The 2013 Christmas Season

 We've had a lot of Christmas fun going on around here.  Kris is still traveling - 11 weeks - ha!  We're on 14 right now with no end in sight.  Just a break for Christmas.  I'm a little sick of everything and everyone, but I'm a mom - oh well!  So here are a few things we do for the Christmas season.
 

 I made sugar cookies for the kids to decorate one night.  They haven't eaten them, but then that's not the point!  They loved it - and actually worked on it for an hour!

We've had quite a bit of snow for December in Kentucky.  3 snow days already.   It's caused a bit of a problem for me getting things done without the kids and moved our St. Nick Night to daytime with only a few here.  But we had fun!  And the kids are loving the snow!  It's nice to be able to send them outside.  Today, Emma and Nick put on their boots to do some snow stomping, since there isn't enough anymore to really play.

 Emma had her holiday performance for dance.  She was beautiful and did a great job.  I can see a lot of improvement since last year.  The second picture is her face paint from her dance party this past Monday.  Another visit with Santa meant new things she asked for!

Ryan and Emma both 'performed' in our Christmas play at our church.  Emma was a shepherd and insisted on having a line - which she said perfectly.  Ryan was Joseph for the 3rd year.  He had no lines, but in contrast to the past years - he sang the songs with everyone else (a first for Ryan in any choir performance) and didn't try to make a little show of something (no grabbing the mike!).

 We had the Christmas Walk in Independence a week ago.  It was bitterly cold and we missed the parade - due to Kris's mistake in timing of dinner.  No worries, we still had fun.  The kids loved the cut outs and getting candy from all the companies on the walk.

 Yesterday, we had the final Cub Scout meeting for the year.  They sang songs, played Frozen Turkey Bowling and made a really long construction paper link chain that they used to jump rope with!  Of course, Santa was there and all my kids enjoyed seeing him again!

 These last 2 pictures are from the Christmas celebration at our gym, Silverlake.  They had a great time petting a camel, destroying a blow up reindeer barn, eating candy and spilling hot chocolate on the floor.  They also got to see some magic tricks and do some spin art, in addition to seeing Santa (this was the 1st time for the year).  Both Ryan and Nick are asking for a big drum set and Emma asked for a hang glider.  Not sure where she will put it or use it!

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family!