Catching Up December 2016

Ringing in the Advent season with Mimi's orchestra concert. The music was beautiful and put us in the mood for the Christmas season. They always do a wonderful job! The girls got to have their 1st of 3 Santa visits. It happened to be on St. Nicholas Day so they thanked Santa for filling their stockings ;).

The neighborhood Christmas party. The girls had fun making crafts, drinking cocoa, and visiting Santa again.

Watching the first of our children participate in a Christmas pageant. Abby was a shepherd. She wanted so much to be an angel or Mary but was very excited when she found out she could carry a sheep and that her Gigi was also a shepherd in Kindergarten. We had a lovely time and then headed to dinner with Gigi and Peepaw. More pictures are sitting on my camera, but I have no battery ;/ they'll come later. What cuties!

Visiting Santa #3 at school. Ella tried to pull of his beard. I guess no one is fooling her :)

"Mom, take a picture of us in our Christmas jammies!"

Kinsley got to visit Mimi and Papa to do some Christmas preparations. She got to decorate trees, see a live Nativity and bake. She had a blast!

Christmas caroling at the Feenstra home. Tanya hosted a lovely night of carrolling around our neighborhood topped off with yummy cookies and hot drinks. Every time we heard a Christmas song at mass, the girls would say we sang that caroling! So much fun! Thanks Tanya!

Because- Texas. Christmas and swimming with cousins.

Bowling! We decided to forgo the crazy crowds at Santa's Wonderland and instead go bowling and drive through Central Park to look at lights. The girls had fun on their lane with bumpers and we had fun on the other lane. Gigi surprised us with three strikes in a row and in the second game my hubby was the dark horse- coming out of no where after he researched how to bowl. I love my engineer husband. Great idea Gigi!

Christmas morning opening presents with the kiddos, playing, pictures, mass and adult presents, drinks and fun appetizers. It was a great day! So thankful to spend so much time with my Granny and Papaw. They absolutely loved being surrounded by so many youngsters. 

Cousin photos with their new matching shirts and scarves- thanks Gigi and Peepaw! There were only three accidents with their new toy. Not bad ;)

Christmas evening- We headed to Papa & Mimi's. We had a delicious fancy dinner before opening presents. The girls were super patient and helped by bringing gifts to everyone. It was so nice seeing Uncle Kevin who flew in from Washington D.C.

Dinner at Hogs n' Chicks. Our favorite Missouri City restaurant!

(had to add in a throw back- wow- how times have changed! This is right after Kinsley tried to grab Baby Jesus out of the manager)

Pictures and Sunday mass. I think these might have been the best pictures we've gotten with the girls at Mimi & Papa's! I love that the Feast of the Holy Family is the Sunday after Christmas. I always need to hear the readings and homily. Taking a picture after mass with the Holy Family and a throw back for fun!)

Stockings- Ella's first Christmas! Missed the rest of the pictures. But the girls loved all their special treats from Mimi & Papa. 

Got to celebrate this lovely man's birthday three times! I guess that's what you get when your birthday is right next to Christmas. Thanks to everyone for making it special.

So thankful for time spent with our families and all the work that went into making those visits special. I know the memories made will last a lifetime. We came home and the girls were so excited that Santa visited while we were gone. Abby told me, "The best gift we get at Christmas is Jesus." That pretty much sums it up. Soaking up the last few days of Chris being off work and enjoying the Christmas season as it continues (one of the reasons I love being Catholic!) Christmas doesn't end on December 25th :)