Christmas 2015

December was a very busy month like always, but we did get in lots of fun too!  We took off one week from school - the week of Christmas.  Here are pictures from the holiday.  :)

The picture in our card.

Our co-op's Christmas party was a winter theme in silver, blue, and white (same as last year, surprisingly!).  It was SOOO wonderful to go and not be in charge!

Kylen had his first violin recital since taking lessons at the current location.  Here he is afterwards, standing next to his teacher.  He played one Christmas song: Carol of the Bells.  He did great!

We did a puzzle for the first time in years!!  We used to do them when Kylen was little, and then he stopped enjoying them.  I decided to put one out when we had company over.  Turned out none of them were interested, but Kylen was!  He did more than me!  I think we'll be seeing more puzzles in this household, although we'll probably stay in the 550-750 range.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is to set aside one evening shortly before Christmas, stop by a coffee shop, and drive around looking at lights.  Greg found an online map with the locations of good displays, which proved to be awesome!  Kylen did the navigating, Greg did the driving, and I did the looking!

This is just one part of a much larger display!

We made it to see the big tree!  My uncle told us about it last year.  Truly magnificent!  Of course, pics don't do it justice.  Not even close.

New this year, at the start of the street with the big tree, is a house with no lights except this:

Hilarious!!!!  And brilliant!

We did, indeed, get a white Christmas.  Pics from our yard after the first big snow.  Flakes have been dropping almost daily ever since!

We always spend Christmas Eve at Greg's parents, having dessert and exchanging gifts.  :)

And we always celebrate Christmas Day at home, just us three.  I decided to try a new breakfast casserole.  The boys liked it!  I was iffy until I ate the leftovers with fresh avocado.  YUM!

 Time to read the Christmas story!  Then, we always pick out gifts for needy children.  :)

Presents!

A great gift my friend Kris sent: glasses with a miniature basketball hoop and a ball dangling from a string.  We all tried it . . .

. . .  but only Kylen got it in!

There were lots of wonderful gifts!  A few more favorites.  This one came from friends who we had over for a gift exchange earlier in the week.

Kylen's favorite new shirt!

Another of his favorites!

I hope everyone else had a wonderful Christmas too!  Blessing to all!!