December Extras

December is always such a full month and this year was without exception!  After the first packed weekend, getting to see Saluda Shoals Lights, (and the best days of Christmas Eve and Christmas), there was still some celebrations and traditions thrown in.  I went to our annual church women's Christmas party where my mom and Danielle joined us!

As well as the amazing Lauren!

We played a silly party game around our table and had some special times of worship!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Annual check-up for the kids, which we would later find out after getting their blood results back that it was very needed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shiloh had a sleepover with some friends where they decorated cookies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had a great time celebrating our friend's 40's birthday!

Chris is such a great guy!

Someone in the group had surprised the birthday boy and we all had Chris face cutouts!

While eating at a hibachi restaurant, Lauren will give a good side eye if you don't order hibachi.

We enjoyed a very smokey fun hibachi dinner.

Such a beautiful night we didn't want it to end!

Group Chris photo!

Lots of laughter!

And sillyness.

Did Beach enjoy a comfy nightly couch nap as usual, but this time in disguise?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We enjoy having theme days at the cafe, including Christmas sweater day!

Peep photo bomber in the back.

Another day was PJ day and Beach represented in his onesie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Small group Christmas themed.  The oldest kids were the tiredest.

The adults enjoyed some silly games together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Selfies round up found on my phone this month...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The big day arrived for Ezra, as he had been anticipating getting braces for some time.

And accomplished, we now have two in braces!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a beautiful Saturday, the boys and I tried our first go of Pickleball.

We had a good time, although we were just hitting it around.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New Years Eve was very low key; the boys and I played a board game.

And then attempted to watch the ball drop.  Zoe was at a friend's house,

and Shiloh was not feeling well but did join us for the toast.

Sparkling grape juice tradition.

And the end of another year full of ups and downs, challenges and joys, and always fighting to find the gratitude.  Thank you, Lord!

Christmas Day!

We had a precious Christmas Eve together and we were excited for all that Christmas day brought as well!  We always start with stockings for all, although never to early.

Busted out the matching Christmas onesies too!

A joke ornament to commemorate this season in time (especially for middle school boys).

Beach and my stockings are quite large!

And full of treats and goodies....

Then it is on to making or traditional breakfast of bacon and apple cake.

Zoe attempted a brunch family selfie.

Cheers and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Then we move on to gifts and the kids always enjoy giving theirs first.

I got a couple of adorable little plants to add into my collection!

(Look past the bed head please)

It was the year of socks for Beach.

Ezra got what he wanted from his sister....

pickle chips.

Deserve excited hugs!

Ezra was so excited to give gifts that he knew others would love!

Lots of smiles and giggles throughout the morning!

When you get the exact product you asked for...

Shiloh is ready to get her ears pierced....so a gift of a future date with mom to do so.

Beach got Ezra a BB gun.

And Zoe got her first iphone.  She is ready to take great quality photos!

She was very excited and happy about it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That evening we had dinner with my side of the family.

A colorful yummy spread.

Then some more gifts...

and giggles.

I had never heard of this but it will come in handy.  A gun that shoots salt to kill bugs!  Ezra was thrilled!

Addy hugged Zoe to thank her for her gift and accidently hit her with it.

And of course felt really bad and then it turned quickly to laughter.

More plant love for the plant loving grammy!

The adults trade names and it was my turn to give to my mom.

These kitchen shears that I ordered turned out to be huge and weapon like!!

What a blessed time to celebrate the love of our Savior and being together!  (We just missed the Printiss but we will have another fun evening with them later.)  These are the "good old days" that I will look back to with found memories!