Christmas and New Years

We had a nice Christmas and New Years. We decided (for the first time ever, I think) to host Josh's family for Christmas Eve, which allowed us to stay home and not travel which was great for us, even if we did have to cook and clean. We also had the festivities much earlier in the day (lunchtime versus late afternoon), which allowed for a much more relaxed and not rushed rest of the day. By late afternoon, everyone could then go their separate ways - we wanted to go to an evening service and Josh's family would need to travel to go to a later evening service, so it worked out! We just may need to repeat that again next year. It's nice to have a bigger kitchen and entry room that allows us to do that!

That night, Santa came! ;)

We got up and opened our own presents first. Thankfully, the kids actually slept in until 7am!

In his new chair for reading

Looking at a book

Lots of Legos!

Lego chess

Inheriting brother's bike

Working on balance on the new bike

We went to my parents house to open gifts with the rest of my family (and have lunch) the rest of the day. We saved one present for last...

This is a book that Preston got. There was also a snow globe that had tall NY buildings and the Statue of Liberty in it, as well as a book about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We also wrapped a toy plane and an actual apple (in reference to The Big Apple)...as, we told the boys we are planning a trip to New York for Thanksgiving this upcoming year! (naturally, to see the parade) Josh and I have been talking about it since October, and sort of smiled to ourselves in November when we watched the parade together. Nothing has been officially booked yet but hopefully in the Spring we can start.

Nathan has been saying for awhile how he would like to see the Statue of Liberty. I knew I wanted to take the boys to NY sometime, and it's been on my bucket list to see the Thanksgiving Parade in person sometime. So excited. Still a ways away, but we knew the boys would be happy to have a trip to look forward to at least.

The boys spent a good portion of Winter Break playing with all their new things.

We decided to keep New Years Eve low key and made fondue at home. Josh and I attempted to stay up until midnight but unfortunately sleep got the better of us.

Mister New Year!

Fondue table

So we had a great Christmas and New Year....January perhaps not so much so far! More on that in Preston's 3/4 month update!

Holiday Happenings

December is notoriously busy for other events and fun things!

Beginning an Advent activity calendar

It ain't the holidays without a visit to Zoo Lights with my fam!

P's first visit ! He loves lights.

Nathan's Cub Scout group participated in our city's lighting of our tumbleweed tree. Prior to the lighting the scouts participated in a light parade - the boys made cardboard cards with lights. Daddy, Nate and Aaron had nice evening - while I stayed home with P and decided not to brave hours of the cold.

So the next night we dined out in the area of the tree, so that we could see it lit altogether.

Nathan was asked to participate in our church's holiday play - he acted out a part of one of the shepherd's. We were pleasantly surprised he agreed to partake, as I thought he had stage fright a bit. He did great!

Third from right - navy bath robe and beige top

Nathan's Cub Scout pack also visited a local nursing home to sing Christmas carols. It's fun to see how much the residents enjoy it!

Another visit with Santa - this time at an eatery literally a minute from our new home. Donations of meals went to a children's charity and they also let the kids decorate cookies!

Next year a certain someone may not be a fan of Santa...

 Long story short, because the new Star Wars movie has the word "rogue" in it, Josh's car company took full advantage of advertising their SUV (Rogue) with it. One night, they rented out theaters for their employees to see the new movie. Because of it being late in the evening, Josh and Nathan just went to see it. They got free vouchers for popcorn, drinks, etc...total blast for them!

Eddie the Elf made his return. The last few years I've sort of been trying not to bring him out, but naturally the boys' friends talk about theirs and our boys wonder why Eddie hasn't arrived at our house yet : / So, some pictures of Eddie's nights! For the most part I'm pretty proud, Eddie moved around each night!

The boys super enjoyed his first night's events...using the Elf porta potty! There's even some chocolate bars under his bum for you know what.

It wouldn't be Christmas without letters to the boys about having better behavior!

Breakfast

Moving on to the holidays themselves!

North Pole Experience

In May last year (!) we bought tickets for our family to attend something called the North Pole Experience, which took place in Flagstaff, same city as my sister's cabin. So, 2nd week of December we took all the boys (Preston's first vacation/road trip) to my sister's cabin for the weekend.

Other than going to the event, we just hung out at the cabin. Which, the boys wanted to complain about at first, but, they spent pretty much a good part of the time just in the backyard playing in what snow there was on the ground. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the snow fall, but were thankful at least there was something to play with!

Naps with a view

Baby's first snow!

Gingerbread house decorating

Yay sledding!

The idea of the North Pole Experience is that kids get to go to "the North Pole to Santa's workshop", where they're led through different themed rooms before getting to see Santa then at the end. 

North Pole Experience- making toy section

Tree of teddy's

Writing lists

Mail room

The sleigh!

Mrs Claus and her helpers giving out cookies and hot chocolate in the kitchen

Our finished gingerbread house we left at the cabin

The elves, Mrs Claus and Santa signed our ornament for the tree

....and the boys got to keep teddy bears

Whew, these Christmases are coming harder to get by. As Nate gets older, he has more questions. More "how" and "why" questions.... it's getting trickier to think on my feet!

Nate : "Mom, is this really the North Pole?"
Me: eyes large, trying not to look panicked
"No, it's not. But Santa has a lot of workshops to make all the different kinds of toys"

Catastrophe averted, at least for this year.