It's the Holiday Season

This Christmas season has flown by!  Because sleep is a hot commodity right now, and therefore a much higher priority than blogging, I've gotten WAY behind on documenting all the fun festivities that have been going on.  Which is totally justifiable and fine.   At this point, I'm just proud that I actually got our Christmas cards mailed out this afternoon!  You know -- only 2 days before Christmas.  :)

Because it's late {and I'm tired} and I still have present wrapping to do, I'll be going with a bare bones coverage approach to the following photo dump of pictures...

• Alex participated in his Preschool Christmas program last week, and by participated, I mean he actually DID! It was still a hands in his pockets kind of deal for him, but he was singing along with his class this time around and that is progress.  :)

 Jane likes to make funny faces for her selfies.

 My little Christmas Angel.

 This picture was hanging in the hallway outside his classroom.  Hahahahaha.  Classic Alex right there.

• "Mall Santa" was invented by Grace. Hahahaha.  Last Sunday, Grace entertained herself, and then us, by turning Alex into a Mall Santa and Sophie into one of his elves.  It was pretty hilarious.  But maybe you had to be there.

• A quick trip was made to the cousins' house to see Hannah perform in the Nutcracker.  She got to play the part of Clara this year {alternating as one of the snowflakes in the matinee performance}, and the girls were super excited to see her dance.  We were only there for the weekend, but we had plenty of fun with the cousins and Grandma and Grandpa.  While everyone else was at the ballet on Saturday night, I stayed home with my 3 little ones and watched "White Christmas" while Alex and Jane played dress-up.  It was a winning kind of night. 

 Backstage at the matinee.

 Grace, Hannah, Sophie, Ethan, and Jonah after the evening performance.

 Another movie was made with the cousins while we were there. :)

• Amy came to town on Monday night!  And we've been having all kinds of fun having her around.  She came with us to the candy store yesterday, we showed her my favorite trail, then picked up a box of cupcakes, and finished things off with some ice cream.  We're definitely getting into the holiday swing of things.  Hahaha.  

• And finally, we made some earlier-than-usual gingerbread houses this evening!  We still have our box kit one to decorate tomorrow on Christmas Eve as per tradition, but we decided to make something homemade today -- mostly because Alex and Jane have been begging everyday to make the house.  It took a LOOOONG time to get everything ready to go, but once the cookies were baked, the kids really did have a fun time decorating their creations. 

 Grace's work in progress...

 Jane's finished product.

 Ethan's creation.

 Alex's handiwork.

 Sophie's masterpiece.

And Grace's final product.

And that is that.  It's even later, I'm even tireder, and I don't think the present wrapping is going to happen tonight.  Nothing like saving stuff to finish up until Christmas Eve!  Hahahaha.  Thank you and goodnight.  ;)