I love how excited the kids are every morning to go discover what our activity will be for that day! These tree days were especially fun...
Only 9 days until Christmas - Drive through the neighborhood and look at the lights with Hudson - bring a blanket!
So this was seriously cool. We have basically driven through every neighborhood imaginable already this year, but the kids still love looking at all the lights. They loved it even more since we got to take advantage of the Texas December and cruise around in this little number.
Now aside from the jumping kids, delightful screaming caroling, and constant questions - it was great! Definitely a new holiday tradition!
Only 8 days until Christmas - Go on a secret shopping trip with Mommy
This became a trip with Mommy and Gigi - and while I am sad that we don't have any pictures of that experience... we got so much accomplished! Two stores and dinner with enough time to assemble gifts for their friends and teachers after!
Three kids in and I must say that I am a bit "bah humbug" when it comes to class gifts. Not because I don't love the thoughtfulness, but because, honestly our kids need nothing and I bet all those parents could also use one less thing on their plates, too. ;)
We went with store bought instead of home made like last year (because - well that turned out so sad) and they turned out pretty cute!
First the kids cut out strips of paper to make the tags. Emmy and Radley did great, we kept trying to distract Landry with other things but she would have none of it. We finally gave her some scissors and she actually cut the paper - and didn't cut herself so that's a win!
Third kids.
;)
Radley's exterior teachers (music, art, librarian) etc... got his favorite snack - popcorn and m&ms. The label says "You are the secret to my success!" (Pop secret - get it?) They turned out super cute!
Emmy and Landry's friends got these choking hazards colored pencils that I love! Emmy wrote her name 19 times. And would have kept going if I let her - I sometimes forget that she is basically an entire year younger than Radley was at this stage (he is a September baby, she's June) and I am so proud of her!
Only 7 days until Christmas - Sort gifts for families in need at Church
This has been my favorite night this season... and I think it will be for years to come. Each year Ryan and I have signed up to help with the Giving Tree project at church. This usually just meant writing tags for the tree and going shopping with the kids for some gifts.
Well, last year, the coordinator of the project asked if anyone would be interested in taking it over. Ryan and I had prayed about opportunities for us to get more involved in church and this seemed like the perfect fit for our family. (Except that whole part about it being his busy season). We loved that it was giving back to our community and that our kids could actually contribute to it.
In October we put a call out to agencies for their gift requests and got over 1000 back. We then assigned people on the committee to write tags to be placed on the tree at our church and St. Mary's. Parishioners took tags, purchased gifts and then brought them back.
All of that culminating with the sorting of the gifts...
We ended up getting around 1200 gifts in total (lots of people donate extra) and it was INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!!!
Radley was so much fun to watch. When he saw that children from his school district were some of the recipients of the gifts, his eyes lit up. He "got" it. He kept just pitching in where needed, made new friends and even spoke spanish with some of the other children helping.
My little boy is growing up into a big kid. And I couldn't be more proud.
(Emmy and Landry were at Emmy's gymnastics practice and since we had so many volunteers we finished before Miss Tori could bring them up there. Hopefully next year!)
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