December Fun and Festivities

Do not adjust your screen and/or rub and squint your eyes to make sure you read that right. Yep, I said "December Fun and Festivities". December, as in five months ago...yeah, that December. I'm such a blog slacker. Actually that's not true, I've posted a few things here and there over the last few months, but I'm definitely not up to date with everything. I just can't seem to keep up.  Such is life and that's okay.

That being said, I wanted to go back and share some pictures from the last month of last year for document and memory's sake. Just a warning, you may want to grab a snack and a refreshing drink - there's lots o' pictures.  Or I may have just scared you away at the mere mention of copious pictures.

Without further ado...

Let's start with Jolly, our sweet elf!  This was the second year that Jolly spent the month of December in our home.  He is so much fun and is always up to silliness and various antics.  Without fail, every single morning when Parker woke up he would look for Jolly before he did anything else.  He brought lots of laughs and smiles during the Christmas season. 

We are always sad to see Jolly go.  Parker talks about him from time to time throughout the year.  We will look forward to seeing him again after Thanksgiving. 

Parker loves going to the post office.  Actually Parker likes to go just about anywhere.  He can make anything fun.  After I addressed all of our Christmas cards, he was anxious to take them dowtown and put them in the mail slot.

One of our favorite activities from the month of December was "Truth in the Tinsel".  It was a 24 day Advent experience for little hands. We started it on December 1st and finished on Christmas Eve.  Each day included a scripture reading/story, message to learn and an ornament craft to make.  It was the perfect daily activity to teach Parker the true meaning of Christmas.  He enjoyed it so much and looked forward to our Truth in the Tinsel time each day.  We had a cute little tree in the kitchen that Mamaw bought us to put all of our ornaments on. 

We attended our Christmas Choir concert at church.  It was wonderful and really got us in the Christmas spirit.

What Christmas is complete without a little gingerbread house decorating?!

As you may have noticed in all of the Jolly pictures, one morning he had all of the ingredients out to make and decorate sugar cookies.  We did it last year and carried on the tradition this year (I also used to do this as a little girl).  We had a ball and they were mighty tasty. 

Speaking of cookies, we couldn't leave Santa out.  We made a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies and Parker counted out six cookies for him...to go along with the reindeer food we had for his helpers.  Parker tested them out to make sure they were good to go and fit for eating. 

Lots of Christmas duds!

We sure had ourselves a Merry Little Christmas!

Until we meet again...
Riley