December 20

This morning we joined some friends in caroling in a nursing home. One little woman wheeled herself into the hallway and started crying. She said she couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present. Awesome! I am glad my girls got to be a part of it. Elliott and Clay spent time doing male-bonding (insert Tim Allen's gorilla grunt). 

After lunch, Jill, Mollie, Lana, Camryn, and Peggy came over to make and decorate sugar cookies with us. We got done just in time for Clay to call me and ask for me to come pick him and Elliott up. Clay's car was broken down. He has spent the rest of this evening getting it towed, buying the part (right axel), and dealing with all of that. One day our life will not be crazy, right? Yeah, we don't think so either.

 

 

 

 

December 19

Clay took the day off work and we headed to the Creation Museum for the day. It's hard to pass up free tickets. There was an event going on tonight called Christmas Town. There was a live nativity and tons of lights.

 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory..." John 1:14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The pictures of the Christmas lights don't do them justice. They were beautiful. The only pitfall was that it was 29 degrees outside, so we ran through the garden and then went back inside for hot chocolate.

December 18

Elliott's preschool Christmas program was last night. He did a good job on stage of singing the songs and not letting all the distractions bother him.... and there were plenty of distractions. It was cute. Click HERE for the video.

 

 Elliott's head is poking out from behind the little girl in the black sweater.

 

Elliott and Matthew

December 17

Yesterday was a bust. I woke up feeling fine, but by 9:30am felt like someone was twisting my insides and I was nauseous. Mamaw Pat and Julia came to my rescue. Julia fed everyone lunch while I slept (she did this without being asked to) and Mamaw Pat picked Elliott up from preschool, took everyone to gymnastics, fed them dinner, and took everyone to Elliott's basketball practice. Tuesdays are my crazy days and the worst day for me to get sick - especially when Clay is out of state for work and can't come home to help out. Thank you so much Mamaw! By late afternoon I felt much better. Clay got home late last night. Yay! No more traveling until 2015.

Today was a much better day (for me, anyway). After dropping Elliott of at preschool, the girls and I had to run errands. It was easier to stay out all morning than to get home and turn around and leave again to pick Elliott up from school. We just brought all of Julia and Kat's school work with us and got the majority of it done in the car.

 

 We went to story time at a library across town.

 And we wore this little girl out. They look so peaceful when they sleep.

 

After preschool, we headed to Mamaw and Bapaw's house to play with Abbie and make some cookies.

Tonight is Elliott's preschool Christmas program. There should be videos tomorrow morning...

December 16

Clay left in the wee hours yesterday morning for Texas. Thankfully he'll be home late tonight. Yesterday was our last co-op until after Christmas. In addition to our classes, we had a small program, and pizza/cookies for lunch. 

 

 

 

 This is Elliott's Sign Language class doing a song for the program.

 

 Kat had her second basketball practice last night. Upwards basketball takes a break halfway through practice for a devotion.

We went to a neighborhood and a park across town that have alot of Christmas lights. Fun!

December 15

Yesterday was Lucy's 3rd Birthday party. It was a Frozen themed party (as were 99% of all little girls' parties this year).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Even the Aunts made snowmen!

 Playing Hot Potato with a snowball (a big marshmallow)

 

 

 Pin the nose on Olaf...

 

 ...or Papaw G

 

Ummm.... Mamaw, I want a pair of these house slippers too.

December 14

I woke up and made Lucy's birthday cake (party is today).

 

 While Clay and Julia went for a 2 mile run, the other three kids and I made peppermint bark for Sunday School teachers, piano teacher, gymnastics coaches, etc. 

 Julia made yummy chocolate chip cookies to welcome Clay home. He declared them the best cookies ever. So now Julia thinks she is a better cook than me! Heck, she probably is!

 

 

 Julia went to a fun art birthday party yesterday.

 

We made Bethlehem for Truth in the Tinsel. I love my windows right now!