12 days countdown (3, 2, 1)...

The last three days of our countdown are always extra special, mainly because Christmas is getting closer which means we get to celebrate Christ's birth very soon!

Only 3 days until Christmas - Light 5 candles at church for people that need prayers

The kids LOVE lighting candles at church - they love deciding what person is getting our extra prayers and they really put thought into it. Radley and Emmy got to pick 2 people each and we picked one person as a family. 

Only 2 days until Christmas - Make indoor s'mores and stay warm

The funny thing about Texas - it's not really hard to stay warm. ;) But they did love getting to roast marshmallows inside and having Pops to help made it that much better.

 Only 1 day until Chrismtas - Make a birthday cake for Baby Jesus

I am always impressed with how much my kids actually HELP in the kitchen. They love cooking and baking and they even love cleaning up the mess! Win! They were extra excited to bake a cake for baby Jesus and even help with the icing and sprinkling!

Another countdown complete!

12 days countdown (6, 5, 4)...

The countdown continues...

Only 6 days until Christmas - Be Santa's elves and bring treats to the UPS drivers

Last year we delivered spaghetti and gravy to the drivers (well, my mom made it) but this year, sadly, they are really too busy. The volume has increased by a ton because more and more people are shopping online - which is great for job security, but also means the men & women that are the real Santas helpers are working tons of extra hours. 

Radley really grasps that all this extra work means time away from family, mainly because Ryan is away from us, but he is so sensitive to this and prays nightly for all the UPS workers to be with their families. 

So we gathered our supplies, made some cards, and delivered some goodies in our Santa pjs!

(Even me!)

"We know its a circus this time of year, thanks for working hard to deliver holiday cheer!"

 They basically never wanted to leave - Landry tried her hardest to ride on the conveyer belt and Radley loves to sort packages. 

Only 5 days until Christmas - Paint some ornaments to hang on the tree

Radley and I bought ornaments in November on a Hobby Lobby run when he wouldn't quit begging me for some Christmas stuff. Luckily I knew that he would forget about them until I brought them back out and he was so excited to paint his bell. 

He went with silver and gold, Emmy went with green and red and they decided that Landry would do a combo of their colors - gold and red. 

It took nearly 12 hours for their layers and layers and layers of paint to dry... so the picture taking took place the next morning.

Only 4 days until Christmas - Take a picture in your Christmas pjs and sleep under the tree

This is my favorite one each year! The big kids LOVE sleeping under the tree! And I love having a picture of our family in front of the tree each year. Pretty good too, for a self-timed picture!

Silent night indeed...

12 days countdown (9. 8. 7)...

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!)

12 days countdown (12. 11, 10...)

What good Aggie doesn't stick a tradition once it has been established? ;)

In keeping with tradition, we started our 12 days of Christmas activities, which may or may not be exactly the same extremely similar to last years.

Only 12 days until Christmas - Write letters to Santa and mail them to the North Pole!!

Emmy - Dear Santa, Please bring me a pink dress and a pincess microphone. (Because she needs help amplifying her voice). 

Landry - Dear Santa, Please bring me the love and joy of Christ all year long. (Ok, maybe she didn't write that).

Radley - Dear Santa, Please bring me a toy car. And a toy knife to sharpen my pencils. And a dump truck. And an iPad for my family. And a toy clock. And an iphone for my family. I love you. I love God. And please bring me a an Alfie that I can touch. I love God. (He did write that.) 

They all wanted to put their letter in our magical mail box and send them off to Santa!

I love this mailbox...probably one of my favorite decorations I own. I had decided that it wasn't a necessary purchase and Bonnie surprised me and bought it behind my back and I am so glad she did!

Only 11 days until Christmas - Pick a Christmas movie to watch and enjoy popcorn and M&Ms. 

No picture but if you don't eat M&Ms with your popcorn you are missing out! Trust me - throw some in there and you will be amazed!!

Only 10 days until Christmas - Go see the world's largest gingerbread house with the HMMs. 

Our morning started normal... we opened our surprise for the day and the kids were so excited to go the HMMs for their annual tea party and gingerbread house. 

We snapped a pic of some Sunday sweetness before church

(please note the stockings)...

followed by church, errands, and then I got to hang out with this cutie and snap a few pics for her baby announcement. 

And then things took a turn.

Those cute stockings in that picture? Well, they are usually not hanging there  because small hands can grab them and get injured. But we hung them up for the picture. And we forgot to take them down. And small hands grabbed the stockings. And then experienced her first trip to the ER.

(More for Daddy's nerves than anything else).

We left with a smiling baby and no stitches. (Thank you Lord). 

Then we got the call that one of the HMMs was also pretty sick, so our plans were altered and we colored gingerbread men, made cereal for dinner and took a tour of lights in a new neighborhood. 

Whew. WHAT.A.DAY.