I got a new stocking holder this year with room for one more. Josh and I could not settle on his name soon enough to get his stocking ordered and hung, but it will be there next year!
Aside from Disney World, our first "Christmas" activity was seeing Santa at "A Catlin Christmas." It was a pretty cold night, but I'm glad I took the kids up. It was the only time we talked to Santa this year, unlike some years where we see him multiple times.
Hannah had her Christmas program at school. She looked beautiful and did a great job with her "speaking part" (just one line said with another girl). Here she is with Lily and Anna:
Our tree has never really had a theme, but when I go to The Festival of Trees, my favorite ones are always the prominently "red and green" trees. I started the effort in that direction:
The kids always enjoy decorating a gingerbread house. We had to put it way up high because Aleah just wanted to eat it once it was done!
We went to the Christmas Parade in Monticello with Josh's mom for the first time this year. It was a little chilly, but the kids enjoyed it and pizza afterwards.
We saw Mrs. Claus at The Catlin Library who conveyed the kids' wishes to Santa:
Aleah wanted nothing to do with her:
We were lucky that weekend to also have Les, Sarah, and Moses at our house! We hadn't seen them in over two years, since they left to be missionaries in Japan! We are so excited they are going to be in Illinois now. We really missed them!
We also got to take the Evans to a live nativity in a nearby town. The kids enjoyed petting the animals:
Our elf is not nearly as creative as some of our friends' elves, but he did a few things, which the kids found hysterical. Like the night he took our stockings down and put up our underwear, haha!
The above picture is Hannah ready for her school program during the day and below is for her school program that night.
We had Christmas at the Gurtlers on the 19th since they were going to be in Aspen over Christmas. It worked out well for us to be able to spread out our celebrations a bit.
Hannah got a Barbie dreamhouse, which was what she really wanted!
Jacob got some cute dinosaur toys:
Aleah got a rocking bear, a Tinker Bell doll, and a new coat!
The Gurtlers pajama tradition continued, although the adults didn't put theirs on:
Hannah had school through the 22nd! I'm the room mom for her class this year, and per the teachers' requests, we planned a joint morning and afternoon party! Hannah and I made Christmas tree brownies for the afternoon:
We stole my friend Kristina's idea and made a snowman pizza at home:
Our Christmas Eve celebration was at my sister Betsy's this year. She and Nathan have a nice, new, big house. It worked out great for opening gifts, etc. Twenty people equals a lot of gifts and wrapping paper!
It was hard to get the 1 year olds to sit still for a picture.
That night, we went to church in Champaign. Then we went home, and Santa came:
Hannah got a Disney Princess drawing kit; Jacob got a Mario toy and shirt, and Aleah got a Minnie Mouse doll!
We made homemade fried doughnuts, which is our family tradition. It's quick and easy since we have to get onto the next place, but everyone loves them!
Santa Claus came to the Downing family Christmas. Aleah and Liam were NOT INTERESTED!
Aleah wore a Christmas nightgown that Grandma Teresa made for Hannah!
No matter how "simple" I try to keep Christmas, it is a lot of work, especially for "the mom"! But we also have so much fun and make so many great memories, it makes it all worth it. We're so thankful to have these three beautiful kids to celebrate with and one more on the way!
