The Christmas Season

I read a great quote that said, "It doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful." Well that is a relief for me!  If I was a perfect mom I would have probably taken way more photos this month and posted blogs multiple times a week to write about all the fun Christmas activities we have done this past month. If I was a perfect mom I would have planned out an advent activity calendar with something amazing for each day, like I have in previous years. But the reality is that I haven't blogged since my Thanksgiving post,  I've forgotten to take photos most of the time, and I didn't plan out 24 days of Christmas fun. But we've still done some WONDERFUL things this season.  I've tried every day to enjoy my 3 year old and to see Christmas magic through her eyes. I've read lots of stories about Jesus and Santa and Rudolph, hoping to keep the focus on celebrating Jesus. I've thought out special family moments, even if maybe I can't remember every one of those moments as I'm typing this. For this year I guess that will be good enough. So here is what we have done this past month:

1. We went to Southlake at night. We live close enough that going to Southlake itself is no big deal, but going at night during Christmas time is different. The big tree is so beautiful and they have fake snow machines. We even walked by the north pole station and waved at Santa.

2. We served at the Trophy Club Christmas event. We waited for Santa to pull up on the big fire truck and when he finally did Eva was so excited. And then too terrified to go near him. I actually let her decide this year and didn't make her sit on his lap.

This video is actually a good representation of our month: lots of running around. That's how Eva spends a good amount of every day. One of her favorite things to do is for me to put on a Pandora Christmas station while she runs in circles around the backyard. Easy enough.

3. We went Christmas caroling at a home for seniors. I LOVE going caroling. It is probably one of my favorite Christmas things to do. I told Ryan we could either go with our students or go just as a family to sing for people we knew. He made it a youth event :)

4. We made Christmas cookies with Mamy! If you ask me, the more sprinkles and frosting involved, the better.

5. We did lot of Christmas crafts! This is one where you use q-tips to paint dots that form letters for each page like "S is for Snowman." We used tons of paints, glue and glitter this season.

6. We finally saw Santa up close! Our church did an event called Growing Givers where the kids learn about giving. We even got to take a bike home to give to a little boy who didn't have one. Eva told Santa she wanted an "ice skater" which I'm pretty sure means a scooter. At least that's what I'm hoping it means on Christmas morning :) 

7. We made snowmen out of markers and styrofoam cups and "bowled" with a rolled up white sock that we called our "snowball." 

8. We made snow! I found a recipe using baking soda, shaving cream, and GLITTER!!!! Then we would roll up snowballs and pour vinegar on top of them which made the snow "grow" just like on Frozen. Very fun. Even messier. 

9. We went to the Galleria to see the big Christmas tree. There wasn't much to actually do at the Galleria but we did watch the ice skaters and get Starbucks. We had gone to Northpark the weekend before but I didn't take photos. Northpark is a way better kid mall than the Galleria.

10. We had a Christmas party with our small group and played lots of Minute to Win It games. Turns out I'm kinda awesome at Christmas trivia.

 11. We kicked off the Christmas week celebration with our Bradley/Emerson family!

All the little cousins exchange gifts and Eva got a Frozen board book set. I'm pretty sure she would be content if this was all she got for Christmas. She was seriously so happy to open these. It came with 12 books and we have read ALL of them at least 10 times. We've only had it for a little over a day. She also got a Pretty, Pretty Princess game that she was up and ready to play with early the next day. 

12. Our family surprised us with a showering of gifts for Jensen! Our little guy got some cute outfits and a nice stash of diapers. Thank you to everybody who surprised us! 

13. We've looked at Christmas lights. Alot. Our neighborhood kinda rocks when it comes to Christmas decorating so lots of nights we will just drive a few extra streets on our way home. We are the lame ones who don't have any wonderful lights out  - but you can see the strand we hung up on the inside of the playroom window when you drive by. Does that count? Maybe we can find some lights on clearance after Christmas. Regardless, I love looking at everybody else's lights. There is something magical about seeing beautiful lights on cold, dark nights. A few homes in our neighborhood even have lights timed to music stations which is always cool. I don't know that I would want to live next door to them but I sure enjoy driving by and seeing it.

We realized Monday night that this house even had an Olaf cutout that went along with the Olaf song. After we drove away Eva said in such a grown up voice, "That.was.amazing."

Merry Christmas to everyone! We have many family celebrations this week and I really am looking forward to enjoying every moment of it.