Christmas Activities

Holidays have been so much fun this year with Avery.  She really gets into them lately, and I just love seeing how excited she gets celebrating.  Over the past month, we've been doing little "Christmasy" things around the house.

 

We decided to get Ave a nativity set that she can play with so that she can understand the Christmas story a little better.  Since she can comprehend things much more than last year, I wanted to make sure that we were not emphasizing Santa too much and the real reason for the season too little.  We gave it to her a couple of weeks ago, and she loves playing with it!  It's so sweet to hear her explain who everyone is and play with all of the people and animals.

 

 

We had to do some Christmas baking, of course!  Jackie made this sweet Christmas apron for Ave so we put it to good use making cookies.



While they were baking, we did a little sticker nativity scene that I found at Hobby Lobby.  She has a slight obsession with stickers so I knew she would love this!



We also made some Christmas cards for the grandparents and Daddy.  





Ave got a little cold last weekend, so we decided that we should make a Gingerbread house while we were stuck in the house.  It got quite a lot of germs all over it during the process due to coughing but that's okay!

We've done a little Christmas show watching as well!

Bill's birthday was two days ago (the day before the world was supposedly ending).  He took off work, and Ave was at school so we did some last minute shopping and went to lunch.  Then we celebrated with our girl at home that night with a cake that his dad brought over. 



 

Christmas has always been so much fun but I have absolutely loved the days leading up to it this year.  Avery is so very excited, and it makes the holiday that much more fun!

Daddy's Work Building Party

Anadarko had a Christmas Party for the kids a few weekends ago.  Every tall building that we drive by is Daddy's work building so she was so excited to actually get to go to the "real Daddy's work building!"

 

We hadn't been to a children's Christmas party there before so I was curious about what activities they would have.  There ended up being so much to do and Avery had a blast. 

 

1st stop- balloon animal station.  Avery decided she wanted a princess crown, of course.

Proudly displaying their blue cat and Christmas princess crown!
 



There was a puppet making station.  Luke was "roaring" for Bill.

We went up to Bill's office so that Ave could see where he works everyday.

These two loved the big windows.

Next up was pictures with Santa!

We had some down time in the line for some pics.  Love their smiles!

 I love that we were able to get a family shot with Santa without having to hit up the mall.

Avery got really excited to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas.  I asked her afterward what she asked for.  Her reply was a horse. We are in trouble!

 The Christmas party ended around lunch time, so we went to Market Street to eat some lunch and then go see the giant Christmas tree.

 

Sweet friends

My girl and me

I am so thankful that Bill works where he does.  They never disappoint when it comes to Christmas parties!

Santa's Wonderland

A few weeks ago, we went to Santa's Wonderland.  Ash and Kyle were planning a trip there and asked us to join them.  It worked out great because we were able to eat dinner and catch up with Kelly and Andrew and then meet them at Santa's Wonderland after.

 

The entrance

 

So happy to be there!

Once the Talkingtons got there, Ave was thrilled to see her buddy but a little unsure of his excitement at first!  I love the look on Luke's face!

Dance party before the hayride!

Avery was in awe of the lights.  I loved watching her take it all in.

She was yelling, "WOW!" as I snapped this shot.

 

Absolutely amazed by the lights

After the hayride, we walked around for a little while.  There were so many fun things to do and see.

 



There was a place where kids could ride a pony.  Once Avery spotted the ponies, she knew she had to ride one!  She has been a little timid in the past when she gets up close to horses so I wasn't sure if she would ride once.  She proved me wrong, hopped right on, and loved every minute of her ride.  Ave hasn't stopped talking about Patty the pony since!

 



It was such a fun trip that this may become a yearly tradition! 

November

A week before Thanksgiving, we moved into our new house.  We found a house being built that we loved and knew that we could grow into and raise our family in forever.  The move was a little chaotic- we didn't know our move in date until a couple of days before, we couldn't move straight into the new house from the old, etc. but it all ended up working out great.  We are in and finally getting settled. 

 

I was a little emotional leaving our old house.  It was the first house that Bill and I bought.  We have so many memories from there filled with lots of highs and lows including great get togethers with family and friends, my dreadful days teaching high school, pregnancy, baby days with Ave, night feedings, Ave's milestones, and the list goes on and on.  When we moved out, I went from room to room telling Bill all of my favorite memories from each room.  He was more than ready to get out of there but humored me like a nice husband. :)  Before we moved, I took way too many pictures with my camera including about twenty just of Avery in her bath tub.  Not sure why her bathtub seemed so special to me but I again, just have so many memories of bath times.

 

Avery's nursery was the most emotional for me.  I didn't take a single thing off the wall in there until a couple days before we left.  I remember so many days and nights nursing her, rocking her, singing to her, praying over her, and the list goes on and on.  Ugh, I could cry right now just thinking about it!

We are now in the new house, and we love everything about it.  I told Bill that I don't want to ever move again...like I wouldn't mind being buried in the backyard.  I can't wait to make new memories in this house!

 

Thanksgiving came very quickly after we moved in.  We got together at Bill's Mom's house the night before but I forgot my camera and didn't get any pictures of the night.  On Thanksgiving morning we watched the parade and baked and then headed to my parents' house for dinner that afternoon. 

 



Sophie girl found her belly button!

Watching some football after dinner

That night, Bill took Ave home and I hit up Target for Black Friday with my sisters. I have never gone anywhere for Black Friday but decided to give it a try this year!  The actual store didn't seem as crowded as I was expecting but the line to check out was absolutely crazy.  I would definitely go again!

 

 

There are so many things that I am thankful for this year.  We have had some tough times over the past few months but I feel so incredibly blessed.  I am so thankful for my great husband, sweet little girl, my family, and friends.  I can't forget that I am also thankful that Christmas is right around the corner!  Woohoo!

Halloween Day

On the day of Halloween, I had a few friends over for a playdate.  Here are some pictures from it...

 

 

That night, we ate dinner and hit the streets for trick-or-treating.  It wasn't very successful last year.  I think we went to three houses and Ave wasn't into it at all.  Now that she is officially obsessed with holidays, costumes, and candy, I figured this year would be a little different!

 



Ready!

 

She loved going up to people and saying trick-or-treat.  She may have liked the interaction more than the candy!

 

Gram Z stopped by for a little while!

1st candy choice- Tootsie Roll Pop

 

Mouth full of chocolate

 

Avery enjoyed every bit of Halloween.  I absolutely love that she gets just as enthusiastic about holidays as me.  We are already counting down the days until Thanksgiving and Christmas!