Grandma and Grandpa came the 2nd week of December so they could get in on all the kid's activities. In that span of 10 days, we had 3 choir concerts, a basketball tournament, and Mikayla's Spanish Schoolhouse show. We found time to fit in the Schmucker Christmas!
The first picture is of TJ and his best friend Marco Warma. I mean #bestfriend. All of his stories and worksheets in school reference Marco whenever there is an opportunity to choose your own protagonist. These pictures are at the choir concert at Market Street.
This first picture of Santa is at TJ's choir concert at the Rotary club. Holy cow when he walked in, Mikayla did not take his eyes of him the entire time. She finally got her nerve up to go take a picture, but only if Luka would go with her. He was s super nice and friendly Santa!
With the kids, Vera always makes Christmas Morning Cake, which is basically shortbread with some lemon flavor and jelly for coloring. Sure is good! This is an annual family tradition from when Scott was growing up, and one that is surely not to go away anytime soon. Once a year is enough for this tradition! Mikayla loves her new cupcake apron that Grandma made!
I also love the picture of Mikayla and me both in our aprons. I have on the one that MY grandma made. In this shot, we were making the sugar cookies. A big accomplishment!
The boys have been GREAT sports about trying to keep the Christmas magic alive for Santa, even though they know he isn't real. They come home and say it is really hard in school because almost everyone in their classes still think Santa is real. We just help them understand that it is best if they have that conversation with their parents, and that it shouldn't be something they hear from their friends. (Interestingly, this is EXACTLY what we say for sex discussions as well.)
As for Mikayla, there were a lot of winks in December. The boys were happy to go see Santa, for Mikayla's sake, and Luka also wrote a letter to Santa and helped Mikayla write hers. They truly delight in her excitement, and that is so fun to witness. On a side note, I hate the mall and I hate paying for pictures with Santa. Turns out the Santa at the library is fantastic. No line, no cost, and totally believable!
Christmas Eve, we enjoyed a 5:00 church service and what is becoming the annual chocolate and cheese fondue family dinner. The service was perfect. Stories were short and all the songs were familiar to the kids, so their attention span was divine and I think they actually enjoyed it a bit. When we told Mikayla she had to hold very very still with her candle during Silent Night, and she listened. I'm not sure she even blinked!
And last but not least (just chronologically), Gunden Christmas at the lake. It was a gorgeous Christmas day and the while it would have been chilly for the adults, the kids were not afraid to get in the water. They had an absolute ball!
The Christmas show consisted of the 12 Days of Christmas, ballerinas, Jingle Bells, guitar concerts, Spanish serenades, and a very cute poem read by TJ that included participation by Blaze. So cute!
The Night Santa Came
Twas the Night before Christmas and what can I say?
The kids had been hopeful all through the day.
Then finally, to bed, muttering "Santa doesn't care!"
Their hopes for a puppy drowned in despair.
Thoughts of "no pet" danced through their heads,
As they slept with just toys, alone in their beds.
No puppy, no kitten, not even a cat,
To comfort their hearts for this long winter's nap.
Then out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
That I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
We ran to the window and pulled back the drape,
And in shock we all stared at a marvelous shape!
For there was a shadow on the sparkling snow,
A vision from heaven and t'was then did we know,
That Santa was coming with present in tow,
Bringing a pet for our family all tied up in a bow.
Then Santa appeared and there on his back,
A bundle of black wriggled out of the sack.
He said "I've Prancer and Dancer and dozens more pets,
But this puppy's for you, and that's as good as it gets!"
As Blaze grows up on W. Misty Morning Trace,
He will soon adapt to our very special place.
His playful personality fits our family like a glove,
And all of us know that he's a bundle of love.
Wishing all the best to you in 2016!
No comments:
Post a Comment