Christmas 2014

Christmas Eve began with the Nativity Pageant at St. Mark's.  I had two sheep and a shepherd.

 The Elf on the Shelf was watching from the pulpit. 

 The children gathered around to hear the Christmas Story and shined their lights during "Silent Night".  The sheep were well behaved.

 After church we went to Dearie's.  Gardner just had to play in the tree.

 The kids changed into PJs after dinner and we opened presents.

Both girls got fur vests

 Gardner got some worker man attire.

I was also wearing my fur vest that evening so we had to take a fur group photo (don't worry - it's all FAKE).

 We set out our cookies and milk for Santa.  We had sprinkled our reindeer food on the lawn earlier in the day.

 Santa paid us a visit!!  Maisey's list included an "American Girl" doll with a rolling suitcase.  She can't read so she doesn't know her doll is also FAKE.  She also received a few outfits for the doll, a hair styling kit, and toy makeup.

 Gardner did NOT get the "real chainsaw" he had been asking for, but he was pretty happy with his trucks and PlayDoh Diggin Rigs.

 Malloy got some clothes, a doorbell for her bedroom, Camp Waldemar charms and an art set.

 Frozen dresses from Santa!

 Barbie and a DVD

 Lego man flash light

 Dress for Isabel (the real AG doll)

 Puppies in a carrier

 Stylish clothes from "Justice".  

Gardner and his dump truck, excavator, crane truck and road signs.

Christmas 2014 we pretty low key and laid back.  After opening presents, we just hung out all day and went out for Japanese food that night.

Trip to the Gaylord Texan

We ventured over to Grapevine, Texas for a weekend of winter fun.  First stop was the Ice exhibit.  It was a chilly 9 degrees inside, but they provided warm coats and we came prepared with hats and gloves.  

 Maisey's jacket was a little too short which prevented her from gliding down the slide of ice.

There was a really beautiful nativity made entirely of ice at the end of the exhibit.  Unfortunately, we didn't get to admire it for long because Gardner was sobbing about how cold he was.  Poor baby would never survive a Chicago winter!

After exiting the Ice displays, we warmed up with some hot chocolate (which no one would drink) and cupcakes and paid a visit to Frosty the Snowman.

Then we headed over to see Mrs. Claus and she read the story of Frosty the Snowman while the kids enjoyed some cookies and milk. 

 Next up was the snowtubing.  Unfortunately, the lines had grown longer throughout the day.  We were allowed 12 snowtubing runs, but only did 3 because the kids (and adults) were getting worn out.

 Grandma and Gardner

 Maisey and Papa

 Our next activity was gingerbread man decorating.

And a visit to Gingy.

The next day, we hopped on board the North Pole Express in Grapevine, TX.  It was a nice train ride followed by a short program and a picture with Santa.

The girls and Mrs. Claus

Gardner and the conductor.

We all received some "frosty chocolate milk" in a souvenir cup.

 One last photo with Santa for the year.

Christmas Performances & Parties

We started off the final week of school with the Second Grade Holiday Extravaganza!  Mrs. Woodley's class did an excellent job.  Malloy had a short solo (the first line of "Let It Go!") and everyone had a speaking part.  She did a great job dancing, singing and loudly and clearly speaking.  She was also thrilled to find out that she got the role of Allie in the "big" 2nd grade play which will be at the end of February.  That is the part that she wanted.  It has lots of lines to memorize, a solo and a duet.  

The twins had their program on Wednesday.  They were in the front row, but weren't quite as animated as Malloy was in her program.

 They love their teacher so much, that they wouldn't let her go!

 Dearie and her darlings.

The twins dressed up as Elves for the cover of their Elf book from St. Paul's.  I was the official class photographer.

I missed Malloy's class party, but since I am the room mom for Gardner and Maisey I had to be at theirs.  We had a birthday party for baby Jesus complete with candles on a cookie cake.

 I made Rudolph water bottles

 The cookie cake had lots of frosting and 13 candles - one for each child in the class.  The kids were sitting at two different tables, so the ones at the far table did not actually get to blow out the candles.

 This was quite upsetting to Gardner and Maisey.

 They were the only two who were devastated that they did not get to blow out candles, so I put a candle on each of their slices of cookie cake and let them blow one out.  Then they were happy again!