Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

No snow for Christmas this year in Wisconsin - in fact it was super warm the day after we didn't even need our jackets. We bought a real tree this year...after two years of artificial we were just not loving the idea-besides the lights burned out in one of the sections which made the decision that much easier to revert back.

Here are some of the fun memories we had...

Savannah performing with Show Choir

Our front room before Christmas exploded - the kids did most the decorating and did a good job!

Savannah and I decorated this gingerbread house while watching Rudolph. She had a few Littlest Pet Shop friends visiting as you can see. The frosting bag was super hard to squeeze and I didn't have the strength in my hands to help her like I normally would due to HM issues, so there wasn't any snow at this house either LOL. (BTW this had to be protected from the dogs reach, however the day after Christmas we found it on the floor with the roof missing.)

I just love looking at the stockings hung on the mantle!

Savannah as the "narrator" in the church play

Savannah didn't know I took this picture, we were waiting for our church program to start and as she saw us sitting behind her, she stuck her tongue out at Jake as she often does. Sibling rivalry. Heh.

Here she is with her school's "winter" concert. (I call it the Christmas concert however, society seems to be evolving this time of year to "holidays" or "winter" but not around me.) We were way up in the balcony so this was a pretty good shot considering she didn't know I was trying to take a picture. 

Here are both 5th grade classes -  when seeing them next to the kindergartners it reminded me of them when they were in 1st grade. Next year they will all be in middle school. Boo to growing up!

We went to the Botanical Garden to see the lights...no snow on the ground but it was still pretty. Afterward we stopped for Starbucks. It was a great new memory...maybe even the start of a new tradition.

They are a botanical garden so I think they felt inclined to have the lights reflect what you'd see in the summer time. We still have yet to go in the summer time...but we will!

This was very pretty. Reminded me of the movie Frozen.

We had a visitor spend the week at our house. Sassy is our friend's dog and she was very energetic (as it was her first Christmas-yes she is a pup) and loved attention.

Ha. Ma and Pa and Muffers (against her will I might add)

Savannah was so excited to give Jake her present to him. They are remote controlled bumper cars - they enjoy playing with them together. I think it was a good idea and she was very clever to find something that he and she could do to spend time together. 

I often look back at years past and remember how sad and depressed I'd get after Christmas was over...it is interesting now that I have Christ truly in my heart that I don't get these feelings any longer. Out of everything during this time of year I am so grateful for the gift God gave to us of His Son. For without it we would have no Hope.

Merry Christmas!