years.  We were both looking back at their Mary & Joseph picture from their last year in preschool!  (sniff sniff)  How did we all of the sudden fast forward to 2nd grade?!

Ice cream beards!

3 years ago!

Now its Kate's turn to be involved in the preschool Christmas programs.  Her class are the angels.  With 9 girls in the class they definitely fit the angel category!  How cute are they?!  One little boy gets to be a shepard!

Cohen had a good time seeing some of her old friends that she had made at First Friends.  She was really enjoying herself! The great thing about the preschool is getting to meet all the families that come through.  Some of us have had our kids go through together then our second kids go through together too.  I have to say this preschool means so much not only because it is a great school where the kids can learn but the connections it has put in my life to so many awesome people!

Cohen & Aslinn were twinning!

These 2 were inseparable in the 4 year old class and are still great friends.  Our families have been friends for a long time!

I had to leave right after the program for a little Christmas get together with Margaret, Sherrie, and Elizabeth at Mama's house.  I love these ladies and look forward to any time we can get together. It had been way too long!  We had a great time together.  I'm hoping another get together will come sooner!  They are precious friends for sure to both me and my mama!

I have to share a few last pics.  Cohen had pajama week at ATRM the last week before break.  We are there for all the classes on Monday so Cohen had a blast getting in all the group pictures!  My favorite was this one with the older class!  She lives to be around these older girls!

Here were 2 more pics she made her way into...the second one was her actual class.  I guess sticking out your tongue is the best thing to do these days!

On Thursday she had to skip wearing pjs since we had to leave for Kate's preschool program.  It was a great day because Miss Cezann was stopping by!  She was home for Christmas!  Since Miss Caroline is there on Thursdays it was an awesome reunion.  I'm thinking they both will need to make trips home for competitions!