Christmas Surprise. In spring :).

Way back in December, when I was posting our 25 days of Christmas activities, I mentioned that we had made some gifts that I didn't want to show yet.

 Well, now that it's March, I suppose it's safe :).

We saw some items like this at a craft fair and loved them. So, we had to try to make some ourselves as Christmas gifts.

 

Ta-da!

Snowman candle holders! We loved them!

(And hope the people that we gave them to did, too!)

Wordless Wednesday - The Assembled Coaster

Christmas Eve...

...out of order, but, oh well, I was otherwise occuppied on Christmas Eve :D.

On the 24th day of December, our activity was SNOW! Although we had to be content with artificial since the weather didn't supply us with any of the real thing :). It actually feels cold when you touch it.

 Keegan and Kelsey added in some Squinkies.

  Along with an ice igloo, which made a perfect home for the Squinkies.

 

 

 To make the day pass more quickly, and inspired by my sil's nails the day before, they decided to do Christmas mani/pedis. There are some red and green striped nails there, if you can't tell :).

 Caitlyn had made herself this hat a while back but didn't think it suited her. Recently she passed it on to Kelse who is extremely fond of it and has been wearing it every day. I think she looks adorable in it, plus I love enjoying something Caitlyn made instead of it sitting in a box, unused.

 Kelse adding a last ornament (a Nutcracker she cross-stitched) to the tree before going to bed.

 A bit of excitement-induced silliness before bedtime.

Kelsey just could not stop giggling, she was so pumped..

 

 

  On the off chance you are not on FB, here is the view that caused me concern.

 I was afraid the trampoline (which entered the house in a box,) would not fit through the garage door assembled. It did, however, and was waiting in the back yard Christmas morning. I should add that the girls were funny when I told them to put on shoes and go with me outside. They did not believe my explanation that we were going for a walk, saying things like, "A walk? We have never taken a walk on Christmas day!" Me ,"It's a new tradition." Ha. We walked from the front door to the back yard :).

 A final look at the tree before bed. Boy, that looks like a lot of presents! ;)

Christmas Day!

Opening the stockings... This was after I cruelly told Kelsey and Keegan that they couldn't enter the living room until everyone was up. Well, that didn't take long.  I thought that Kelsey might burst though, she was so excited :).

Baloonies!

 Caitlyn opening the first present of the day! Whoever would have told the day's activity on the 25th gets to choose the first present to be opened (by someone else ;). It was Kelsey's day to tell the activity.  She chose this present for Caitlyn because she herself (Kelsey) had been trying to figure out what it was and thought it felt too light for the size of the box. It was a Hobby Lobby gift card, if you were wondering.

 

My awesomely cute new placemats made by my amazing daughter, Caitlyn!

 The cats were excessively excited.

These funny birds were a huge hit with Keegan and Kelsey. With all of us, in fact. You press a button, record a message, then throw it to somebody else. The force of the other person catching it starts a playback of the message.  But it plays back in a high-pitched, sped-up voice. It really is funny. Or maybe we're just easily amused. Whatever the reason, we have laughed a lot with these things.
Keegan recording...

 and listening to a message.

 Caitlyn with her cute and thoughtful pin cushion RABBIT, made by Kelsey.

 One more picture of the bird :).

The biggest surprise of all - a trampoline!

 We headed over to Mamaw's for lunch. Then Laura appeared with her exhausted and adorable daughter and new puppy. Smile.
No fears, both of them woke up in time to play before we left :).

 Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

On the 20th and 21st days of Christmas

On the 20th day of Christmas activities, we did Christmas with Brooklin. Assuming she would receive plenty of gifts at the family get together, we gave her our presents at our house Thursday. It is always fun to watch a 2 year-old open presents :). Their enthusiasm is so adorable and reliable.

Here, "It's a mermaid!"

 Brooklin spent all day playing with new toys. 

 

Well, mostly.  Of course, the other reliable thing about 2 year-olds is they will always find some common item to play with when they are given new toys ;)!  A ball of yellow yarn, here wrapped around patient Keegan in a "sweater" was the other popular bit of entertainment.

 

Ha, ha. I loved how she bent over the top of the box to unwrap the back :).

 Today, the 21st day of activities, we had a relaxing time of watching classic Christmas movies at home. We love happy endings. And it was great to have a day to chill at home. And eat popcorn. Naturally.

Also, I addressed our Christmas cards. after all, it's only December 21st, so it's not really the last minute. Not yet. They should all arrive before Christmas.  Except for the fact that I was about 20 cards short. Ahem. If you don't receive a card from me, please don't take it personally.  It just means that your address is in the rolodex, not the address book where I started. Oh. And it probably means your last name doesn't start with an "A."

 

Enjoy your Christmas season! Only 4 (four, 4, four, FOUR!!! ) days left.....

On the 17th, 18th, and 19th days of Christmas...

...on the seventeenth day of Christmas, we finished the adorable craft we had started a few days before.  Part of me hesitates to post photos because one of these may just end up with someone who reads the blog, but the bragging part of me really, really wants to because they turned out so cute! Sigh.  The vote here is to wait on the pictures, so I will wait.  But they are awfully cute!

...on the eighteenth day, we went to a Christmas party for the gym class the girls attend.  A great group of kids, a great teacher, some of our favorite friends... we love gym class! However, I forgot to take my camera.  Sigh, again.

Then today, we are wrapping presents, Keegan and Kelsey have an AWANA party, and Keegan has a youth group party.  What party people we are! Ha, ha, if you know us at all.

Hope you are enjoying your Christmas season as much as we are!

Six days and counting!

On the Sixteenth day of Christmas...

...the Walk Through Bethlehem. We have attended this nearly every year since Caitlyn was tiny. One year, she was on the news, looking amazed at baby Jesus. So sweet! (Side note - she was much younger then :).

 

 

Keegan and Kelsey made clay star ornaments which especially pleased Keegan, since her last one had broken.

 

Plus a church  Christmas service.

 

Nine days and counting!

On the 14th day of Christmas...

a caroling flash mob! What fun! THIS was what they went to the secret meeting for several days ago.

 

Ready and waiting, at the mall

Now everyone is in place... SING!

After the mall, we moved downtown to do it again.

Kelsey, singing next to her Uncle Terry.  Caitlyn is behind Kelse, as effectively hidden as if she had tried.  Hmmmm.

My first try at posting video on this blog.  Hope it works! This is the final sing of maybe five altogether.

Kelsey on the way home. She wasn't really asleep, but was awfully tired.  Btw, we had a flat tire.  Keegan thought it was really cool to watch Bill change it.  I thought Bill changing it was the cool part, too!

On the 13th day of Christmas...

...we made painted glass ornaments. I love these.  You can make such pretty designs.

Plus, any age can make them. That was especially handy since we were playing with a two year-old today :). Here she is helping Keegan.

There are no pictures of the two year-old actually painting her own ornaments because when that was happening the photographer was otherwise occupied, helping the two year-old. :)

 

12 days and counting!