December Shenanigans

We had so much fun in December!  Lots of Christmas preparations, enjoying our Christmas Countdown Calendar activities, stacks of Christmas books were read, plenty of treats were consumed, and we made several trips downtown to see the festive decorations, including one special visit to the White House!

Gretchen lost her FIRST tooth just a few days before she turned seven!  

We delivered Christmas cards and cupcakes to our neighbors.  

Through Ryan's work, we were able to get tickets to a White House holiday open house - yippee!  We put together this White House cookie kit in the morning before heading out for the special event.

Our precious children inside the White House visitors center.

He can be pretty ornery, but Rooke is a really great big brother.  His sisters adore him more than he knows.  

It was fun to get dressed up!  Well, at least I had fun getting everyone all dressed up.  

The decorations inside were so lavish and beautiful!

The State Room:

Looks like he could be headed to work . . . ha!

Ornaments and snowflakes were a few of our December crafts

 This has nothing to do with Christmas, but everything to do with my youngest keeping me on my toes.  During a regular visit to the library this month, Bridgette picked out this book for me to read to her.  Um . . . really?  "I like scary things, Mommy."  Really?!  I don't.

Our days almost always include arguing, disobedience, unkind words, impatience, and selfishness.  But those grace-filled moments of laughter, helping hands, kind words, thoughtful acts of service, and unselfish playing remind me to be grateful for the greatest gift of all.  God gave His Son, Jesus, so I could be adopted into His family and call Him Father.  May we remember this Truth we focus on in December throughout the year.  May we MARVEL at God's lavish love.  

Happy Birthday Gretchen!

Our sweet Gretchen Ruth turned SEVEN this month!  We adore our beautiful red-head.  She is thoughtful, kind, dramatic, smart, fast, friendly, stubborn, artistic, sensitive, and social.  

When we moved this summer, Gretchen was especially sad to leave her special friend next door.  We talked about the hope of making new friends and prayed, asking God for friends in our new home in time to have a birthday party for her and Rooke (birthday coming up in a couple weeks!).  Goodness, has God answered that prayer above and beyond what we expected!  It was so fun to plan a birthday party for sweet friends to help us celebrate our precious girl.  

Gretchen chose a neapolitan chocolate chip cookie cake.  We served it with neapolitan ice cream! =)

She wanted to do a painting party with her friends and helped get the table just right before everyone arrived.

Playing a fun drawing game called Faces that kept these cute girls giggling!

Ryan got home just in time to help with the painting project.  In the living room.  With ten little girls.  Oh my!

On her actual birthday, a few days after the party, Gretchen requested banana pancakes and bacon for breakfast.  We couldn't wait for her to open her presents, including fun packages from family far away!  Her siblings were especially excited for her to receive a dress they knew she would LOVE!

We had a special birthday lunch (Aunt Pam's chicken and gnocchi recipe), with more neapolitan ice cream, and then headed to the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage for a handbell choir performance!

our birthday girl looking all grown up as we walked down the Hall of Nations.  

Bridgette snuggled with Daddy for the performance.  

We love our seven-year-old Gretchen!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We enjoyed sunny milder temps at the beginning of December.  

I wouldn't add anything to this photo: 

My kids.  Sunny day.  Running.  Towards a library.

Field trip with friends to the National Gallery of Art. 

Off to chop down our Christmas tree! 

"Picture what it would look like in the living room, kids.  Like this!" 

Christmas boxes were brought up from the basement, lights were strung, then I left with my Aunt for a holiday tour of homes while the kids decorated.  My parting words were, "just make sure the red balls are evenly distributed on the tree!".  The tree looked wonderful when I got home!

Christmas books are better read when snuggling a Christmas bear

Our traditional marshmallow snowmen.   

Delivering goodies to neighbors . . .

We hosted a gingerbread party for our co-op.  It was a complete success!  7 moms and 28 kids!  I love how many fingers are caught in mouths in this photo: 

  

After everyone else had finished and headed outside to play capture the flag, I found this little guy hunkered down in his spot with his candy just doin' his thing!