Nutcracker, Santa, Gaudete Party, etc.

 We have had to go out to eat a few times over the past few weeks due to choir practice.   Anastasia is such a good baby.  She is happy to go with the flow.  And she LOVES noodles.  :)

She had her first push up sherbet the other day.  She was a fan!

What is this anyway?

She loves it!

We got our ornaments up finally.  My two favorites include this one- the grumpy angel.  Charlie really did not like going to Moms Day Out when he was little and would NOT cooperate with happy ornament making.  :)

And here is sweet Marky at age four.  Oh my heart.

Our neighborhood had Santa swing by the clubhouse last week.  Annie was NOT a fan of sitting in his lap.  She smiled at him as long as she didn't have to cuddle up.

 She is wearing Julia's old outfit-

We decided afterwards to hit the drive-thru lights.  We always try to go on a week night early in the season to avoid the lines.  We got right in!

Annie drove us through-

 

 Afterwards we swung by Bass Pro Shops that was nearby.  They have a wonderful Winter Wonderland and we didn't know, but Santa was there too!  This time it went much better.  Firstly, Bass Pro Shop Santa was a big fan of homeschooling and knew all about it.  :)  Secondly, Annie was happy to talk to him and sit in Tucker's lap.

(And yes, by this point we had lost her matching shoes- we made do)-

She kept saying, "Fishies!  Fishies!"

On Thursday, we went to see The Nutcracker- it was magical.  I was really worried about taking Anastasia and thought I would end up in the lobby, but she loved it and watched the whole thing!  She loves ballet!

Afterwards we met Daddy for lunch-

 

 On Friday the children worked on a service project at a local church.  They prepared medicine packages that will be sent to third-world countries.

The boys had their first basketball games on Saturday- they both did great!  

We have been getting the house decorating finished up for Gaudete weekend.  :)   I am married to Clark Griswald.  He LOVES LOVES LOVES Christmas and Christmas decorating. 

We had our annual Gaudete party for church friends-

The four horsemen read from Handel's Messiah-

And everyone loves the carol singing!

Sunday was Bambinelli Sunday!  Father stands on the balcony and we all bring our baby Jesus figurines from our home nativities and he blesses them.  Then there is a hot chocolate bar.  Such a precious tradition.

Angel baby was all in red on Sunday.  This is also one of Julia's dresses-

 

Sunday evening the Sisters at our local convent hosted the night of Las Posadas!  This year Tucker was honored to play St. Joseph and Charlie played the Archangel Gabriel and carried the Star of Bethlehem.  Tucker was so sweet going from inn to inn saying, "Please, my wife is too tired, she is pregnant, do you have room for us?"  At one point he said, "We are desperate- please!"  :)

Marc and Marc Jr. were innkeepers, which they love to do.

 

Marky came out and when Tucker asked him for a room, he said, "I have to ask my Father, but he is asleep because he is very old- he is 48."  :)

"Old" Marc came out and couldn't see or hear very well.

Marky:  "Father, they need a room."
Marc:  "Need a broom?  We don't sell any brooms?"

Marky:  "No, Father, they need a room.  Can't you give them some grace?"
Marc:  "Grace?!  She died 30 years ago!"

In then end all Father said they were out of rooms, out of tractors and only had mutton, which was great when it was "nice and lean."  :)  (Princess Bride reference).

So Joseph and Mary went on to the next inn. 

They went to a "Tropical Smoothie" stand, a Tent maker's shop, a vineyard and finally a home.

The angel got them where they needed to go and saluted the Holy Family.

 And they come inside!  Tucker said, "Welcome to the stable, everyone!"

Well, I had to have a little spot removed from my cheek and will have a substantial scar.  I have been so sad.  Here is one last picture of my old face.

I was sad when I had to wear this bandage for a week after the initial biopsy-

But they had to take more yesterday, and now I have to wear a big bandage for a long time.  I sent this to BB and said, "do you notice anything?"  :) Oh well.

Tonight the whole family worked together to make 180 homemade cookies!  Julia has a cookie swap tomorrow and has to bring 140 and the rest we are taking to Fraternus.  It was so much fun working in an assembly line.  Everyone loved it- while someone mixed dry ingredients, someone else mixed wet ingredients and then someone else mixed it all and scooped and someone else was working the ovens and cooling station.

We used the very last batter to make five GIANT cookies for the children.  Charlie said, "It is big as my face!"

Such a fun and busy few weeks with these sweeties.