Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas at the Soich's

I'm probably going to take most of Christmas down BEFORE we leave for our Gainesville/Raleigh/Black Mountain/Gainesville trip so I thought I'd get a few pictures taken

Our Charlie Brown Christmas tree (with our Christmas books underneath & PenguinBoo):
posted.


The boys' art projects (from previous and present years). I LOVE the hand print ones the most:



"Elf"& Santa:

My Christmas picture collection:



My Willowtree nativity:

Jayden's paper towel roll cross:

Little tree:


Front door: Santa magnet, Christmas ball wreath, & candy cane themed:

Christmas show

It's not really Christmas season until you have attended the required preschool Christmas show. Ryland (he was a lamb) was in the first performance and Jayden (he was a rock) was in the last. Enjoy!

Traditions

I love traditions! I love looking forward to them! I love starting new ones! I.just. love. traditions!

Most surround a holiday or special time; lemon cake at birthdays, picture of the first (and last) day of school, gifts in shoes on St.Patricks day.

Here are our traditions during Christmas time:

A new ornament each year. Jayden and Ryland are getting to the age that they have a specific one in mind. Now the fun is trying to find that exact one! (I think I first heard about this from Shannon's family. When she moved out her parents gave her all "her" ornaments to use on her tree)

Jesus' birthday cake on Christmas Eve. We started this last year and I love the idea of putting the focus back on the reason for the season.

Christmas pajamas. Again something done on Christmas eve but are worn all-year-long.

Stockings for all. Hey! I still love getting my special candy. After all those years of being rationed on the amount of candy we ate, I'm still programmed to eat candy until my teeth hurt on Christmas.

Elf on the shelf. I got this last year and although the Elf isn't magical it does appear some place new each morning

Buying our LIVE Christmas tree together.

Buying a Christmas book every year. They get packed away with all the other Christmas decorations and are something to look forward to each year!

How about you?
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Thanksgiving

Todd, Ryland and I made it up to Gainesville late Wednesday night. If it was an indication of how comfortable Jayden was without us (for 5 days) he didn't even give us a "Hi" when we arrived. Too busy playing with his cousins around the fire.

Thursday was lunch at the Cato Cousin's River House. We're a measly ;-) 32 these days (as compared to our 50+ it used to be), but still lots of extended family. I couldn't imagine Thanksgiving any other way.
Friday morning was Brunch at Bobby's (aka Daddy-O). We had egg casseroles, banana bread, pumpkin bread, chocolate chip bread, fruit salad, chocolate muffins, french toast or pancakes or eggs (made to order), juice and party punch.

Saturday, mom gave me her game ticket, Dad and I went to watch the Gators chomp down on those Noles!

Gator Game

Since Jayden doesn't have school next week, I met Dad in Orlando on Sat. and Jayden went to spend the next few days with them until we get there on Wednesday.

Their first adventure, THE GATOR GAME!!!!

Love the sign!
Mom said Jayden did great! He only asked once if it was over, loved doing the "wave", and ate a pretzel and sprite at the game (you know, food is one of the biggest highlights of going to a game!).

Shhh...don't tell the kids.

On Friday the boys went to school and Todd and I played hookie! We got the car washed, went to the dollar store, Edwin Golf, lunch, the mall, ANOTHER golf store, and then picked up the boys early.