Christmas is Coming!

Since we were going to be gone when we normally put up our Christmas tree, we decided to put it up before Thanksgiving! The kids had a great time looking through all our ornaments and helping us hang them on our tree!

 

 

 

With the trip and funeral keeping us busy, December/Christmas snuck up on us!  We were able to do a lot of the things we love doing but everything felt a little rushed this year.

It's not Christmas at the Blackham house unless the Leg Lamp is up.  As Clay got it out this year, Will (totally unprompted) looked at it and said, "that's a beautiful leg, Dad."  I'm sure that was a proud moment in Clay's life.  Our new tradition is to invite some of the neighbors over for hot chocolate and donuts for the unveiling.

 

 

Addie made multiple Christmas lists....her first list had too many live animals for Santa so she had to come up with some other, more realistic, ideas. 

 

 

Clay and I attended his company Christmas party.  It was a nice evening out with great food at Teppanyaki followed by a little Christmas shopping for the kids.

Kids got to wear their Christmas clothes to church and looked so beautiful and handsome!

We made Gingerbread Houses at Grandma's.  Unfortunately, not everyone was as into it this year... Rachelle and I were the last two standing.

Will's favorite part about Christmas is putting the "Polar Express" train around the Christmas tree and being able to drive it.  He would sit there and drive it all day if I'd let him!

 

I took the kids to see Santa at the mall.  Last year, they let us take our own picture but this year, if I wanted a picture, I had to buy it.  I wasn't going to but Will was sitting on his lap so calmly that I just had to get a picture of it! 

We also had the annual Blackham/Bailey family Christmas party.  There was great food and lots of fun.  This year we added Bingo with $1 store prizes to the festivities and it was a lot of fun.  We played the candy bar game again but since the Bailey's had never played before, it was still pretty fun and entertaining!  We also tried to throw a little spirituality into the evening by having the kids act out The Nativity.

 

 

Since December is not busy enough, I hosted a baby shower for my good, childhood friend, Lisa who is having twins in May! She lives in Boston and was only here for a few days so we had to squeeze it in.  It was great to see her and some of our friends who I haven't seen in awhile!  We did a hot chocolate bar and desserts and it was a huge hit!

Such a fun and busy month! We love all the Christmas activities! Still more fun to come...just a few things that need their own post!