We started the season with an FHE about the true meaning of Christmas and brought out the children's nativity set. They really love this nativity!
Ellie introduced baby Jesus to every princess and took him on a tour of the dollhouse
Jude, of course, immediately built a train track around the manger.
Eleanor joined in and took baby Jesus on a train ride with the princesses. I love Ellie's reaction to baby Jesus; every time she sees a picture or talks about baby Jesus she says "Baby Jesus! Aw! He's widdle just like baby Woocy!" She's also convinced that the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi is in every nativity display.
My newest nativities this year. You may recall that I love to collect them! The white one on the left is from Italy, courtesy of Anziano Langlois, and the colorful one on the right is from Africa, a gift from my in-laws.
Okay, so I really wanted to start this tradition of Christmas pjs, Christmas movie, and special popcorn on December 1st. And like all fun things I try to do with my children, it quickly descended into chaos. First, no one would eat their dinner, so we had meltdowns, tantrums, and several times outs. Then, brilliant Mom trying to follow some pinterest instructions to make popcorn, literally lit the stove on fire. We finally got it all settled and popcorn made, and Jude totally lost it during the movie. I think he just got over-tired, so when Frosty the Snowman melted he ran out of the room crying and declaring that it was time for bed. Oh well. Fun memories?
Baby Lucy rocks her Christmas pjs and a smile
I absolutely insisted that we get a REAL tree this year. I actually went so far as to get rid of our old tiny fake one at our last garage sale so we wouldn't have any excuses. Even though we were all still pretty miserable and sick (and Jude had an undiagnosed ear infection) I forced us out of the house to get a tree. I knew if we waited much longer it wouldn't happen, plus I was tired of my Christmas boxes sitting in the middle of the living room. We decided to just try out Home Depot for a tree this year (it seemed much cheaper and easier). Unfortunately, it was a little disappointing; they didn't have any of the trees actually out for you to look at so it was kind of hard to tell what they really looked like. The one we chose ended up having a lot of branches on one side, so even though it's standing up straight it always looks like it's leaning to one side. Next year I think I'll insist on the tree farm for the full experience.
The kids were super excited to pick out a tree just like Curious George in their favorite Christmas movie.
I admit, I was a little nervous about tying a tree to the roof of our car, but we made it home!
Most of our ornaments have been slowly moving to the middle of the tree, thanks to the toddlers.
Ellie was overjoyed to find her Minnie Mouse ornament from last year...which she kept sneaking off the tree until it broke.
all lit up!
We spent last Sunday at the urgent care, finally getting Jude help for his ear infection. Poor kiddo.
Dad and Jude show off their matching Christmas pjs.
Jude has been begging me to take him to Ikea to get this little wooden train he declared "the BART train" a couple years ago. He saved his birthday money so I finally agreed to take him out there. Of course, I told him we could go on Tuesday before I realized he had an ear infection. But this kid never forgets or relents so the following Tuesday we went, runny noses and all. "I'm just sick but I think I feel a little better on Tuesday," he insisted over and over.
One night Peter had to work late so we went out to look at Christmas lights to kill time. These guys were definitely the winners for most lights; the picture really doesn't do it justice.
But I think the next door neighbors were the best display.
I really wanted to put a nativity display this year. Unfortunately, the only ones I can find are the giant blow ups or lighted lawn ones, which we just don't have space for. So I decided to try and make a silhouette one, along the same lines as our Halloween witch. I am a terrible artist, but I managed to copy one I saw on the internet somewhat decently. Peter hates the star, but that's about as fancy as I can get. It does light up very nicely at night though! Every time Ellie sees it she happily yells, "BABY JESUS!!"
And of course we made a gingerbread house! We were going to do the whole graham cracker from scratch thing, but that was way too much work for a sick mom, so we just bought a kit (again).
Dad is the best gingerbread house maker, hands down.
I went out to the mall to do a little clothes shopping for upcoming family photos with this cute girl:
She really needs new shoes! But once she saw the "let it go" rainboots on display I couldn't get another pair on her feet.
So now we have some very cheesy Frozen rainboots and no tennis shoes that actually fit. Oh well. It's El Nino year, right?
Ward Christmas party!
I've been trying to talk up Santa this year in hopes that my kids would actually not be scared.
Didn't work.
We helped Jude write a letter to Santa before we went so he wouldn't have to talk to him. Here he very tentatively delivers the letter from behind Mom's back.
Real life people.
Ellie was very excited to see Santa until she got up close of course. She did manage to tell him she wants a "Belle doll" this year.
Ah, the wonderful Santa picture. Just like a pinterest blog.
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is making lots of goodies and taking them to friends and neighbors, complete with caroling.
After the supply run.
Baked and ready for plate assembly!
Ready to share! Jude and Ellie loved caroling, at least at first. Once Jude decided it was too cold he refused to participate and just stood at the door with his back turned. Eleanor loved it so much she melted down when we told her we were done. At least she actually jingled her bells and sang along!
We're getting very excited for our first Christmas by ourselves at home. Hopefully it won't be too quiet. (I seriously doubt that it could be with these three.)
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