Living in St. Louis helped us get used to warm(er) winters but it is still a little weird that the leaves are just now changing colors and falling. I remember raking leaves the week before Christmas last year too, not sure I'll ever get used to that!
The warm weather feels a bit strange at times, but I really can't complain. I hate being cold, so I love that we can still be outside and Ada and I can walk to school to get Ruby without coats most days!
And stop to check out our neighbor's sleigh on our way back!
Despite no chill or snow, the Christmas spirit and festivities are in full force! UBC, our church does an incredible job of celebrating Advent which we LOVE! We had an Advent workshop after church the first Sunday where each family made an Advent wreath, decorated cookies, and made Christmas ornaments.
These ornaments perfectly represent our girls and their unique personalities. One of them is precise, slow, incredibly thoughtful, and minimalistic. More is better for the other one, she wanted every type of ribbon and as many as possible. "Put them closer together Mom. And faster!" Can you guess who's is who's?!
Each family also got a gingerbread house kit, which the girls insisted on putting together AS SOON AS WE GOT HOME!!! We were feeling pretty proud of ourselves with how cute it turned out. It lasted all of 5 minutes though before the roof started sliding and the walls fell in. I expected the girls to get upset, but they eagerly asked, "Can we eat it now!?"
Ada had her sweet Christmas program last week at preschool. I think she was a little nervous at first, but she did great singing Away in a Manger, Rudolph, and Go Tell It On the Mountain!
Ada Christmas Program 2015 from
Steven Nelson on
Vimeo.
Ruby even snuck away to watch (and then headed back to school for her class party).
We've decorated our house and put up Christmas lights outside.
The girls have been doing their daily advent calendar, as well as, a chocolate Advent calendar they got at church! Each night at dinner we light our candles on our wreath and read a verse of the Christmas story from Luke.
We grabbed some Christmas cookies one night and went to a drive-through nativity and checked out Christmas lights. We had a family movie night to watch Elf, have been listening to Christmas music non-stop and reading all of our holiday books.
St. Nicolas visited on the 6th and left the traditional Christmas jammies and chocolate coins. The fact that the girls have yet to wear their new pjs is not at all annoying to
mom St. Nick.
After last year, Ruby started asking to visit Santa again, so we made a quick trip one afternoon. Ruby went right up and gave him a hug, Ada was a bit hesitant at first hence the first picture with Mommy! After Santa, we rode the carousal because that's what you do, right?! #weliveintexas
Us girls have been off school all week, so we've baked cookies and wrapped presents, along with playing outside with "snow" and spending a day at the zoo with sweet friends.
And, yes, it is that warm. It's been in the upper 70's all week. Good thing we got our chimney swept just in time for some cozy Christmas fires :(
Our church is largely made up of Baylor students and, because they are all on break, last Sunday was the last service before Christmas. We celebrated the last week of Advent, as well as Christmas, and the kids even had a Christmas party of their own.
We will go to another church for Christmas Eve and then we get to wake up in our own house for the first time ever since Steve and I have been married!!!
Merry Christmas from the Nelsons!
Precious, precious post! Can't wait to see you all and give some big hugs!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post - Merry Christmas to you all!
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