It seems like every December we have Christmas parties that overlap and we're left to pick and choose which to go to.
But this year we didn't have any overlapping!
And we had so many fun parties to go to, we are so blessed!
December has been a fun and busy month with parties and visiting with friends.
Our first party was a kids party for Matt's Navy job.
We've never gone to one before because the big kids were too big and the little kids too little.
But now that Addie's starting to understand Christmas we decided to take her, and it was so cute! At the last minute I decided to make Alexis and Christian come with us and I'm so glad I did. We actually had a really nice talk in the car. They are good stuff, those big kids.
Me and my baby.
LoVe.
Matt helping Addie make her ornament.
She loved it!
They also had a bouncy house that she loved.
The kids waiting to see Santa.
Addie was the 2nd to last kid called.
It was a loooong wait.
Frankie wasn't sure about sitting with all those kids.
Aaaand she's done.
Addie loved Santa!
Thinking of what she wants for Christmas.
Santa came through with a fun Dora toy.
I had to
make the big kids go get a picture for me.
I don't know why because they know that as long as they live with me they
will get pictures with Santa and the Easter Bunny.
Period.
Matt and I getting some Santa love.
The party was held in their hangar and it was f-f-freezing.
But Matt got to show us around, so it was okay.
It's fun to go to Daddy's work.
That night was the adult party, which we usually don't go to either.
It was held at a Navy Club with a big dining hall and then a game room. So after dinner we played shuffle board (love it!) and darts (love it more!). We danced to the Electric Slide, stuffed ourselves with a yummy dinner, and had a wonderful time.
AND I was the first prize winner of the night!
I won a gift card for 2 to Medieval Times.
I've already been there twice, and last April we took the whole family, but hey, don't look a gift horse in the mouth, right?!
(before I put on lipstick apparently!)
The next week we went to a fun party at our friend Alecia's house. It was a White Elephant and our gift (a rockin' pink Snuggie) was the hit of the party. There was good food and fun friends and I forgot my camera, of course.
The very next night was Matt's regular work party.
Extreme close up.
Ha ha, I like how Lexi cut our heads off!
Matt had come to me a few weeks ago asking for cans that he could take to work for a canned food drive. I had just gotten a screamin good deal on veggies at Target so I gave him 10, and in return he got 2 raffle tickets.
So at his party, before they started giving the prizes, they drew the raffle tickets, and guess who won? The very first prize of the night! My hubs.
He won an I-Pad!!!
A 32 gb I-Pad with case.
Merry Christmas to you, my love.
Merry Christmas to you.
His work kids party was next (no camera) and then our ward Christmas party (no camera).
Last week we were blessed to spend 3 nights with friends (no camera, no camera, and no camera).
It's hard being away from our families at Christmas time and I am so thankful for such good friends that can be our family here.
We really are so blessed.
Chris offered to take Addie out to play so I got her all bundled up.
Off they go.
C-u-t-e.
Exploring by herself.
Sledding down the driveway = Classy
And after the festivities hot cocoa.
A little bit of snow is fun.
And the ladies.
So I'm realizing that I'm really bad about taking my camera out at parties. And then when I do, I'm pretty good at the candid shots, but not so much about the posed ones.
Matt helping Addie make her ornament.
She loved it!
They also had a bouncy house that she loved.
The kids waiting to see Santa.
Frankie wasn't sure about sitting with all those kids.
Aaaand she's done.
Addie loved Santa!
Santa came through with a fun Dora toy.
I had to make the big kids go get a picture for me.
Matt and I getting some Santa love.
The party was held in their hangar and it was f-f-freezing.
That night was the adult party, which we usually don't go to either.
The next week we went to a fun party at our friend Alecia's house. It was a White Elephant and our gift (a rockin' pink Snuggie) was the hit of the party. There was good food and fun friends and I forgot my camera, of course.
Ha ha, I like how Lexi cut our heads off!
Matt had come to me a few weeks ago asking for cans that he could take to work for a canned food drive. I had just gotten a screamin good deal on veggies at Target so I gave him 10, and in return he got 2 raffle tickets.
His work kids party was next (no camera) and then our ward Christmas party (no camera).
It's so cute. They have stations set up with things to do, tree lighting, and Santa rides in on a Fire truck. Mrs. Claus read the kids books and then handed out cookies and they had tons of crafts and vendors.
We met up with Mindy and her 10-year old Ben took a picture of us. :)
Before we went home we let Addie and Izzy ride the little train.
Izzy and Jack rode in the Princess car.
And then we went to the little petting zoo area.
Christian ended up not singing. His story was a little fuzzy... he went with a friend to get a hot chocolate and then they didn't know where they were performing (on the large stage in the middle of the square!) or he didn't know what time they were performing, or he lost track of time. I heard all those excuses, take your pick for which you like best.
Look at how empty it was!
It was a beautiful day!
Smithsonian Christmas tree.
Sunday night we watched The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever and had Christians stove top popcorn and Orange Julius.
It was so nice!
They had this huge plate of cookies set up so we let Addie have one. Then daddy gave her another one. Then she stood there with her hand stretched out like, "what? I'm just resting my arm here!"
They have actors all dressed up in period costume and they show you how they fired cannons and made food.
Christian and his close-ups!
Nanny with 3 of my 4.
Crushing spices. Or churning butter. Or something like that.
Non-traditional black Friday, but definitely just as fun.
