End of Year Fun

 

Saturday, December 28th - Jenna's Bible study leader went around in the morning and "kidnapped" all the girls for a post-Christmas pajama breakfast. (Jenna's 4th grade teacher started this Bible study in the summer after 4th grade and they've been having fun together and studying the Bible ever since.)

After picking Jenna up from the breakfast, I went to lunch with a few of my good church/TCA friends. Then, the snow really started picking up and we finally got our "White Christmas."

 It was a perfect afternoon for baking - Peppernuts!

And for watching White Christmas! This was probably one of my favorite days of Christmas break - finally getting to relax and do the fun Christmassy things we hadn't had time to do yet.

Sunday, December 29th - We went to church, did the laundry, and enjoyed some more Christmas baking - Grandma Vernie's Date Nut Roll.

Monday, December 30th - I worked an extra shift at work for regular pay plus a rather large bonus. Meanwhile, Jenna enjoyed swimming and a playdate with Bella. And, Kevin and Kellen went to see Star Wars at the IMAX.

Tuesday, December 31st - Another work day for me. Kevin and the kids enjoyed some time with Papa and Mima at the Garman museum and they got to meet Mr. Garman. When I got home, around 8:30pm, we all got in our comfy pajamas and finished watching the When Calls the Heart Christmas episode, then went to bed around 10:00pm. But, we all got up again at midnight to watch the fireworks on Pikes Peak - a favorite tradition. It's much further away from our house, and any pictures we would have attempted just wouldn't have been as good as live. I found these on a local news website and thought they were cool pictures.

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 25th - The rule was that they couldn't get up until 7:00, and then they patiently let me sleep in until 7:30! Fun things were found in their stockings!

And fun things were left by Santa.

So much excitement and a little dance! Santa brought Kellen his first huge LEGO set.

 Something you want: Super Smash Bros Nintendo Switch game

Something you need: Pillow for Kellen and towels and a tuner/metronome for Jenna

Something to wear: Human Torch shirt for Kellen and a new Michigan shirt for Jenna

Something to read: Billy and Blaze books for Kellen and a subscription to Brio magazine for Jenna

Two sweet, happy kids

and their loot.

We enjoyed a yummy egg casserole and cinnamon rolls for brunch. And we lit our last Advent candles for our last Advent devotional.

Then, there was a lot of playing to do! Odin the hamster tried out his new car and race track. Kellen started working on his LEGO set. And we watched a Christmas movie together.

Around 3:30, we headed to Papa and Mima's house to go together to look at the zoo lights. Members can get in at 4:30 and it's definitely worth it to get there early! Carousel all to themselves!

 We saw the beaver for the first time and some fun active animals in the Loft.

The bear catching the fish and walking through the tiger are a couple of my favorite light displays.

A rare glimpse of the Wallaby's inside habitat - they're usually roaming around outside.

Kellen really liked this one, and his pose was super cute!

Then, dinner at Papa and Mima's and early to bed for me to work the next day. It was a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Eve and Christmas Eve

Monday, December 23rd - We had fun using a gift card to see Star Wars (even with buying our tickets the day before, we weren't able to get all four seats together - ha!) and another gift card to have lunch at Fuzzy's.

 

This year, our church started with a couple Christmas eve services on the 23rd. Kevin played at both and we attended one.

Tuesday, December 24th - Jenna and Kellen couldn't wait to give their gifts. Jenna received a new mirror and llama stickers from Kellen. Kellen received some fun chicken flingers from Jenna. And, Kevin received a sweet poem that Jenna wrote and framed for him.

Then, Kevin played in two more services. Jenna and I served in childcare for one of them. We came home for a yummy tamale and guacamole dinner. Then, we decided to go as a family to a Christmas Eve service and our new church plant - Academy Christian Church Westside Campus. We really enjoyed being together for one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

When we arrived home, we called NORAD to get an update on Santa's location. Then, Kellen declared "we have to hurry and get to bed!" So, there was a mad dash to get the cookies and milk set out, the note written, the baths taken, the teeth brushed, and into bed! To all a good night!

Whitelaw Christmas

Sunday, December 22nd - We celebrated Christmas with the Whitelaw family. We enjoyed a delicious ham lunch.

Pictures!

 Some white elephant gifts

And many nice gifts!

Napoleon wore this shirt in the movie Napoleon Dynamite and Geremy liked it - so fun that Mima was able to find one. 

Silly!

The biggest, most generous gift - Mima is going to use the gold coins that her Dad left to her for all of us to vacation in Branson this summer!

Everyone is really excited! 

We enjoyed a little Christmas music and tom-foolery. 

Garrison taught Jenna how to play french horn.

Kellen had a good conversation with Papa about books.

And some games were played. It was a Merry Whitelaw Christmas!