Ben’s first day of vacation we made Christmas cookies! We had to split it up into two days (cut out and bake first, then frost the second).

Cassidy made sure to get several Christmas duckies in there :D

Daddy was a huge help, taste tester.

Cookies for us and to share with neighbors!

We went to our church’s Christmas Eve service on Sunday morning.

The kids sung a super cute “Go tell it on the mountain” along with a “Mary did you know?” dance. During practice Cassidy started crying, so it was up in the air how she’d do with the actual performance. That morning she got right up there and was clapping and singing with a smile though!

The Christmas message, we have hope in the darkness.

We had Christmas dinner by candle light in our jammies. Andy’s dad modified this cute little table to fit in our new kitchen. The kids enjoyed their “christmas punch” in wine glasses (ginger ale, cran-raspberry juice, raspberry sherbet and frozen raspberries).

Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Quiet Christmas morning before the kids got up!

Best faces! :)

Reading the Christmas story before presents.

New jammies!

Ben and Andy received Battleship. When I asked how the game was going Andy replied “There’s something seriously wrong with Ben’s fleet” – haha, we think he wasn’t *quite* getting it, or mixing up his top and bottom playing fields.

The kitties are so thoughtful! It was actually a new camera bag from Andy!

Icy, beautiful, freezing Christmas day!

We enjoyed a quiet afternoon, snuggled up on the couch. We just watched A Muppet Christmas Carol and are now moving on to The Empire Strikes Back :)

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family, whether we get to spend time with you this season or not, we love you!

We headed into Lockport to spend Thanksgiving with Andy’s parents, my mom, Paul and Gabby. Andy’s mom had made a thankfulness tree and each person contributed.

Cassidy’s was my favorite, she loves her duckies!

Dinner was wonderful!

After the meal, Aunt Gabby took the kids for a walk along the canal. There was minimal whining and complaining…

They warmed up by the fire afterwards. Everyone was teasing me because I served the kids hot water in tea cups. Both had been having some “intestinal” issues and I didn’t want to make things worse with hot cocoa. I suppose it will go down as the Thanksgiving I fed them bread and water rations ;-)

Playing with the fart app on Andy’s phone.

Snuggling with grandma during a movie.

Cracking nuts with grandpa. Ben didn’t really want to eat any of them, but he certainly had fun breaking them open.

The next morning we headed to the park. It was a bit chilly but bearable in the sunshine.

Andy’s dad was commissioned to build this “little library” for the Santa cottage at the park.

It’s a little replica of the main cottage and is SO cute.

The kids each got to take a book and leave a book.

Hams!

It was such a nice Thanksgiving spent with family. So thankful for the time with them :)