Yum!
It was just the 4 of us at home this year for Thanksgiving. Steve was in D.C. the Wednesday through Tuesday before Thanksgiving so we didn't make plans. Every year as the week of Thanksgiving approaches, I think we should have planned something. Here in Texas, schools have the whole week off so it feels like we should do something. Anyway, it was a low-key and quiet week, and the plan to have dinner with friends fell through at the last minute. We watched the parade and cooked our own meal, but that was about as far as we got. It was apparent as we were getting ready to sit down and eat that Ruby needed to go to urgent care. She nibbled a bit and I ate some before we headed out the door to see the doctor. Thankfully urgent care was open and we didn't have to visit the emergency room. We were the only ones there so we got in and out quickly, got a prescription for some fast acting meds and came back home for pie.
Both girls had their Thanksgiving feasts at school the week prior. Steve was out of town and I had class, but I was able to rearrange to make it to both! Yummy school lunch two days in a row for me!
Ruby insisted she was feeling fine Friday, so we kept up our tradition of getting our tree and it's good we did. Black Friday was a dreary and wet day, so we figured there wouldn't be too many people at the Christmas tree farm when it opened at 3:00. Boy were we wrong. We pulled up at 3:25 and there was virtually no where to park and the line to pay was already long. We found a great tree- our biggest yet! The girls said we also HAD to get a wreath for our red front door, and we snagged some of our favorite spiced cider on the way out. When we got home we had pizza delivered and watched Elf of course! I just love advent and the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. So many fun traditions!
We always wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas, but Friday is game on! We picked up a bunch of (free!) trimmings at Home Depot to make a garland along our staircase and to get that real pine smell. The trees that grow in Texas are Afghan Pines and don't smell. We went with the Christmas cactus and llama outside because they seemed most appropriate for central Texas 70 degree winters.
The girls got Lego advent calendars again from Gaga and Grandpa which they absolutely love and are so much fun. I also made an advent calendar that doubles as mantle decorations. Each tree has a treat or a little animal for our forest. We are lighting our advent candles each night at dinner and have a sweet little weekly devotional that goes with it.
We've also been super spoiled with tickets to some great Christmas productions. We went to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Waco Civic Theatre to see our neighbors and some friends put on a great play. The girls had been asking to see the Nutcracker ballet, so we splurged on tickets for that as well (part of their Christmas present this year) and loved it. We also have tickets for The Sound of Music coming up! The fourth grade music program this year was The Twelve Days of Christmas and Ruby was one of the eleven pipers piping (on her recorder). Yes, it's strange that they do a Christmas program (and many other Christmas activities) at their public school, but the program was super cute!
And both girls did a little Christmas combo for the parents at dance last week!
Ruby's 4th Grade Music Program from Steve Nelson on Vimeo.
christmas dance 2019 from Steve Nelson on Vimeo.
One last week of Christmas fun...I mean school! Let's face it, it's pretty much all parties and fun the last few days!
poor Ru
Both girls had their Thanksgiving feasts at school the week prior. Steve was out of town and I had class, but I was able to rearrange to make it to both! Yummy school lunch two days in a row for me!
sweet Bear
love these two- Ruby and her friend Lily Kate
They go all out for thanksgiving feasts- lots of artwork, table decorations, and placemats
Ruby insisted she was feeling fine Friday, so we kept up our tradition of getting our tree and it's good we did. Black Friday was a dreary and wet day, so we figured there wouldn't be too many people at the Christmas tree farm when it opened at 3:00. Boy were we wrong. We pulled up at 3:25 and there was virtually no where to park and the line to pay was already long. We found a great tree- our biggest yet! The girls said we also HAD to get a wreath for our red front door, and we snagged some of our favorite spiced cider on the way out. When we got home we had pizza delivered and watched Elf of course! I just love advent and the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. So many fun traditions!
cold and wet but we had fun
there's one in every family
Ada wanted to take a picture of us...i found this one followed by several selfies on my camera roll
our tree
our lumberjack!
What about Santa's cookies? I suppose parents eat those too?
I like to put one or two strings of big bulbs and then add the regular lights. We just put the lights on that night. When I got out the lights, 5 of 6 strings were dead. I still can't figure that out.
Steve ran to HEB to get more lights so that it would be ready to decorate in the morning. And it turned out pretty magical!
We are not a ribbon-matching ornaments-themed tree kinda family. Our theme is special yearly ornaments! Ruby got Luna glasses ornament this year and Ada got a Descendants one. We picked one out for the family at Disney World and our realtor just brought us a sweet new home ornament! Ruby and Ada have so many that they barely fit. I'm thinking next year we might do two trees!
It's even lovely in the daytime!
We always wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas, but Friday is game on! We picked up a bunch of (free!) trimmings at Home Depot to make a garland along our staircase and to get that real pine smell. The trees that grow in Texas are Afghan Pines and don't smell. We went with the Christmas cactus and llama outside because they seemed most appropriate for central Texas 70 degree winters.
I think we are going to add the narwhal next year!
The girls got Lego advent calendars again from Gaga and Grandpa which they absolutely love and are so much fun. I also made an advent calendar that doubles as mantle decorations. Each tree has a treat or a little animal for our forest. We are lighting our advent candles each night at dinner and have a sweet little weekly devotional that goes with it.
It's fun to decorate a new house at Christmas time! Steve left just enough room below his ginormous tv for me to put something on the mantel.
Loving our Advent trees, especially the cute little deer!
St. Nicholas brought the customary christmas pajamas and chocolate gold coins. I love the Hanna Andersen pjs we typically get, but they can often be too hot for Texas Christmas. The girls and I love the silky nightgowns this year!
I forgot to get a picture, so Ada put her nightgown on over her clothes!
We've also been super spoiled with tickets to some great Christmas productions. We went to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Waco Civic Theatre to see our neighbors and some friends put on a great play. The girls had been asking to see the Nutcracker ballet, so we splurged on tickets for that as well (part of their Christmas present this year) and loved it. We also have tickets for The Sound of Music coming up! The fourth grade music program this year was The Twelve Days of Christmas and Ruby was one of the eleven pipers piping (on her recorder). Yes, it's strange that they do a Christmas program (and many other Christmas activities) at their public school, but the program was super cute!
And both girls did a little Christmas combo for the parents at dance last week!
Waco Civic Theatre's Best Christmas Pageant Ever
They got a golden ticket! Waco Symphony and Dallas Ballet Co put on an impressive Nutcracker.
cutest piper there ever was and her friend, a swan
Ada thought this was appropriate for Ruby's program (insert roll eyes emoji here)
Ruby's 4th Grade Music Program from Steve Nelson on Vimeo.
christmas dance 2019 from Steve Nelson on Vimeo.
One last week of Christmas fun...I mean school! Let's face it, it's pretty much all parties and fun the last few days!
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