Pre Christmas festivities

The events leading up to Christmas were exciting again this year! We kicked off December with Christmas on Mercer Street where we shopped, saw Santa, and did some kid activities.

 

 

My grandma's building also had a holiday event with cookie decorating and visiting with Santa. Nico propped right up on his lap and had a full conversation. Natalie wasn't having it, as expected! Ha.

We used this pic as our Christmas card photo. 3/4 of us looking right at the camera. That's the best we usually get.

 

 

We went ice skating with the Lee's and were supposed to go to the Trail of Lights, but there was inclement weather that cancelled the event for several nights in a row! We broke our tradition of going this year :(

This year was a little extra exciting, because Natalie could "help" decorate the tree! She was walking around saying "ho ho ho" and had to be wondering what was going on. We let Nico take the lead on the little tree upstairs and make it his with all of his ornaments. We avoided putting our nicest ornaments on the downstairs big tree this year for obvious reasons.

 

 

 

She started to really test us with the ornaments! She would often walk by one and come an inch from touching it, or just stare at us with her finger right by it. Cracked me up every time in my head as I tried to appear stern.

 

 

We added to our outdoor collection this year.

 

 

Nico made a gingerbread man house again. He's getting more and more into the details every year and taking it seriously. (Also pictured are the advent calendars that my mom gets every year like I had growing up.)

 

 

We kept up with our Angel Tree tradition. That's one we won't break. Nico picked out a 7 year old boy and was eager to get all of his wants and needs.

 

...and then got some ice cream for ourselves. Note to self: avoid the messy blue one next time.

 

Something very unusual and exciting also happened this month!...

 

It literally snowed in Austin, TX! Gotta love the "heavy snowfall" description from the weather channel that any northerner had to be laughing at!

 

 

Nico was beyond pumped, but he kept coming in to whine that his hands were burning! We're apparently not used to keeping gloves handy. He also enjoyed throwing snowballs at the door as little sister, on her tippy toes, eagerly looked outside.

 

We made sure he wrote a nice little note to his teacher and bus driver along with a little Christmas gift. He is doing great with his spelling and handwriting so I couldn't help but take a picture of his little homemade cards!