Counting Down to Christmas

We just got back from driving around our neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights this evening.  We had the girls get into their jammies after dinner and I was feeling a little disappointed that I hadn't made hot chocolate or brought some Christmas cookies with, but about a block into our drive Ruby declared it "the best night ever".  Ada added "in the history of the world", so I got over it and remembered the simplest things are often the best!  It was really heart warming to hear them "oohing" and "ahhing" with exclamations of "oh, beautiful" (Ada) and "that's amazing" (Ruby)!

In some ways I can't believe Christmas is next week already, and in other ways I feel we've really been able to take time to enjoy all of the Christmas preparations this year (probably because we are in a new place and don't have a ton of social obligations on our calendar!).

Per usual, we went to get our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Last year was our first year with a live tree and we decided that this year we'd cut our own.  I wasn't sure if that was going to be possible in central Texas but it turns out there are a couple tree farms not to far outside of Waco.  The drive was pretty and Steve said it was exactly what he pictured Texas to be; dusty fields, cacti, horses, cattle, and ranches.  When we got to the Radde Christmas Tree Ranch the parking lot was full of big ol' Texas trucks and our Prius felt a bit out of place...but it all worked out just fine!  One of Santa's helpers drove us out to the trees,

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we found the perfect one,

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took a family photo for our Christmas cards,

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and Steve chopped it down!

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 Back at the shop we had some yummy mulled cider and then tied the tree to our roof.  It is a very different type of tree than we had last year, but it's really light and was easy to put in the stand.  The long needles and fewer branches made it a little difficult for Ruby and Ada to hang the ornaments, but they had fun getting them all out and remembering who they came from and when they got each one.  Steve declared it our best tree yet!

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We also did a little decorating of our fireplace (I think it looks sort of random)

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and put a few lights outside.  The girls love getting out all of our Christmas things!  Ada likes to line up her Little People nativity set and Ruby runs out to the kitchen as soon as she wakes up each morning to see which character is next on their Advent calendar.  I wanted to light Advent candles this year (the girls are old enough to handle fire now!) but I didn't have a wreath so I made my own!  The city doesn't recycle glass here so, unable to throw them away, I had a collection of Dr. Pepper bottles that were just waiting to be used for something.  Dr. Pepper is made here in Waco, so I thought they were fitting for our first Advent season here!

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I don't usually make many Christmas cookies because we are always traveling but we did make some cut-out cookies for Ruby's class party and I was excited to use some of our pecans to make homemade turtles.  This was probably my best idea yet!

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The girls made some homemade wrapping paper

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and we made some paper snowflakes one afternoon

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since we won't see any snow until we head north...we are still doing this kind of stuff in the afternoons!

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St. Nick visited regardless of the warm temps and brought our traditional chocolate coins and Christmas pjs.

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 We also introduced the girls to Elf for our first family movie night!

People keep asking us if it's weird to be doing Christmas stuff when it isn't cold or snowy and it is a little, but I think being in St. Louis for the past 11 years helped ease our transition.  While we certainly had cold and snowy days there, we also had lots of warm winter days too.  We did go to this Winter Wonderland thing downtown Waco last week and it was pretty strange.  There was a tree lighting, lots of food, a ferris wheel and fireworks which was all good.

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 However, there was also a fake snow machine and a fake ice skating rink.  People were wearing real ice skates and attempting to skate on this hard plastic surface.  Steve and I both had to lean over and touch it... it was sorta sad, not gonna lie!

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I really do like it here so far so I don't want to make fun, but I think maybe Texas should just stick with what they know and skip the ice and snow!  Ruby and Ada spotted Santa at the Wonderland and insisted on waiting in line to see him.  It was a long line and we had not planned to do that (we've never visited Santa before), but we decided to try it since they were so excited.  When it was finally our turn they both hesitated a second, but then got right up on his lap.

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 Ada was just mesmerized!

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 She told him she wanted Minnie and Mickey as she's been telling everyone else too.  Ruby got up there and told Santa she wanted Tinkerbell which was a bit of a surprise since she'd been telling us she was going to ask for the FurReal Panda.  A week later she wrote a letter to Santa at school asking for an Olaf doll and now tells us she wants a marker maker.  It will be interesting to see what Santa comes up with!

I didn't do any sewing this fall/winter mostly because I just wasn't motivated, but it was hard to pay for Christmas outfits!  We are getting as much use out of them as possible; they already wore them to church last weekend (it will be the last time we're there until after the New Year) and they wore them to their school Christmas program.  I always intend to get pictures of the girls in their outfits on Christmas day but with all of the craziness that never seems to happen, so I'm so happy I got this picture last Sunday.

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 Then Ruby wanted to take one by herself.  So pretty!

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 Ruby tried to convince Ada to take one by herself too...

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and it perfectly captures her personality!

Today was the last day of school before break and they had an adorable little program.  Both Ruby and Ada did great!  Steve and I were so impressed, neither acted the least bit shy or nervous.  Ada's class sang "Happy Birthday to Jesus" and did a jingle bell dance and Ruby's class sang a bunch of songs about counting down to Christmas.  She was one of the three kings! Christmas Program 2014 from Steven Nelson on Vimeo.