Early Christmas Eve

We normally celebrate Christmas Eve with the Draper's, but since we've moved, traveling on every holiday isn't possible anymore. So, Grandma and Grandpa Draper offered to host an early Christmas Eve lunch with our Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. It was a wonderful Sunday afternoon spent with a great and loving family.

The dice game - it got a little ugly towards the end.

He totally "gets" the Christmas present thing this year. 

Auntie and her bucket of lotto tickets. From the looks of it, she didn't win big!

Bieber fever!

Probably the best so far. At least none of them are crying!

Polar Express

Saturday morning (early) we hopped aboard the Polar Express (a school bus) and took a trip to the North Pole (a firehouse). Thankfully our kids are still small enough where they ignore their surroundings, because the North Pole wasn't exactly Santa's workshop! But, we did have fun playing on the firetrucks and meeting some funny elves.

Yep, she wasn't a fan of the big guy. Max wouldn't even go within 10 feet of him!

Christmas Sing-a-long

Max's Preschool held a Christmas Sing-a-long for the 3K classes this morning. Even though Max stood there most of the time, it was adorable to watch. But, I think Violet was the most vocal out of the whole group (listen for her in the beginning of the video)!

Ice Skating

He had a smile on his face the entire time.

I don't think Nick could move his body much after this. 

Our little snow bunny.

Christmas Card Photo Outtakes

I've tried several times to get a good photo of the kids for our Christmas cards this year. Yet somehow, they knew what I was doing and wanted no part in participating. Here are some outtakes from our three-day photo shoot!

From love...

to body slams.

"Seriously, Ma, another photo?"

This photo shoot ended abruptly when he almost whipped a jingle bell at my head!

The finished product will be ready soon!

St. Nick's Day

The kids woke up on St. Nick's Day to find a couple small gifts beneath their stockings. Max and Violet received a visitor sent directly from Santa Claus. Magnitude (as we've named him - you'll get it if you watch Community on NBC) is our Elf on the Shelf watching over them each day. The elf watching them hasn't really "sunk in", but maybe next year, it'll do some good for our naughty behavior. Max also got a nightlight for his bedroom. He was in the stage of "I'm scared of the dark" so we're hoping the nightlight sea turtle will have a good affect on his 3am wakings. So far, so good.

Magnitude, "pop pop!"

Tree Shopping

We had hopes of doing the "u cut" tree this year as there are at least four different tree farms within a two mile radius from our house, but the day got away from us - or Nick came home hungover and Violet took a late nap:) - and we decided to visit a tree lot three blocks from our house instead.

 

I was amazed that our own ornaments actually filled this tree. 

 

One of my favorites.

Last year seems like forever ago.

Candy Cane House

We're all done with the outside of our candy cane house. We still need to work on the inside decor. 

 

If this is any indication of her actions with our Christmas tree, we're in trouble!

Thanksgiving

We spent the long weekend in Cincinnati visiting with family and friends. Max learned to tough it out with his big cousins while riding on ATVs, tag team wrestling and watching plenty of football. The girls laid back while visiting the conservatory, craft shows and napping. We made the trip home on Sunday to a chilly house and lots of Christmas lights in the neighborhood. We're spending this week catching up!

Max 3, Mark 6, Tucker 4, Jackson 8 months, Isabella 2, Violet 16 months

...it's crazy! A little different from June.

One of the only times they weren't wrestling.

At the Cincinnati Conservatory.

Violet touching violets.