Christmas with Pippi and Poppa

We spent the 22nd and 23rd with my parents. It is tradition that everyone gets new pjs. This has been a tradition passed down since my sister and I were little. I love these little penguin pjs. :)

The next morning on Christmas Eve we open presents.

After presents, we always have Christmas brunch. It is my favorite meal all year. We have sausage egg casserole, hash brown casserole, cheese grits, coffee cake, and biscuits. We head home to our house for Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning. There's just something about being home on Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve Eve with Family

Every year we have Christmas with my mom's side of the family on Christmas Eve Eve. Santa always comes to visit. Here are some of the times he has visited Ben.

Ben and Luke with their cousins, Dalyn, Isaac, and Nikko.

My little reindeer

Santa!!

Their faces say it all...

Thank you Santa!

Then we all eat, play games, laugh, and preform. It's always a great night!

Tiger and His Antics

Tiger the Elf was a little tired this year. ;-) He did do some silly things in between moving from high place to high place. Here are a few...

He played with toys several times!

He hung undies on the boy's tree. (They laughed and laughed over this.)

He played "snowball fight" with marshmallows and teddy bear. Luke couldn't stand the temptation of marshmallows sitting out so he just took them all for himself.

He even toilet papered their bathroom.

Silly silly elf. What will he do next?!

Ben's School Christmas Play

Ben was a shepherd in the school play. He had 2 speaking parts. He did perfect! We were so proud of him!!

It was the sweetest program I have ever seen. It made me so thankful that he is at Arkansas Baptist. I couldn't imagine him anywhere else. What an amazing God we serve!

Ben's School Christmas Party

Ben had his kindergarten Christmas party.  I made a large cupcake for the party so the boys and girls could sing happy birthday to Jesus. 

They made gingerbread houses. This is Ben with his masterpiece.

They did book exchange. Every time Mrs. Johnson read the word "baby" or "Jesus" the boys and girls traded books. They thought this was lots of fun!

Then they had their Christmas feast. How cute are these kindergarteners!?!

Ben made us a Christmas ornament and candle holder. 

Mrs. Johnson passed out presents to each of the kids. Ben was so excited!

 We gave Mrs. Johnson a nativity picture with each of the kid's fingerprints. She loved it!

When we got home, Ben showed everything to Luke and even let him have a few things. :)

Santa Visit at Bass Pro, Tallulah's Christmas Bow, and Ben's Choir Program at Church

 After build-a-bear, we headed out to the new Bass Pro to see Santa. The boys loved Bass Pro! 

Luke just had to check out this sled in the middle of the floor. :)

This aquarium was amazing.

Ben was fascinated with this bear. 

And our annual picture with Santa. Poor Luke. Deer into headlights.

On another note, Tallulah got a Christmas bow. She needed a little something special for the holidays.

Ben had his choir program at church. We knew he wasn't quite acting like himself that night. We found out he had strep the next day. Poor guy. 

Sorry for the shaky camera. I'm blaming it on Todd. ;)

Christmas Build-A-Bear Trip

We did our annual Christmas trip to build-a-bear. This year Ben picked out a polar bear and Luke picked out Rudolph. They only get to go twice a year for Christmas and birthdays so it's always a really exciting thing for them. They love the whole process from getting stuffed to making the birth certificate.

Getting them stuffed.

Luke is waiting so patiently.

Ben is washing polar bear to make sure he is super clean and ready to go home.

Hugging Rudolph to make sure he is stuffed enough.

Putting the heart inside Rudolph.

Giving him a good wash.

Big brother helping out.

Making the birth certificates.

Loving our new friends.

Carrying them home safely in their houses.