Advent Calendar - Day 4

On Sunday, the kids got to decorate gingerbread houses.  Poor Gracyn missed out on this because we did it during nap time, but the big two absolutely loved it.  Last year we just decorated one house, so this year I decided we would do a little village.  Well, it was quite a mess.  I think I will stick to just one house from now on or at least until they can build the houses a little better by themselves.

 Gaitley liked eating the candy best!

 Gaitley's finished houses

Garrett's finished houses

North Pole Breakfast, Visiting Santa and Advent Calendar

 I love this busy time of year.  Our days are packed with fun, family traditions, new and old.  We got our Elf on the Shelf, Elvie, last year and the kids were so excited for him to return.  He came back the Sunday after Thanksgiving and even brought a breakfast straight from the North Pole with him.  We had white powdered donuts, chocolate milk and Hershey Kisses.  The kisses were from Santa of course.  He even brought each kid a new pair of Christmas socks too.  I got this idea from pinterest and it is definitely going to be something we do from now on.  The kids absolutely loved it!

 The set-up.  I think I was just as excited about Elvie returning as the kids were.

 They were so happy to see Elvie.  After I took the pictures the night before I had to move Elvie to the light fixture above the table.  I didn't want him to accidentally get touched and lose his magic.

 Yummy!

 Each kiddo got a letter from Elvie too.  He told them he was glad to be back and reminded them that he was going to keep an eye on them until Christmas.

After our North Pole breakfast we headed up to Bass Pro Shops to get a picture with Santa.  Two out of the three loved it.  Not too bad!  Our percentage is getting better each year. :)

 Garrett was happy!

 Gaitley was happy!

 Gracyn was not so happy!

Advent Calendar - Day 1
We have been doing our Advent Calendar for a couple of years now.  I had to change things up a bit this year.  It was getting way too expensive.  We are going to focus more on family fun activities than getting little gifts each day.  They did get their Christmas pajamas in it today, but they were going to get those anyway.  Here are some of the other ideas I have:
*watch a Christmas movie and enjoy a special treat
*make a Christmas craft
*drive around and look at Christmas lights
*write a letter to Santa
*make a Christmas ornament
*listen to Christmas music and bake Christmas cookies
*make snowflakes
*read the story about the birth of Jesus out of the Bible
*do a random act of kindness
*unwrap a new Christmas book to read tonight
*make a gingerbread house

Garrett has been waiting for December 1st for weeks now and it was no surprise that he woke up at 5:45 ready to find his surprise.  I made him go back to bed and told him we couldn't do it if he continued to wake up that early.  Hopefully he will sleep in a little later tomorrow.  If not, it might be a long month.

New Christmas pajamas

So Thankful

This holiday season I am reminded of how blessed Britt and I truly are.  We have three wonderful and healthy kids.  We have incredible parents and grandparents that love them so much and are always there for us.  Britt has a great job and I am so lucky to be a stay-at-home mom.  I couldn't ask for more. 

 The girls playing in the leaves.

 Garrett with his goggles, he did this last year too.  He says the goggles keep the leaves out of his eyes.

 Sweet Gaitley looked so cute for her Thanksgiving Feast at school.

 Garrett's Kindergarten Class

 Kindergarten Feast

 Mimi and Gracyn

 My Nanny Gwen and Gaitley

 I finally got all the kids to smile with Nanny.

 Happy Thanksgiving - after about 15 shots this was the best we got.  :)

 Cayla and Gaitley

 Sweet Garrett

 Pop and Gracyn

 Grandma and Grandad with the kids - Grandad was tired of taking pictures.

 Grandma and Gracyn

 My three sweet kiddos

The kids made these cute turkeys with Mimi

Our Week

Here is our week in pictures.

 My little diva.  She wants to wear sunglasses, necklaces and bracelets everywhere she goes, even to sleep.  Of course, she has to have all her purses close by too.

 Garrett and Gaitley are making an afternoon snack.  Garrett will eat about three sandwiches when he gets home from school.  Growing boy!

 Gaitley had more fun making hers!

 Cowgirl Day at Weekday School

 Sweet Gracyn scooping and pouring beans.

 Not so sweet!  She thought it would be more fun to dump them all over the floor.

 Practicing t-ball, still in her sunglasses.

 Big brother's turn

Gracyn enjoyed watching the kids play while eating an apple.

Texas Rangers

The whole family enjoyed a day at the Ballpark in Arlington cheering on the Texas Rangers. 

Gaitley had the best seat in the house - on Uncle Lance's shoulders.

 Gracyn really had fun at her first Rangers' game.

 Garrett and Britt - it is very hard to get a decent smile out of Garrett these days.

 Lance and Taleigh

 Gracyn loved watching all the people.

 Family photo

 The girls

 Scott and Camille

Cayla and Gaitley

Flag Football

Garrett had his first flag football game this morning.  He has been wanting to play football since he saw a sign a couple of years ago advertising it.  He knew he had to be five and has been anxiously waiting for this season to get here.  Britt and I hesitated signing him up because of the cost and time commitment, but he absolutely loves it so I am glad we did.  He is playing through the YMCA and plays with boys that go to his school and two other neighborhood schools.  It is a great program and so far we have been pretty impressed.  Our team lost this morning but played really well for their first game.  It is going to be a fun season and we are all looking forward to next Saturday.

 #28 - Garrett is in the orange, closest to us

 Garrett's #1 Fan

 Half-time - he is ready for his first water break

One proud Daddy!