The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Part 2

Our December fun continued during the last half of the month. 

Matt and I had a fun eating at our Sunday School Christmas Party. 

Ruthann always plans the best game. We play the "Where are you going?" game every year. It's become a tradition. 

The next morning, the kids got to have Happy Birthday Jesus parties in their classes. Matt and I served in Katherine's class during the party. 

And then they all nicely asked the preschool coordinator if they could take home the leftover balloons. 

Elisabeth was about to float away, ha!

That evening we walked around Rhema and looked at the lights. 

These circles are always their favorite part of the light display. 

Katherine received some Christmas light glasses from her teachers, and they were a hit. We were all switching off wearing them as we looked at the lights. 

 Elisabeth had to write about one of her favorite Christmas traditions as an assignment, and she wrote about Santa Pancakes. We had them for dinner one evening during the week before Christmas. 

It's such a simple tradition that all the kids look forward to each year. 

The week before Christmas was also filled with lots of baking! The kids each asked to make special treats, and we also made a few to remember Grammy. 

We made fudge and potato candy to honor Grammy this Christmas season. She made them every year. 

Elisabeth also asked to learn how to make cake balls, so we made some of those as well. 

And Samuel had been craving puppy chow, so he made a batch of it all by himself. 

And of course we baked and decorated Christmas sugar cookies- another favorite tradition. 

We've come a long way in our cookie decorating as the kids get older. I remember not even attempting them for a few years when they were little, and I didn't have any extra margin for more messes. Now, they all do a great job, and we all look forward to it. 

We baked up a plate full of goodies to share with friends and family throughout the week of Christmas. 

Matt took a couple of days off work right before Christmas too, so we fit in plenty of board games during the break. 

Katherine's Christmas School Fun

 Katherine's last week of pre-k before Christmas Break was filled with festivities. 

I joined her at her Christmas party. She decorated cookies and participated in a book exchange. 

Goodness, I love being her mom and being able to be present during all these special activities. 

This sweet girl sat so patiently during the entire book exchange. She was the very last number and watched all her friends unwrap books before it was her turn. 

Finally! She ended up with a great book. She's a big Pete the Cat fan. 

The next day was the day she'd been preparing for and looking forward to for weeks! Her Christmas Program! Her excitement was contagious. She couldn't wait to perform in the play and sing all the sweet songs she'd been learning. 

This might be one of my favorite pictures ever of her. I just adore the joy on her face when she saw her fan club as she walked into the auditorium. 

I mean you can just feel the happiness she radiates, and she loves her people. 

Our Sweet Girl was a shepherd and did an excellent job. She was especially excited to get to hold a prop during the play and to be with two of her favorite friends at school. 

Her singing was beautiful too. I was so proud of her!

Each of the kids have sung "Happy Birthday Jesus" during their programs, and it's one of my favorite Christmas songs. I get emotional thinking about their precious little voices singing about Jesus' birthday. 

Her program was ADORABLE and such a bittersweet moment. I can't believe after six years of attending the Preschool Christmas Program, we closed the curtain on such a special Christmas Tradition. 

I will treasure the memories of my babies singing Christmas carols and acting out the Christmas story. 

My Joseph who rocked out to "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"

My Wiseman who repeatedly sang "Go Tell it on the Mountain" with all the motions to his newborn sister 

My other Wiseman who monopolized the microphone and practically yelled her line during the play. 

And my precious shepherd who knew her line and every other line said in the play and sang Happy Birthday Jesus regularly as she played at home. 

What a gift it is to be their mother and witness these milestones.