Christmas has been so fun and enjoyable! Santa came early because we will be in Utah! We are so glad that he found us! These girls got up at 5:45 and played with their stuff throughout the day! It was so much fun to see them open a gift and take the time to play with it before they would open the next gift.
Ashlyn got a karaoke machine.
It was inspired with me having a girls' night out with my friends here in Lufkin. We went to dinner and then to someone's house to have a karaoke night. I will tell you that karaoke is so out of my comfort zone because I can't sing at all, but the end of the night I was crowned queen of karaoke. I was so hyper and I felt like I was back in my college days of goofing around. I had a blast and thought the girls would absolutely love it!
Thank you Nana and Grandpa for the fun dollhouse. This will be used for many hours.
Ashlyn got an art activity kit that she has already spent many hours on.
Pillow cases from Gramps and Granny!
Blowing up rocket balloons!
Claire got a bike! The girls made masks.
It was 73 degrees outside on our "Christmas Day". Oh what fun!
Strongest dad in Texas!
This little one was content just watching.
These girls love their Mama!
Cheese!
Working on all the coloring books! Mom got just as excited as Ashlyn working on hers.
Brinley loves her baby sister! Sometimes she has a hard time letting her sleep because she wants to play with her.
This momma loves making her babies laugh!
The girls took turns singing songs
We got some fun games from Nana and Grandpa Williams. We definitely got some good exercise.
We went to an event at the Expo Center and it is called Old Bethlehem! It was amazing! To get into the expo center you "paid your taxes" (50 cents) and then you walked into "Bethlehem". It really seemed like it was back in the day. You walk in and everyone is talking about a baby that was born- the savior. Everyone would ask you if you have seen the baby yet. He was in the very back corner of the center and you had to find the star which would lead you to the baby. It was so neat!
They had people that were trying to "sell" items so they could earn enough to pay their taxes. These people were selling wheat and grain. The kids could feel them all.
This was the Rabbi and the kids would enter the "classroom".
These people were "selling" musical instruments and playing the songs.
There were live animals that the kids would pet and admire.
Brinley was getting water from the city well.
These women were selling blankets and teaching kids to weave.
This girl went on a joyride riding in this stroller on dirt ground.
This old town of bethlehem was so wonderful to me. It really made me feel like I was in the town of Bethlehem the night that Christ was born. It was an amazing spirit! The "city" was so busy and then in the very corner was the Christ child in the silent and stillness of the night. It was a place of admiration and wonder. How grateful I am for that very special night that makes it the reason why we celebrate Christmas.
I love living in this small town and the city events that bring the community together. We went to a light parade and the theme was Disney. The girls all were thrilled to see all the princesses and different Disney characters. It was fun to hear these gitty girls be fill with joy and excitement.
Frozen
Star Wars
Oh these girls love watching Christmas movies! It is a must!
One that they absolutley love is Mickey Mouse Christmas! We made Mickey Pancakes and enjoyed the movie right after. I think we have watched it like 20 times and they aren't sick of it.... on the other hand, I am good until next year.
Holiday decorations bring me so much joy!!! I love it!!!
Nana thank you so much for the toy that you got Claire for her birthday! The kids love it!
We changed things up for Mommy School and Brinley does 2 pages a day in her homework. She loves it and is learning so much! She enjoys being like Ashie and having homework.
Mommy School: H is for Holiday
Writing letters in the snow (shaving cream).
I thought it would be fun to be Santa by putting bubbles on our faces.... This is what the girls thought.... they didn't like the idea.
We made a sleigh and watched a Holiday show!
Thank you Grandma Martinson for sending us the 12 days of books to open until Christmas. This is a fun tradition that we did when I was a little girl and I love passing on this tradition to my kids!
Recently I have been trying to be more in the moment with these cuties. I haven't been rushing in the morning and taking advantage of the moments of hugs, kisses, story reading, giggles, and fun. I seriously have the best job in the world raising these girls! It really is a blessing to be a stay at home mom!
This girl found one of my dresses and put it on her head and said, " Mommy look, I am Mary."
Last year my mom got me a book that has changed my Christmas' forever. Each night we focus on a character in the nativity where we learn about their perspective and do an activity.
Mary- We watched the nativity on Mormon Channel and pondered about Jesus. Ashlyn thought of the song, "mary did you know...song" this song is where mary ponders about Jesus and who he will become. It really made me realize that night that I have the responsibility to teach my kids about Jesus through my words and actions to prepare them for their life mission on earth.
Shepherds- Talked about how the candy canes represent shepherds' canes and they went to find the baby with haste. We then read Christmas stories, drank hot chocolate, and had a candy cane.
3 Wise Men- We went and drove around to look at Christmas lights and find baby Jesus. Whenever we found baby Jesus we would yell, "BBAABBBYYY JJJEEESSSSUUUSSS!" It was adorable!
Angels- we went caroling with the youth in our ward.
Joseph- He served Mary and baby Jesus by finding a place for this special night. We did a service by getting a present for someone in our ward and running and dropping it off on their doorstep. We were too slow and they caught us, but it was fun for the whole family.
These girls have enjoyed doing gymnastics for the past 5 weeks at the rec center. They had a parent show to show everything that they have learned. The girls did awesome!
Daddy was able to miss work and watch Ashlyn perform her dance routine. (Yeah, he knows he needs a haircut)
We finally got Claire's princess bed all together! She loves it!
Thanks mom and dad for getting this bed for Ashlyn so long ago!
FHE: Making Holiday Wreaths
I had a toothache and Derek was about to redo a filling during his lunch hour. I tried the gas for the first time and I felt like I was laughing so much! During the procedure I touched Derek's leg and told him that the gas is so great for our relationship! I was so relaxed and carefree, which is usually the opposite of what type of a patient I am.
Derek bought a snowman blow-up for his office and a nativity for our house. The girls were his great helpers! Derek was thinking about buying a Santa blow-up for our house, but we wanted to let our neighbors know that Mormons believe in Jesus! ha ha.
During lunch Derek will come home and he has an odd way to relax... he will clean the swimming pool and of course he has so cute helpers!
These roses are in full bloom by our swimming pool.
This little girl finally got into a crib. She has enjoyed her bassinet and had a hard transitioning to a crib. She loves to poke her little feet out. It is too adorable!
