Christmas

This year Christmas was celebrated in Illinois. A couple years ago we decided we would go home every other year to spend Christmas with our extended family. Our family is getting bigger and it's getting very expensive to travel every year. Last year, we went to Disney World in September so we didn't go to Illinois for Christmas so this was the year to go home.

pretty sunrise on the morning we left

we found snow in West Virginia

we saw the Disney movie Frozen

my sisters, Terrisa and Tammy, at Ashleigh's graduation party

we braved 16* temperature to see Santa Claus on Christmas Eve 

 time for our family Christmas

dressed in their Christmas pj's from Grandpa and Grandma

Christmas Day

 

finished our visit off at Josephine's Tea Room

 

We had a wonderful Christmas visiting with family.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethelehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God and saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."

Luke 2:9-14 NLT

Haylee and Brayden's School Christmas Program

Today was Haylee and Brayden's Christmas Program at school. I like to go to the kids school programs as much as I can. I missed their Thanksgiving program as I was in Asheville on that day.

This year the kids wore their pajamas to school and between the songs they were read a Christmas story, The Greatest (Bedtime) Story. They sung Mary Sang a Happy Song, Away in a Manger, Jesus Came, The Shepherds' Lambs, and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Haylee and Brayden singing Away in the Manger (more videos on Facebook)

Haylee is in Dance Makers at school and she performed in two songs, Mele Kalikimaka and Feliz Navidad. 

After the program there were refreshments, cookies and punch.

I just love seeing kids sing and perform. It's so cute watching them wave to their mom and dad in the audience.

Great job Haylee and Brayden!

Homemade Pants for the Twins

Nicole has been shopping for pants for the twins for Christmas. She can find compfy pants and jeans but no corduroys or nice pants. So I decided to make them some.

I went to Jo-Ann Fabrics and got a pattern, elastic and black corduroy material. I was surprised on how much patterns have gone up through the years. I don't think I have bought a pattern in over 20 years.

The pattern came in five sizes - XXS, XS, S, M and L. I decided to make them XS even though it was for 1-3 months old, their weights fit in that size. Making the pants was pretty easy. The only hard part was hemming the legs as the openings are so small and I don't have a free arm sewing machine.

I was pretty happy with the finished product since I haven't made pants in like forever. I hope Nicole likes them too.

Gingerbread House Decorating

For the past six years we have decorated gingerbread houses for Christmas. My friend, Dare, makes the houses and has a decorating event at her church. She makes two different houses, one that is big and has windows and a front door, and a small one with no windows or front door. We usually pick the small one. She suggests everyone brings a bag of candy to share and a bag for yourself; however, we always just bring all of our candy that we will use. It's just easier that way.

 

let the fun begin

I don't think there was an empty spot on Kylie's house

Haylee's house

our houses, mine, Kylie's and Haylee's

the back view

top view

 

the girls and their finished houses

Dare holding Noah

A neat comparison of how the girls have grown through the years.

Kylie has been decorating houses for six years

Haylee has also been decorating houses since she was a baby