Our living advent calendar…

I had great intentions of documenting each our living advent calendar projects…but now it is January 17.  So I’ll backtrack a little for the case of documentation for our family.

We did craft projects…we made a few ornaments and painted a few Christmas figurines.

 

We ate snowmen cake pops.  Thanks to Mrs. Kimberly for sharing them with us…I know she put hard work into those.

We traveled to Alabama for my Papaw’s birthday and an early Christmas celebration with my mom’s family.  One night we went to see my mom’s cousin house…she has an extreme number of lights on her house.  (like one of those houses people pay to come and see the lights)

My grandparents live in the country and near their house is a Christmas tree farm.  One night we were able to go and see where Christmas trees are grown.

One morning we had Christmas donuts at Krispy Kreme (I let them pick the donut of their choice.  They usually end up preferring the taste of plain glaze over the taste of the cooler looking donut.) 

We made Rudolph, Clarisse and Bumble at Build-a-Bear.  These are still a few of our favorite stuffed animals.  We developed a BIG love for all things Rudolph this year.  We saw the production of Rudolph at the start of December…I think that started our love for the red-nosed guy and his friends.

Our pre-school Christmas party was a HIT.  Santa at the party wasn’t.  Marlee, Lilly and Beau are still a little scared of the big guy in red.  We wouldn’t sit in his lap, but did give a high five in exchange for a candy cane.

One morning we played and played at McDonald’s with our neighborhood friends.  We swapped books for Christmas after our breakfast.  All three kids got books that they still love and read.  (Beau wasn’t interested in the picture.  I think he is climb in the playground on the step just above the one seen in this picture.)

On the Saturday before Christmas, we traveled to Duncan, Oklahoma for our Christmas celebration with Mimi-Lin’s family.  They kids had a great time getting lots of attention from everyone and playing with cousin Drayton.  Below is a picture of Grandmom and Jack and their great-grandchildren (minus Gibson and Graham).

We attempted gingerbread houses and FAILED!  Next year I’ll assemble the houses BEFORE requesting the assistance of my three children.  We had a great time and the kids enjoyed the candy.

This year, I was determined to get an actual picture with all three kids and Santa.  (Our first year…Sam and I were afraid of the germs Santa could give us.  Last year Beau, Marlee and Lilly were afraid of him and wouldn’t get near.)  I didn’t plan on myself being in the picture, but when we arrived I knew the kids wouldn’t go for it without me.   It isn’t a great photo, but I achieved my goal for a picture with Santa and all three kids.