25 Days of Christmas: Days 16-24

Day 16: While Johnny napped we made snowflakes with Q-tips and glue.

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Day 17: Daniel and I went to an ugly sweater party at a friend's house. My sweater was voted ugliest out of the women in group. This meant the kids got to have a babysitter come over, which Addie LOVES.

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Day 18: I don't remember what we did.

Day 19: We went to Fantasy Lights.

Day 20: A friend gave me a story with the symbols of Christmas with little felt symbols.

Day 21: We watched Charlie Brown Christmas. Someone at work gave Daniel the DVD and CD of it.

Day 22: I got out our laminated nativity set for Johnny. Addie got stickers.

Day 23: We read "A Christmas Orange" together. Then of course ate oranges.

Day 24: Christmas Eve! The kids opened one present. They picked the ones that their Aunt Melanie and Aunt Nicole gave them. They were pretty excited.

25 Days of Christmas: Day 15 Pre School Christmas Program

We headed over to Addie's preschool for their annual Christmas program. Last year I sent her in regular clothes, I think brightly colored striped pants to be exact. When we got there most of the other little girls were dressed in nice dresses! So...this year we were better prepared. She even let me do her hair, which is actually a HUGE deal these days.

I tried getting a picture of my little man while we were waiting for the program to start and this is all I got. Why does he have to be so difficult!?!

I realize that this photo is focused on the guys head in front of me, but you can still see her smiling at me.

I was so proud of her this year. Last year she just stood there the whole time. Not singing and barely doing the hand movements. This year she sang (most of the songs) and looked like she knew what she was doing.

He wants to go to school like his big sister SO bad!

After the program we headed over to the coffee shop next door to get some hot chocolate with our friends. I am not sure why I don't have a photo of Addie and the other kids together.

25 Days of Christmas: Days 6-14

Day 6:

The kids and I made cookies. When Daniel got home we delivered plates to a few of our neighbors. The kids were so excited to take them to other people!

Loading the plates.

He really wanted to eat them!

And of course there was a tantrum from my 4 year old over who knows what.

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Day 7:

I pulled out the kids Christmas books. They are the books I gave them last year but I kept them with the Christmas decorations so they were like having brand new books because they hadn't seen them for a year!

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Day 8: The kids got to play with their magnetic Christmas tree and ornaments.

Day 9: I found some patterns on-line to make paper snow flakes. I thought I got pictures but I can't find them!

Day 10: We went to our ward Christmas party and the kids got to see Santa. Our friend in the ward is a photographer and took pictures of all the families.

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Day 11: Watched the DVD 'A King is Born'

Day 12: For our family home evening night we talked about the Nativity and had Addie help tell us the story using out felt Nativity scene.

Day 13: Drove around the neighborhood to look at lights. There is a house not too far from here that has their lights programed to music and it plays over a certain radio station. Great entertainment for the kids and we sat there for about 20 minutes!

Day 14: This one didn't really have anything to do Christmas or winter but we can't do something super great everyday! We went to our monthly ward potluck.

25 Days of Christmas: Days 5 Zoo Lights

Zoo Lights has always been on our list of things to do but it never happens. This year we have a family pass to the zoo so we got a discount on the tickets and decided to give it a try! It was something that was probably fun to do once, I don't know if we will go back again. It was super cold and a little expensive.

The whole zoo was decorated in lights. We didn't get to see any of the animals that are usually out, only lights.

This was one of our favorite displays. It's the Tacoma Narrows bridge.

Here is another view. Love how they used red and white lights for head lights and tail lights.

The aquarium was open. This happens to be Johnny's favorite exhibit at the zoo anyway. Plus it was nice to go inside and warm up for a minute.

We had to stop at the snack place and warm up with some hot chocolate. And silly faces.

25 Days of Christmas: Days 1-4

Day 1: Paper chain.

We made 2 green links. One for our first appointment with the midwife and one for Christmas.

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Day 3: Santa Parade

Addie looks forward to this all year. This year it was freezing.

But they loved it.

Earlier in the day Addie and I stopped in the Princess store by our house. She had been dying to go in and look around but it's not somewhere I want to take Johnny. Anyway, while we were there the store owner mentioned that the princesses would be back at the store after the parade and there would be hot chocolate and cookies.

She was so excited to go there. There was no talking her out of stopping by that store on our way home even though we were all frozen and tired. She thought being in there with the princesses was going to be the best thing ever.

She's only little for a short time so we went with it. Turned out it was nice to stop and warm up half way home.

And the cookies and hot chocolate were good.

And this 4 year old was in heaven.

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Day 2: (I know these are out of order, sorry!) Christmas pajamas

My kids love their pajamas. I try every year to find matching ones. I'm sure they will be wearing these long after Christmas. Probably until June here!

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Day 4: Little People Nativity Set

We bought this for them last year but didn't pull it out with all of the Christmas stuff. They were just as excited about it this year as they were last. That's what great about toys you only play with once a year!

Daddy's Helpers

The kids have been on a 'I want to be with Daddy' kick lately. Which is totally fine with me. One Saturday Addie wanted to help rake the leaves and another day Johnny was helping paint the back entry way.

This girl loves to run.

Raking leaves isn't fun unless you get to mess up the pile, right?

She loves to wear her snow suit. All the time. Rain or shine.

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Love how Johnny is reaching up like Daniel trying to help.

Chewing on the paint brush.

Johnny loves to get into my tool bag and walk around 'fixing' things. He thought the back door needed some work.