Cookie Bake Day

Christmas seemed to come so fast this year with Todd being gone in Georgia for two weeks.  However, we managed to get some of our cutout cookies baked!  Those are some lovely little cookies for Christmas Eve!

Christas Spirit

Our angel, Allie, played the part of an angel in the nativity play at catechism to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus.  Allie also sang her heart out at the Christmas concert as part of the children's choir, Joyful Noise.  They sang Light a Candle, He is Born, and Seven Feet of Snow.  She loved the experience.

Allie is NINE!

My goofy, loving, little beauty is taking on her last year of single digits!  Allie is nine today.  She is growing up to be lovely little lady who is thoughtful, creative, kind and so smart.  Allie likes to be the leader, but can be shy at times too.  She is a hard worker and dedicated to doing well with all her goals.  She doesn't mind being the center of attention.  Allie's favorite things to do are play video games, craft and paint, hang out with her friends, and build with Lego's.  She has become quite the picky eater.  Some of her favorite foods include, chicken nuggets, noodles, cinnamon bread and ice cream.  She loves Sour Patch Kids and Reese's candy.  Allie is perfecting her back handspring at cheer, learning so many new songs on her ukulele, and has earned a vest full of Girl Scout badges this past year.

Polar Express

The Polar Express will forever be one of my favorite Christmas memories.  Just like in the movie, we drank hot chocolate and listened to the harmonica of the hobo while riding to the North Pole aboard the 1225 steam engine.  We visited with Santa and told him what we wanted for Christmas, enjoyed warm chili and hot dogs in a cabin, and browsed around town playing winter Christmas games.  Santa gave the first gift of Christmas just as the Polar Express began boarding to head back home  What a magical day to kick off the Christmas season.

 

North Pole Breakfast

Jingle and Belle are BACK and ready to get this family into the holiday spirit!  We found our elf pets anxiously awaiting outside our bedroom doors this morning.  This year they brought an extra special gift at their arrival...tickets to the POLAR EXPRESS!  Allie and Ayden each received their very own bell that did ring...we believe.  We spent the morning reading our elf stories over snow covered doughnuts and hot chocolate.

Gingerbread House

We just love gingerbread house day and look forward to it every year.  This was the first season where both kids could make their gingerbread houses all on their own...so I got to make my own too!  Allie built a gingerbread camping village complete with a firepit.  Ayden made house and even decorated the inside.  He spent the most time adding on candies wherever he could find a good spot.  I created a gingerbread candy castle.

Girl Scout Glamping

It may have been chilly...but camping was tons of fun!  The weekend was JAM PACKED with badgework!   Allie earned her engineering badge by designing and building three different challenges...and completing a take action project too (constructing a bird feeder).  We learned about letterboxing, were creative artistically outdoors, and even had time for some fun on the camp's pirate ship!  Due to the wet rain, our campfire s'more were brought inside to the oven.  I think we may have found a new favorite way to make s'mores!  My heart is so happy that Allie is bonding with these little lady leaders.