December Days 2012

Our Christmas season started early this year.  The day after Thanksgiving to be exact.  Nate left the Saturday after Thanksgiving for a two week trip to China with his UGA Executive MBA Program.  That meant we had only one day to get the bulk of our Christmas decor out and up in a crash course of Christmas tree decorating, the first viewing of the Polar Express and getting the boxes out, unloaded and back up before he left for the airport.  Shew!  It was a busy but fun day.  We didn't want to do any of those special and memorable things without him.

The first day of December came and we were ready to go.  Nana and Papa were in town visiting giving me much needed help and the kids who missed their Daddy a great distraction.  We brought the new season in with a special festive breakfast, first gifts of Christmas and the launch of all things special like our The Jesus Storybook advent reading, Christmas countdown treat and our evening reading of our advent book.  The kids got Elfie, our Elf on the Shelf, was off on his inaugural visit at our place.

Cutie pies in their new Christmas Jammies!

Daddy Came Home!  All four of us were so thankful and happy to be back together again.

Will had his Christmas performance at school.  It was the cutest thing ever.  My wonderful parents and sister drove in that morning and met us at Will's concert.  His performance happened to fall on my birthday, so they generously took the kids back to GA with them so Nate and I could have a date night.  Will knew the plan but didn't get to see them until he took the stage, since they met us at his school. Once the performance was over and applause had died down but the kids had not yet filed off stage, Will yelled out so everyone could hear, "NANA!  I'm coming to your house!!!"  Much laughter.  Super cuteness.

While the kids were in town they got to have lunch with Gramma and then go back to her office and see Grampa.  They had a blast!

We did ginger bread houses with Nana, Aunt Emily and Aunt Emmy later that weekend.  The kids had so much fun and took it very seriously.  Laura was totally into decorating for quite a while but then all of a sudden she realized she could eat the candy and it was game over for any further decorating attempts.  

 Playing some fun educational games with Papa on his iPad.  Just kidding, I think it they were racing.

 Will's class Christmas party at school.  Love that little man!

 Laura was in love with our nativities this year.  Yes, that is plural.  She carried the people around, read them stories, talked to them, lost them, found them and just all around loved them.  Below is a picture of her putting them night night.  She gathered a few, laid them on the floor, covered them with a blanket and then proceeded to sing them a song.  She then laid down her belly and gave each one a kiss.  Cutest thing ever.

We had a great opportunity this year to go to a live Nativity.  It was such a great experience.  We went with my MOPS table and their children.  It was such a great educational tool and just awe inspiring reality to watch the story unfold in real life before our eyes.  The kids soaked it up.  This will certainly become a new tradition.  Here they are mesmerized by the Heavenly host.

 My loves.