Pre-Christmas Fun!

We made it to December 18th!! (The last day of the semester, phew!)  We limped to the finish line at times, taking each day (and each event that we needed to bring gifts, food, etc. to) one at a time.  It's a very busy time, but a very fun time as well!

In early December the kids had their Christmas program for school.  I'm not sure I ever talked about that this year both kids are going to Ms. Dora's Wooden Shoe Christian Preschool.  It is an in-home preschool and daycare combined.  This is a major plus for us because this means Matt doesn't have to transport anyone between preschool and daycare multiple times a day like the past two years.  We knew since both kids would be in preschool (probably on different days and times) that would be a lot of driving around during the work day for Matt.  Last year my co-workers recommended Ms. Dora's and it has been a perfect fit for us this year.  Ms. Dora has been doing this for 39 years in her home and she has it down to an art.  She takes 10 kids from ages 3-5 only.  The kids love it and have learned so much!  Not just academically but also social and behavioral skills.

We were SO impressed with Ms. Dora's Christmas program.  It was held at a middle school auditorium near her home, and was about 45 minutes long including singing, sign language, and acting.  The kids did an amazing job.    

Ready for the program!

You're a grand old flag...

Cade got to be the star of the snow man song.

Actions and dancing for this song.

Ms. Dora getting everyone all set up.

The kids and Ms. Dora.  She runs a tight ship!  I find myself being a little scared of Ms. Dora at times!  EVERYONE obeys what Ms. Dora says.

I count down until "ugly Christmas outfit day" so I can bust out my (mom's old) jumper.  This thing is great.

This was the 5th year in a row for the Heine's and Keeley's to go to Crown Center and Union Station together.  It's become something we treasure getting to do together!

Trying to use the selfie window...

Now correctly using the selfie window.

Giving Santa their lists...

Prom Pose for Cade and Reegan

Making our way across the link to Union Station.

One of the unexpectedly fun moments of the night was coloring together at the crayola store right before we called it a night.  We sat there for a good 30 minutes just coloring.

Another highly anticipated event, cookie decorating with some of our MTMS friends and their kids.  Jamie was an excellent hostess as it was pretty much craziness with the amount of kids and sticky fingers around there.

Reese took her decorating very seriously.  And "less is more" is nowhere in her repertoire.

The gang!  Always fun to catch up with them and get the kids together!

Christmas program, check.  Meet Santa, check.  Decorate cookies, check.  Now to wrap all those presents...

Have a wonderful holiday spending time with family and friends!  We are so thankful to be able to have some time off to spend together and celebrate the HOPE we have in Christ our Savior.

A look back: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

Christmas Tour 2015

Jumping on board with Momfessionals  to share our Christmas decor.  While I enjoy having a cozy home where I want my kids to make holiday memories and remember our family traditions, we don't really ever host any events at our house over Christmas while it is decorated, nor do I enjoy taking down the decorations (a short month or so after they've been put up)...so I am some what of a minimalist when it comes to any holiday decor.  (I feel really Scrooge-like even just typing that out.  But alas...it is the truth.)

We have one "pretty" tree and one for "fun" ornaments.  The top of the pre-lit "pretty" tree didn't want to light up this year...so I attempted to cover it with the large bow at the top.  #gowithit

Under the tree sits the bin of Christmas books, the kids' nativity set and many Christmas toys we've acquired.  These have become everyone's favorite!

The kids really love sitting at the foot of the tree and playing with these--which is probably one of the only things they will always remember about our Christmas decorations.

Many of the Christmas globes and figurines came from Matt's grandma Keeley.  They decorate the upper cabinets in the kitchen as well.

Random touches of holiday cheer around the first floor.

My only new items purchased this year, as it's our first Christmas in this house, were the garland pieces for the banisters.  I definitely should have attempted this at the old house as it was super-easy to just slap up there and it made a big impact.

I strung a couple strands of battery-powered lights through the garland.  And...so far I've already replaced the batteries twice!  #costlyinvestment  #addingupquick  #dontturnthelightson

The small "fun" tree sits on the fireplace this year and it's become clear it's time to invest in a larger "fun" tree as our childhood and souvenir ornaments barely fit on it!

Matt purchased a couple strands of lights for the kids' rooms and put them up to surprise them before the kids and I returned home from Tulsa over Thanksgiving.  Isn't he just the most fun Dad ever?

That wraps it up!  As you can see, it's manageable.  I'm sure there will be different phases in life where I have the time and desire to make the effort to go all out.  Until then, my motto when decorating is to remember that anything you get out, you have to put away just 5 short weeks later.  

Fun fact: The only post I ever did that remotely showcased Christmas decor at our previous house is from 2009!

Thankful: 2015

I missed some excellent photo opportunities this holiday, that's for sure.  As always, I'll share what I've got!

We had the best Wednesday-before-Thanksgiving EVER by sleeping in and leisurely putting up the Christmas decorations.  We went to the Charlie Brown movie that evening to top off an excellent day!

 

 

Thursday we hosted some of our Pioneer family and had a very Chandler Bing-type Thanksgiving by eating no Thanksgiving food.  Last week at school we roasted our own pumpkins, made homemade puree to use for our made completely from scratch pumpkin pies, and made apple-onion stuffing and green bean casserole.  I wanted to give the students the opportunity to try some dishes that are typically made largely from store-bought products, except we made them all from scratch.  It was fun--but very, very hectic.  And it left me wanting nothing to do with Thanksgiving food come the actual big day.  So we made pizza dough and topped and baked our own pizzas and finished off with root beer floats.  A memorable Thanksgiving meal for sure.

The kids and I then packed up to head to Tulsa to be with my mom's side of the family, and meet baby Olivia, of course!  (Matt had a game on Saturday night so we let him hold down the fort on his own while we were gone--and we returned to a completely deep-cleaned home!!  Wow, Matt!).

Olivia was born to my cousin, Nathan, and his wife, Brooke, on October 11th. What a little sweetie!

Everyone was kind enough to play plenty of Spot It, Memory, and Old Maid with the kids.

 

 

Zach on Uncle Duty, Olivia loves to snuggle with him.

Our Black Friday shoppers made it on the Tulsa evening news!

Corrupted by Aunt Kizzie

On Friday afternoon we all headed to Main Event Entertainment to bowl and play arcade games.

 

Fun for all ages!

Knitting and playing the organ...traditions at Grandmama and Papa's house!

Cade tried to keep up with the pedals.

Saturday was the Bedlam game...divides the family between OU and OSU fans.  Everyone went their separate ways to watch the game.  And it was a painful game.  Thankful we are only mild Cowboy fans or that one would sting a little.

The red prevailed over the orange indeed!

You can't make the trip to Tulsa at Thanksgiving without at least driving through Rhema!  It was raining (as it did the entire trip there) so we opted not to get out and walk around, much to the kids' dismay.

We have so much to be thankful for, among these things are our health, our friends and family who we love spending time with, our home that God has provided for us, and our fun jobs that we enjoy going to each day.  Thank you, Lord!