Bah Humbug

I know it's the end of January, but I'm still just so happy that December is over. The holidays are supposed to be a wonderful and magical time of the year, but it seems as though they are so crammed full of events and parties to attend/decorating to do/treats to make/shopping to do that in all the relentless hustle and bustle, I tend to forget about the wonderful part and am just left overwhelmed and exhausted. Tell me I am not alone in feeling this way! 

This December was no different. It was so chock-full in fact that I am vowing next year, our family is going to leave out some things and make it a less stressful and enjoyable holiday to spend together. And that we will get all our Christmas shopping done by the beginning of November because let's face it, running around everywhere to find everyone's gifts with children in December with tons of people everywhere is by far the WORST part. (Hopefully, this will not all be forgotten when the holidays roll around again.) 

We did have some joyous times together so let's take a look at some of the highlights from the month:

To start the month off, we had S.E.A.'s Christmas party (Chase's work) at the Huntsville Museum of Art. I love that they do it at the very beginning of the month. I may or may not look forward to it every year because of the really good food...

Santa at the party

They always have a balloon animal man who makes cool stuff for the kids.

This year the party also had ice skating! Cade's first time, and he loved it!

Then there was church activity #1.

Next came Cade's birthday. I still get all sappy and can't believe he is already 4.

The day before his big day, I brought cupcakes to his preschool class to celebrate.

On his big day.

And it just so happened that Papa was running his first marathon the same day. Which is not a big deal at all.

I seriously don't know how people do it.

And then we had a birthday party with the Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins:

He (and his daddy's) favorite gift- a remote control helicopter. He is not capable of looking in any other direction but the tv if it is on.

Insert another church activity here.

Then we went to Santa's Village downtown.

Next came the annual ornament party, and Cade's preschool Christmas program.

Then, a huge achievement- Chase graduated with his MBA!! So. Glad. This. Is. Over. And I let that be known all the time. It's really, really hard to go to school while working full time, raising kids, and fulfilling church callings. But, with hard work, sweat, and maybe some tears sometimes (on my end), it can be done. And done it is! Woohoo!

I couldn't be more proud.

Cade still refers to this day and calls it "Daddy's gradulations".

At Daddy's celebratory meal- a glimpse of the evil eye Reece gives everyone now. Unfortunately, the big cookie cake I made was not documented.

Then we had church activity #3.

Next, came a nice surprise for my sister, sister-in-law and I- we were sent to the Carrie Underwood concert in Memphis! I'm really bummed I didn't bring my camera, and I couldn't get anything good on my phone. Alas, it was an awesome concert.

Snowflake ornaments Cade and I made for his teachers and a few people he loves.

Other goodies were made

We had Cade's Christmas party at school. If only we knew that was the last time we'd see his teacher, Mrs. Nikki. She took a job at another school over the holiday break, and we boohooed big tears!

Then, we had an awesome (and I mean awesome) get together with some friends at our house. You know it's awesome when Dirty Santa and blindfolded snorting like pigs at each other games are played. And when someone knits a scarf to look like a piece of bacon. Sheer genius.   

And we still had our normal traditions of seeing the Botanical Garden lights, Christmas cookie decorating, and Christmas Eve dinner.

And Santa came.

And Cade got a "keykol" mask and a little "keykol". We couldn't figure out for the life of us what a keykol was when he asked Santa for it. Apparently, it is the noise that Darth Vader makes (keeeyyy....koolll). Thank goodness I brought it up at the preschool party, and Mrs. Nikki knew exactly what it was or we would never have known.

Aunt Kim made awesome capes.

Reece started going to nursery with absolutely no problems and no looking back! He leaves there every Sunday in such a good mood!

Cuddling with "puppy" and "monmey"

And my husband has become a redneck.