Christmas Eve in the Leaves

Christmas #2

Wrapping up 2011

Well, it's already February 2012...and I still haven't finished blogging about 2011.  I'll briefly sum up the final weeks of the old year starting with this adventure to see the lights in Chickasha on Dec 22.  It was cold and windy, but we bundled up and enjoyed them anyway.  

Birthday Celebrations

Sunday was a day of birthday celebrations- we celebrated Trace's birthday with lunch at Mom and Dad's then had a family party for Lucas at our house in the afternoon.

Christmas #1- December 10, 2011

 Lillian and Cole "meditating"

 It was such a beautiful day that the kids played outside all afternoon.

 Twins: boots, jeans, and a white t-shirt

Kids playing "Dirty Santa"- no one stole a present- they each wanted to open a new one!

Holiday Traditions

Decorating the Christmas tree was one of my fondest memories growing up.  I probably grumbled about it as a kid, but as an adult, it's something I remember liking.  Lillian and Lucas really like it!  They like hanging the special ornaments each has and talking about when/where they got it.  Lucas doesn't have as many memories as Lillian, but he is starting to enjoy this holiday tradition.

Our finished product 

Something we also do each year is make a chain to countdown the days until Christmas.   

A new tradition this year is my version of an Advent calendar.  I've seen the idea in different places around the Internet.  This is my take on it.  I wrapped as many winter/Christmas books as I could find around our house.  Many of these have been packed up since last Christmas.  I managed to find 15 books.  By picking up a few paperbacks and filling in with books from the library, I'll have 25 to start this on Dec.1.  Here's how it works:  each night someone picks one "present" from under the tree.  The book that is opened is the one we read that night before bed.  Since these are books they already have but don't always read, it seems like it's something new and we get to celebrate the season even more.  This is my first year to try this but I hope it becomes something the kids look forward to and I can change the books from year to year as their ages and interests change.  

Saturday Happenin's