December Days

Just thought I would wrap up 2014 with some of what our December Days looked like.

December started with a daddy hunting trip for Blake at the ranch.

Also, in early December Bailey's school did a service project by singing at a nursing home.

 

What's fun is that I got to substitute teach that day for Christmas Around Europe. We made crackers from Great Britain.

  

Luke & Bailey at Will's Ranch party. Bailey with her biggest catch. 

Our church, the Austin Stone, does a Christmas FX, which is a fun night for the kids and we were there with the Fosheas and other Mezgers.

Marshmallow Fight

Petting Zoo

Rock Climbing Wall

Blake's preschool class in homemade reindeer shirts

And we happened upon Ole St Nick at Mt Playmore

 

 

We love our Colt Christmas hand-me-downs.

Not the best picture, but the only one from the Trail of Lights trip.

Christmas Eve hike with the Kinslows & Risingers.

And lastly, Bailey's turn for a deer hunt with daddy & grandpa.

Christmas with the Mezgers

Christmas in Austin happens every other year and we are beginning to settle into some routines, but our new house added some excitement. We attended our church's Christmas Eve service, had dinner back at our place complete with hot chocolate and the last of our advent activities & Franny spent the night.

 A few pictures before putting on our matching pjs.

1st one up.
I have so many memories of me being the first on up and waiting on the stairs.

All the other kids were sleeping in, so finally, at 7:20 we let her go wake everyone up.

Blair gathering her three gifts to find a spot to open them.

Beau's gifts were very practical ones like a waterbottle.

There was definitely a dragon theme to this Christmas. All my kids LOVE How to Train Your Dragon.

Toothless & Hiccup

Blair with her Blair book.

That afternoon we headed over to Franny's for dinner and gift exchange.

Beau's stocking 

 

I had to take some pictures to document his first Christmas Day.

3 Generations

All the kids got roller skates this year and these were some of the moments I caught. I loved the different styles-

Needing Assistance

 Smiles

 

I want to try!

The Ballerina Walk 

 Trying to ride a bike with skates. This girl was cracking me up!

Impressively though, I never saw her fall down.

 Only slowing down for a quick break. Bailey was in her element because she has had lots more practice than anyone else.

 

 Cautious

 Happy Birthday Jesus Cake

And one of the brothers.

A full, fun day with family and we would take more if we could! We love our Mezger family time!

Christmas with the Tacketts

Christmas gathering & gift exchange with the Tackett crew was the 20th & 21st of December since it was our year to be in Austin with the other Mezgers.

Busy boy playing with his new Dusty toy.

Lego Boy making things with dad

Princess Elsa all smiles with new Ice Age figures.

Skating Queen getting some practice, but protecting her bottom. It's a little hard to see, but Luke swept a track for her on the driveway.

Bailey's gifts to my mom.

My mom hand makes each of the kid's stockings and this is Beau's.

And here are all my kid's stockings, which have a Nutcracker theme.

I can't remember a Christmas Eve growing up that was not spent at my Nana's house, but this year she is shaking things up and we did dinner with her side of the family and no gifts on Christmas Eve. I had just gotten over the flu & was thankful to be well enough to be there, but Colt was sick as was Aunt Kathy, so there were some missing faces, but here are some of the pictures captured at dinner complements of my mom who had someone taking pictures.

And no visit with my siblings is complete without some silliness...

Mel- Christmas Tree, Luke- Gingerbread Man, Robby- Snowman, Tara- Reindeer

Tara knew how disappointed I was with my lack of Halloween costume this year, so this was her gift to me. : ) Our kids did not know what to think of us.

We didn't have time to decorate these like years past, but here is my Jesus Fetus cookie entry this year. Luke's was a little too political to publish, but Wendy Davis was involved- you will have to use your imagination.

And that wraps up Christmas time with the Tacketts!