Christmas Carols

We had the opportunity to sing at an assisted living center with Chess's joy school class.  The kids did such a great job, and the ladies we sang for really liked it, as well.  This was probably my favorite Christmas activity we did this year.

Gingerbread Houses

We skipped making gingerbread houses last year, so I thought it was time to do it again.  I made the gingerbread from scratch, and although I don't like how it tastes, the houses turned out really well.  We saved candy from Halloween, so these houses were easy and cheap to make.















The girls loved them so much that we decided to throw them away the next day.  They got to eat plenty of candy, but they were nibbling on them constantly.  We had fun in the process, but it was time to say goodbye to the candy houses!

Cinnamon Ornaments

Unfortunately, they became toys and not many of them made it out alive!

Curly Sue

My little straight-haired girl thought she'd try out sleeping in sponge curlers for the first time.  She had fun bouncing those curls around!

Town Tree Lighting 2012

I kept telling Lera to "look at me," so Chess is holding Lera's head to help her look at me.  :)






We got to go on a horse-drawn carriage ride.




Riding the train.


Hot chocolate and Christmas movie afterwards.  Yea!

Going to See Santa 2012

We went to eat breakfast at Waffle House before going to Bass Pro Shop to visit Santa.


Love Lera's face.




Chess found the reindeer to ride on.


Lera got a moose.


The girls tried to accommodate me in posing for pictures.


Driving RC trucks.


Sweet sisters.


Shooting bows and arrows.


Lera was a little nervous to talk to Santa.


I love her hands over her mouth.  And Chess just talking away!  She told him she wanted a Strawberry Shortcake toy and My Little Pony toy.  He told her to be a good girl and listen to Momma and Daddy.  Good advice, Santa!


Lera liked getting a candy cane from Santa, though.


Candy canes!


Coloring.


Coloring.


Fish.

The end.

Decorating for Christmas

Lera had to make a wardrobe change during the tree decorating.




The next day I discovered them sitting at the tree like this, playing with the ornaments and putting their toys in the tree.  I lowered my expectations of keeping all the Christmas things in their places.  Hopefully we will be able to find it all when the time comes to box it back up.


Later that night, we got a dance show in front of the tree.  I hope it doesn't lose it's magic over the month!