Christmas Kick-off!

Nope, I'm not talking about a football kick-off, I'm just making reference to this past weekend getting ready for the Christmas Season!!

Friday--Christmas Concert
Our family went with Grandma & Grandpa Lewis, and Aunt Chelsie to a Benefit Christmas concert. We listened to local artists perform their own variations of music. Some Christmas, some non-Christmas. Most of the music was pretty good, one of the singers was really bad and Mara leaned over to Aunt Chelsie and said "Is this lady speaking Spanish?" No she wasn't speaking Spanish she was just really bad! Anyway the concert was fun, not as festive as I thought it was going to be, but I really did enjoy listening to the talents of others.

Caleb was a rambunctious little fellow during the whole concert. It's a good thing it was kid friendly otherwise we would have left early!

Although this picture is blurry it tells the story of Caleb perfectly! Here he is running around with a cup on his head! He tried finding every way possible to be disruptive! Banging on chairs, throwing cups on the ground, stomping his feet.....let's just say Caleb and concerts don't go together!!!

Saturday--Gingerbread Houses
We all gathered at Grandma Lewis's on Saturday for a fun filled day of making candy houses and eating hot apple cinnamon rolls! This is one of my favorite traditions of my childhood/adulthood and it was fun sharing it with my children and Nate's family!

This is Ty's outhouse he made!
(He got this idea from a campsite that Nate and I made years ago that Mimi kept and pulled out to show the kids this week. Wish I had a picture, it was pretty incredible: RV, tent, picnic table, fire-pit, outhouse, even fence going around the campsite!)

Here's aunt Chelsie helping Ty construct and decorate his outhouse! Thanks Aunt Chel for your help!

Aunt Beanie also helped Ty with decorating it! Thanks Beanie it turned out great!!

Ty was pretty insistent on making a blue pond outside the outhouse! It even has gummy fish in the pond!

Quite an amazing job I must say Ty! I especially like the soft white toilet in the outhouse!

Ty snuck a few of the candy--here is the evidence: a blue tongue!

Next we have Mara's creation. She wanted to do a Princess house--of course! Would we guess anything different from our princess herself?! This is the inside of her princess's one bedroom country cottage! There is the nightstand and lamp, next to the princess's bed. Mara frosted the bed and made a pink bedspread with a fluffy red pillow. In the front of the room is the fireplace with logs and a fire blazing to keep any princess warm on a cold day! (--not actually seen in this photo!)

The outside is a two layer, A-frame slanted room. Perfect for high snow areas.

Mara was very particular about her candy selection and how this cute house was decorated!

After Mara was tired of decorating it I added a few finishing touches including the icicles hanging down and the jumbo gummy trees out front!

I love Mara's red path around the side of her house, very festive.

And here's the back view. It even has a window to look inside the house!

Caleb loved this activity--well actually he loved eating the candy! He put one candy on his house, then ate a candy. One for the house...one for Caleb! One for the house...two for Caleb!

This was a combined effort project. While Chelsie helped Caleb decorate the house, Nate helped Caleb do the landscape design! Pretty original!

The finished product! Great work team!

Speaking of teams....here is the stadium for a SOCCER TEAM!! Garrett loves soccer, so he wanted to make a soccer stadium. Colin, Trish, & Garrett all worked together to cream the Real Soccer Stadium. Pretty awesome I must say! I especially like the spectators watching the sport!

Sunday--Mr. Krueggar's Christmas
What says Christmas more than this beloved 70s Christmas movie?! We watched this last night as a family and it truly does invite the Spirit of Christmas into your home! If you haven't ever seen it....or if you are in the mood to watch it again take a peak!