It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

On December 1st we hosted a Christmas party for some of our Young Life college friends at the house. Note to self: do this again because it makes us get our Christmas decorations up early to enjoy them all month. It was still sad, but not as sad, when it was time to take them down before New Year's Day. The 16 or so Lighted Christmas Balls in the yard are the only decoration still standing. They are really tricky to photograph, but I'll give it a whirl before we take them down to put on official record that we switched to colored lights this year. White ones seemed to fit the 100+ year old historical home we left. Multicolored lights seemed more fitting for the current 1970s house.

Christmas with Shu Shu

Shu Shu came to town a few days before Christmas to celebrate. We opened gifts, played with gifts, and I was able to finish up my sewing and wrapping. New matchy matchy dresses, new baby dolls from Mamaw, new books and stickers and markers, and the best new outdoor toy that I somehow don't have any pictures of. It's one of those "turtle scooters" that I totally had as a kid, even though mom says she doesn't remember it. It's a triangle that sits on the ground with the handlebars in front that you swing back and forth to make it go. Justin and I promptly took our own turns on it. You know, just to 'demonstrate' for the kids. Good times. Thank you Shu Shu!

December Recap: Visit from Friends

Before their visit, I was explaining to Grayson how I was friends with Kelly when we were little girls. I told her how we played Barbies and "restaurant" and "school" and baby dolls. Grayson smiled, still with a slight sense of confusion. Now we are 31 and have our own real life babies and little girls and boys who play their own versions of pretend. Its hard to believe. That was a whole bunch of cuteness cuddled up on the red couch. Now I just wish we lived closer so we could visit more often.

December Recap: Small Group Family

We love our small group. It started through our church, but now has six families who represent three different churches. Between all of us, there are eleven children ages 4 and under, plus four more on the way in the spring. Yes, us adults are totally outnumbered.

We see each other here and there throughout most weeks, but we officially meet for adult small group time twice a month at 8pm. There are two families (plus ours) who have grandparents in town who can help with babysitting for this. Three families don't have this luxury, so we started this new tradition of a sleepover when we moved into the new house. Each of the three families takes a room (our master bedroom, guest room, and bonus room), we put up pack n plays and monitors, they put their kids to bed at 8, we meet for small group, and then around 11, they take their kids home and tuck them into their own beds for the night. Babysitting money can now be saved for date nights.

On our last meeting in December, those who could join us came for BYODinner, then we headed to the den for rounds of Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger, and Frosty the Snowman (we missed you Sassers!). These pictures crack me up. You should be able to click on the collage to enlarge it. It pretty much sums up the organized chaos of all these little ones running around. It can be crazy but we sure do love it. It is a joy to walk alongside families who are trying to love Jesus and love each other well.

December Recap: Ice Skating

Justin scored 2 free tickets to the outdoor ice skating rink, so we headed there one Saturday morning. We decided that Grayson and Justin would skate, and Finley and I would watch. Grayson was about to jump out of her skin from excitement.


After a few trips around the rink she started to get the hang of it. Justin pretty much held her hand most of the time, but she loved every second of it.

Oh the excitement!

Finley did smile for this picture, barely, but was not so excited about being on the sidelines. A snack held her off for a while, but she kept fussing and pointing to the rink. Maybe next year little one.

December Recap: Last Day of Dance Class

Correction on the last two posts...Justin is not the one blogging with the sinus infection or spray painting on a sunny afternoon...he is the one holding down the fort with the kids and taking care of everyone while mama is sick in bed. I was accidentally blogging under his username.

Grayson took dance again this year (aka Creative Movement II) but this time three of her good friends joined her. This was their last day of dance for the semester, so friends and family could come into class and take pictures of their mad creative movement skillz. Really, it just doesn't get much cuter than four year olds dancing. Little sister watched patiently from the stroller and then had to run around at the end to be a part of it all.

December Recap: Spray Painting Party

We have had unusually warm weather around here lately, which happens to be good for spray painting. Our driveway has looked this way many days since our move 5 months ago. Neighbors love it. This sunny day I decided to drag it all out at once and knock out painting for redecorating our bonus/craft/play/office room. I am thankful for afternoon nap times.

December Recap: Candy House

To ring in the new year, I'm sitting here in bed with what is most likely a sinus infection. Ugh. My crew has gone to MayMay and Peeps's house for a yummy New Year's Day dinner. One which I will enjoy later in the form of a to-go plate.

To make the most of it, I thought I would take a few minutes to recap some of the fun around here that went on in December.

To start things off, our friends the Chesney's hosted a Candy House party. It's a brilliant idea I tell you...Curtis built these amazing houses out of wood, you decorate it with loads of sugar, and then you just wash it off with hot water and store it to redecorate the next year. Three cheers for no more graham crackers falling off OJ cartons--hip hip hooray! Grayson had a fever (we have had a rough cold season this year so far) so I brought home the supplies from the party and we decorated ours at home. As usual, sugar produces much excitement in this house.

Finley decided that it was more fun to eat the sugar than decorate with it (duh). This face appeared when we told her it was time to stop eating or she was going to have to leave the decorating table.


Two cute girls proud of their creation. And yes, that is icing on Grayson's chin. Love it.

Silent Night...

The only time Avery, Grayson, and Jackson were quiet was when peppermint ice cream was served.

--
Justin Smith

Indoor Swing

We might or might not have installed a swing in the bonus room for Christmas.

And it might or might not be awesome.