Oh My!

So I am WAY behind on my blog. To catch up, I am going to try and squeeze all of our Christmas happenings into one post. Warning - This will probably be the longest post ever, and there are tons of pictures!

First, we had lots of fun with our elves that visit us each year after Thanksgiving. They are a lot of fun, a little mischievous, and even leave little surprises from the North Pole, but best of all they update Santa Claus nightly so the kids try to be extra sweet!

We have Fred, Ted, and Red, and this year Santa sent a special girl elf for Scout,

her name was Merry Mable Mistletoe!

We celebrated Christmas with parties and special programs at the kids' schools. First was Scout's class party on Friday followed by the K-4 Christmas program at her school Monday night.

All ready to go to her Christmas Program!

Scout played the hand bells and did an awesome job.

Then Cole had his Christmas Angel party Tuesday morning with his class, followed the same afternoon with Jake's 1st grade Christmas program at his school!

Jake's class dressed as lambs. They were so cute.

Jake had a speaking part in the play and did an amazing job.

Then on Friday of that same week, Jake's class had their Christmas party!

They each made reindeer food to take home.

This is a picture of the gift Jake gave to his classmates.

They have been working so hard learning to read.

I love listening to Jake read. He reads bedtime stories to Scout and Cole---so sweet!

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OK - fast forward one week and that brings us up to Christmas Eve!

But first, the day before Christmas Eve, Don and I surprised the kids with an early Christmas present!

A Trampoline!

OK - Back to Christmas Eve! :)

First, we had fun baking cookies at Grandmama and Granddaddy's for Santa Claus!

Then we went home and got ready to go to Christmas Eve church with my mom.

All dressed up ready for church.

Grandmama, Jake, Scout, and Cole before church.

After church, we hurried home to get ready for Santa. We read lots of Christmas books including The Night Before Christmas. Then we tucked all of the kids into bed.

And in the morning...

Santa had come!

We opened presents...

and then headed to Don's parents for Christmas brunch and more presents!

Nanny, Y-Daddy, and most of the grand kids!

The day after Christmas we celebrated Christmas with my parents and sisters.

Granddaddy, Grandmama, and all of the grand kids!

Wow! Now, that I am trying to blog about Christmas, I see why I didn't get to it sooner.

We were BUSY!

We had a wonderful Christmas.

It just came and went too quickly!

Just had to include this picture. Cole got a paper jam guitar for Christmas that plays Sweet Home Alabama. Too Cute! I just might have a future rock star in the family!