Year in Review

I have no idea how some of the pictures on my blog post are animated. My pictures automatically upload to Google+ from my phone, which is supported by Blogger and sometimes that's how they show up. Kinda convenient and fun anyways! Well, when I was writing a post the other day I noticed a year in review collage from Google+ which I thought was neat. I wouldn't have chosen all of these pictures to represent 2013 for me, but because I don't know how to choose the pictures I want myself I thought I'd show this! Enjoy!

Christmas Eve and Day

 Sometimes the boys do something very sweet and it makes us so proud. While wrapping gifts with me, Elliott decided he needed to get gifts for his friends Jack and Cooper so he went and collected some of his toys to wrap for his friends. I kinda thought he would forget about it after that, but he didn't and instead was VERY excited to watch them open their presents. Unfortunately he wasn't able to wrap something for Corinne because "our house just doesn't have any girl stuff around here!" 

We spent Christmas Eve going to church for the candlelight service and then drove around and looked at some lights. When we got home we allowed the boys to each open one gift. They were excited to get some fun Star Wars stuff from our friends Nathan and Anna and then set out cookies and milk for Santa. Malachi even lectured his brothers on how they had to go to sleep so Santa would stop at our house!

On Christmas morning Elliott was the first to wake us up. He came into our room at 7:27 and said, "Santa really does know us really well. There's Star Wars stuff out here!" We spent the rest of the morning playing and then GranMols, Papaw and Grammy Jane joined us for breakfast. We rested that afternoon before visiting Grammy Litter and Aunt Laura and going to Blake and Kim's for dinner. It was a wonderful Christmas day!

Christmas Cookies

Our Christmas cookie decorating day was almost ruined by a stomach bug, but we were able to make the best of it. In spite of a whole cup of sprinkles, a knife loaded with icing and a cup of hot chocolate all being dumped (and splattered) all over the floor, the boys had fun and we were left with some pretty tasty cookies for ourselves and Santa.

Christmas Programs

Malachi and Elliott both sang in church the Sunday before Christmas. Elliott did a great job dancing along and Malachi sang very well on his solo. After church that Sunday we had lunch at Grammy Litter's with about 2/3 of the family, about 50 people! The kiddos acted out the Christmas story for the program which was very entertaining to watch. I am so thankful for these special activities and memories and I hope the boys will always remember special times like these.

More Pre-Christmas Fun

We made a trip to Columbus to visit WildLights at the zoo. That's the first time we've ever been to see the Christmas lights and it will definitely be a new tradition! Jonas, Elliott and I joined Malachi at school for his class party. I enjoy seeing Malachi with his school friends and the other boys love going to school and feeling big. We celebrated with the Lloyd side of the family, which is always chaotic and even more so when GranMols give all eight grandchildren foam swords and prank supplies! 

Santa in the Park

 I just realized I haven't blogged for a long while and have left out all of our pre-Christmas activities! We've had such a busy month and have made lots of fun memories together. Our first was Santa in the Park with our church family. The weather was not ideal at all, but the boys did get a visit in with Santa and were able to make some cookies to enjoy too. We were also able to connect with 40 people from the community around our church and offer them free pictures with Santa, story time and cookie decorating. It was a fun morning.

Christmas Tree Time

 One of my favorite traditions - tree decorating night! We start out with the boys getting new jammies. I thought last year would be the end of them matching, but Malachi and Elliott both started asking about their matching zipper jammies right after Halloween. So, of course, I obliged! Then we decorate the tree, which consist of me and Erik sitting back and watching the boys, hoping no ornaments get broken and no one falls into the tree. (Jonas has broken 7 bulbs, or balls as he calls them, to date.) Then we turn off the lights, admire our tree and watch How The Grinch Stole Christmas with popcorn and hot chocolate. We had to deviate from the plan a bit this year (long story) and watch Charlie Brown instead of the Grinch, but it was still a very fun evening together!

Snow Days!

 It seems like this is all we've seen lately! Since thanksgiving we have had three snow days and lots of 2-hour delays from school...I think the "turn your pajamas inside out" snow dance works! We haven't done much more than try to keep warm and start celebrating Christmas. Elliott enjoyed a week at Yaya and 'Buelo's in TN and Jonas loved having all of my attention during the days. He was even a big help with some of the decorating! Our tree is up, Buddy the elf is back, our advent calendar (complete with daily Bible reading instead of candy this year) is full and packages are arriving every day. Excitement is mounting for sure!