Zoo Lights

We finally made it to Zoo Lights!  It was a warmer, dry evening and so the zoo was PACKED, but we really enjoyed our first outing to see the annual display of Christmas lights all around the zoo.  I think the bus ride to and from the overflow lot and chasing the cheetah lights were the highlight of the evening for the boys.  I thought the zoo looked beautiful and can't believe how many lights they have on!

Christmas Day

Picture collage with the Califonia Cousins during their visit for Zoey.

Grandma brought Kim's old Barbie house up from the basement for Zoey to play with her new Barbies and furniture.

The Three Kings blew out the Advent candles after dinner.

We traveled to Grandma & Grandpa J.'s house, as did Aunt Corrine, Uncle Mike, and Cousin Zoey.   All of the grandchildren got Leapster 2's and games to play on them.  They loved all of their gifts, but a big winner was Zoey's new make-up.  All four kiddos were extra quiet in the kitchen and when we went to investigate, we found they'd all applied make-up to themselves.  Ben probably used up half of Zoey's make-up alone.

Christmas Morning

Santa (and friends) were very good to us Christmas morning.  The boys enjoyed opening many, many gifts.  We were up before the sun, super excited to see what Santa brought.

Christmas Eve

We traveled to Grandma & Grandpa S.'s house for dinner and gift opening with Brian's side of the family, including Uncle Bob and Great Aunt Nadine.  The boys were excited about their pillow pets and electronic toys!

Christmastime Friends Fun

During the week leading up to Christmas, the twins took a class called "Littlest Elves Workshop" where they made hand wreaths and these cute elf masks.  Kelly stopped by to say hello and delivered stockings full of goodies including reindeer antlers for the boys.  Angie sent stockings and gifts that I let the boys open around 4 PM every day.  These gifts saved my sanity!

Christmas Cookies

 

The boys and I made cookies this afternoon for Santa Claus.  I discovered a new super easy recipe:  3 eggs, 1/2 cup oil, one cake box.  Best cookies!  Frost them and even yummier!  I also baked some of the peanut butter cup cookie dough we bought from Carson's school.  This was definitely my kind of baking day.  

Visit to Santa

Baby Jesus Count

Since Carson didn't have school last Monday, and I was subbing that day, he was able to attend his old Kindergarten, where the twins attend Pre-K.  Last year, when all three were regular attenders, our Baby Jesus Count got up to 12, I believe.  This year, we are at 8, thanks to two crafts done on that Monday.  Here are the crafts from last Monday with our manger scene Baby Jesus.

Our "Charlie Brown" Christmas Tree

We didn't have to trek down this hill to find our tree!

An extremely dangerous looking bridge and tree house that Gavin really wanted to test out.

Ahhh.  Somewhere safe and warm, inside the store, operating Lego trains.

So, does it look like any of the boys wanted to pose for this?  Yeah.  They were ready to head home.

We checked out a new Christmas tree farm this year and were very pleasantly surprised.  We even plan to visit again this December, just to check out more of the farm.  Brian found a section posted:  Charlie Brown Christmas Trees- $5.  His eyes sparkled as he told me this and I knew we had to get one of these trees.  I was skeptical as to what we would find.  The first tree he picked up to inspect was bent about 2/3 the way up at a 45 degree angle.  I vetoed that one immediately.  The second tree looked pretty good.  The rest were tiny.  We went with option #2.  This works for me since I don't do well with too many options.  Also, I purchased a cheap fake tree on Saturday, just anxious to get "any" tree up for the kids.  They love both, of course, so that makes us happy.

At this farm, there is a small store selling homemade crafts and goodies with a Lego and remote control train display.  The boys LOVED this.  They pushed buttons to make the trains go around while Brian took care of the tree.