The Peanut Gallery

One of the many things I love about the Christmas season are the movies! The Sound of Music, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation and anything Charlie Brown are a few of my favorites. Never mind that most of these are on Demand and I can see them ANYTIME I want to, without commercials. Nevertheless, there is something special about catching your favorite Christmas movie on tv, even with the commercials. We watched a lot of Charlie Brown this month and I saw two very striking similarities between their peanut gallery and mine. See if you can spot them!

Anyone guess Linus with his blanket and Pigpen of course!

Countdown to Christmas

I feel like the month of December is always a blur. As it is for most of you as well. Between decorating, holiday festivities, birthdays (6 in our families during the month of December!), school Christmas parties and plays, dinners and receptions for Mark's work, oh and Christmas itself, I feel like we are constantly on the go. I love it too, until right before Christmas, then I get burnt out and I'm ready for everything to be over with. I always tell myself I will get a jump on things to lessen the load a little bit but it never really happens. Here's to hoping it will next year. 

That being said, I LOVE Christmas and the month of December. Everyone seems to be happy all of the time and I love the hustle and bustle that comes with planning for and enjoying the Christmas season. Finn is old enough that he really gets into Christmas--I love creating traditions and making memories with him. (Except for Elf on the Shelf--I am OVER that tradition!) He is a special child and sometimes I wish I could just see things as he sees them, with pure wonder and complete joy. I try to stop and remember that in the middle of running around and it brings a calming perspective. 

We really had a wonderful Christmas. Just being together and celebrating with family. We really are so very blessed and sometimes its easy to dwell on the things we don't have or wish we had but this Christmas I can honestly say that I felt so full and content. 

It's now January and I can't really remember all that we did and I know I didn't take pictures of everything but here is a snapshot of our December and Christmas celebrations.

The station lighting at SI Fire Dept. They really go all out Griswold-style with lights and decor, complete with Choir, visit from Santa, hot chocolate, pizza and train rides. A great way to kick off the holiday season!

Finn showing off his first (of two) gingerbread houses (while Charlie dismantles our tree!)

I am one of the room mom's for Finn's class and I love getting to spend time and do fun activities with all of his friends. We decorated his classroom while they were at recess and when the kids came back it was like a winter wonderland. The kids were so surprised! Sorry, no pictures though. Here we made stockings with each of the kids.

Hanging their stockings by the (faux) Chimney with care

Santa's "helpers" waiting for crumbs from our cookie decorating party

Tired of waiting for something to fall . . .she decides to help herself

Mt.Pleasant Christmas parade

Puppet show and gingerbread house decorating party 

So proud of his creation

Some of the tackiest people on Sullivan's Island (at my tacky sweater party)

The pups get Christmas treats from Santa

So excited to finally open presents

Charlie likes to assist--mainly in the shredding of paper . . . 

and bows!

Santa couldn't fit this one down the chimney! Finn now has his own wheels

Charlie wants no part of the action

Santa brought lots of Lego sets too (good things there were lots of people around to assist)

I know I am leaving out a lot like Christmas with the Lyles and some school activities and parties and such so I'll aim higher and try to get it all next year (maybe).

One Whole Hand!

Our baby boy is a baby no more! He has been counting down the days until he was one whole hand--5 years old! I say this every year, but I really really mean it this year. How can he be 5 already? In the beginning I felt like he may get a bad deal being born so close to Christmas, but now I know the truth! We celebrate his birthday for what seems like weeks--a party with his friends which is always before his actual birthday, a party at school and then some sort of celebration on his actual birthday. Whew! I sure hope he feels loved (because he is!). On his actual birthday (12/21), we went to see Monsters, Inc (3D) with his buddy Easton, complete with popcorn and icees, followed by presents, a special birthday dinner and topped off with ice cream cake. Happy 5th birthday Finn! 

Finn and my papa (Finn's great-grandfather) share a birthday together, so we always think of papa when we celebrate Finn. 

HIS School Presents the Christmas Story

Name change aside, Finn's school has gone through many changes since last year, most all of them positive. One of the best additions has been the emphasis on the Christian faith and the Bible. The kids now go to chapel once a week and sing praise songs and learn Bible versus. It's amazing how much he learns and retains. The Christmas play was a new addition to the curriculum and probably my most favorite to date. The kids have worked so hard all year learning the words to the songs and their parts in the story. Finn was a shepherd and took his role very seriously (although he didn't care for his costume all that much because he said it kind of looked like a dress). 

Ms. Sue was the narrator and read the story of the very first Christmas aloud while each child walked in and their his or her place in the nativity scene. There was Mary and Joseph, the Shepherd and his sheep, the cow, the three wise men, the star and the dove, throw in the angel chorus and we had ourselves a show! The kids sang their hearts out and stood still throughout the reading of the entire book (a miracle in itself if you know any of these kiddos). It was such a special moment to look out and see their innocent, smiling, proud little faces, even more so in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. 

The nativity

The three's and four's class

I LOVE this picture. It perfectly captures this age: yawns, nose picking, chatting with friends, boredom and spinning around on your own

After the play, we had some yummy snacks and a special visit from Santa

Another special visitor: Mimi came down to see Finn and he was so happy she was there

 Clowning around with his friends and Mr. Claus

I recorded each and every song they sang (6) but since you didn't give birth to Finn, I won't make you sit through them all. This one is my favorite: the Little Drummer Boy. It's long but worth it to see the end. The kids loved singing the first verse, not so much the second one, but really came on strong in the end. Finn said it was his favorite too, "the Mary nodded part because we sing it so loud!"

Finn's 5th Birthday Party

We decided to have Finn's 5th birthday party at the bowling alley this year. It turned out to be a wise decision because it rained all day long. Earlier on I told Finn he could choose where to have his party and he wanted a bowling party, which basically meant that he wanted to play arcade games with his buddies for a couple of hours. Turns out, it was a great party. Fun, easy (no cleanup), lots of kids and I call it a successful party. Plus, Mark earned the distinction of winning the most tickets ever (in the history of the bowling alley, 100% serious). We had a great set-up: our own private mini-bowling lanes, complete with bumpers and 1 lb bowling balls: a must when bowling with the 5 and under set. Plus, many, many arcade games, which was Finn's favorite. After bowling and playing games, it was time for pizza and cake (star wars). All in all it was a great party and a wonderful day to celebrate my big boy turning 5!

Finn and Conrad

Mark and Finn camping out at the ticket machine

He takes it very seriously

Easton and Declan racing motorcycles

So excited to see his buddies, Zack and Beau

Anna Claire cheering on Brody

Look at all those tickets. Somebody take that man to Vegas!

Finn and our sweet neighbors Langley and Eloise (and their daddy Jamie)

Loaded down with a fresh supply of tokens, ready for more action

Team Air hockey anyone?

Me and my birthday boy

Finn and Diane, Mark's cousin who stayed with us while she did her pharmacy rotation at the naval hospital. Without Diane, I wouldn't be able to show you any pictures from his party. She took them all. Man, I am falling down on the job!

Our one and only family shot (for the year!)

Getting ready to blow out the candles. He wanted to make sure no one 

grabbed the darth vader candle off of his cake.

Jamie and Eloise

Bowling, bowling, bowling, keep those balls a rolling

Who knew bowling could also be a team sport?

Kari, me, little Ashleigh and Muffet

(Muffet is married to Josh, who I went to high school with . . . they recently moved to Columbia but happened to be in town for the weekend. We were so excited to see them and catch up. Miss you guys!

Thanks to everyone who came to Finn's birthday party. He had a wonderful time and we all felt very blessed to be able to share a special day with great friends.