In the air there's a feeling of Christmas!

I realize that Christmas is over... but the fact that it is the first week in January and I have some December posts hitting the blog is quite impressive I think.  I realize that soon I need to tackle all the Christmastime photos, but for now, here are a variety of December pics capturing moments of our Advent season.  We really try not to do too much, so these photos are a glimpse at all of the events we do during the month.


The Christmas season starts with decorating our own house and then decorating at church.  We have a great team of helpers and we were basically done in a little over an hour this year.  Many hands make light work.  Having people my kids love there makes everything delightful!  

T: I love it when Bobbi holds me!

Church decorating day is always the first Saturday in December which is also the day of the local Christmas festival, parade, and fireworks.  The kids loved the parade, but were more focused on eating candy and being cold than much of the fireworks.

WOW!!!!!!  (A man with a hot air balloon fire thing was driving by.  It was impressive, but their faces of awe are priceless!)

Another December highlight for us is our Friday Night Group Christmas party.  We had a great time this year with lots of friends, food, gift exchanges and even a group game.  It was a special night!

You can tell it is a fun party when your entry way looks like this!

Kids gift exchange.

An intense game of Christmas Pictionary.

T's face in the gift she scored at the gift exchange! Slightly creepy.  Slightly like an ultra-sound image.

Church caroling and potluck night is one of our family's favorite nights.  The kids love riding on a big bus.  We all love the sounds of the voices mixing and the joy in the eyes of those we carol to.  Johnny is always a highlight for us.  He sings to us and with us each year.  While we do bless many residents, we get much more than we give!  Food with friends at church is a great way to end the night.

Johnny and our dear friend Doris!

Yummy potluck!

OK confession... the following photos are actually from November... early November I think.  It is the only time that it has snowed here so it must be from then.  As I type this (on January 2nd) we are still waiting for snow.  There is some in the forecast for tomorrow so we will see if it actually happens.  My Christmas trees are still up waiting for a white Christmas. :) 

Back to the photos... One Sunday morning in November M woke up at 4:40 to see this lovely site.  I managed to keep him in bed until 5:30, but he was outside shoveling the 1/4 inch of snow well before 6:00am.  By the time we went to church he had been outside a couple of times and T had also spent time outside.  The kids were in full winter gear and ready for snow balls and snowmen and angels etc.  We are hoping for enough snow to sled soon!

Please note all of the photos were taken from our back door.  Yahoo, my kids have gotten to the age where I can let them play outside in the snow while I watch from the warm house.  Don't worry, I will do plenty of sledding, but on a busy Sunday morning, not having to put on snow gear was pretty delightful!

The first photos were with a flash... it was just that dark!

Look at that hard work! Can you say Sensory OT?  It was an awesome morning!

M: I have this shoveling thing down!

Later that morning...

M: Come on T, let's wave to other classes.  T: I love watching people at church!

T: Snow is for eating, right?

T: Tastes good!

M: This is a little tricky with snow!