So busy that there isn’t time to devote a post to each activity. Here’s a review of our jam-packed December…
1. Our family read advent scripture in church the first Sunday of December. We each had a part to read, including the kids. Owen said, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God” and Molly said, “Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”. They both said the words loudly into the microphone, Owen more clearly than Molly…but both were adorable. It was a great way to start the Christmas season. Here’s a picture of them before we left for the service in their Christmas clothes. I know I’m biased, but aren’t they just adorable??
2. We’ve watched lots of Christmas movies, including one new one this year. We took the kids to see Arthur Christmas in the theater…it was so cute and the kids loved it. And praise the Lord for popcorn. That’s the only way we can get Molly to sit through an entire movie.
3. We’ve looked at lots of Christmas lights, but my favorite was when we all bundled up and went on a walking tour of our neighborhood’s Christmas lights one evening after dinner. It proved to be a great way to see the lights…and a fantastic way to wear out some kids with severe cabin fever. We also took the kids to see the Wild Lights at the Zoo. They loved it, but Molly was really confused about why we weren’t able to see any animals. She didn’t really understand that the point of this trip to the zoo wasn’t about the animals, rather it was about enjoying the Christmas spirit while we looked at the pretty lights.
4. We made gingerbread houses with Mimi. This has become one of our favorite yearly traditions. The kids both got really into it this year…I think they might have actually stuck more candy on the house than in their mouths this year!
And the final product turned out pretty cute!
5. Our church’s Children’s Ministry had its annual Christmas program. This year it was called “Arrest These Merry Gentlemen” and Owen got chosen to be a wiseman. He took the job very seriously and had to walk up our church’s long center aisle carrying his gift for the baby Jesus. Here he is with his two other wisemen buds…
When he wasn’t playing the part of a wiseman, he was belting it out with the preschool chorus.
6. This December marked the end of my 18 month run as Assistant Director of Children’s Ministry at our church. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time working with the children, but I miss being involved with adult aspects of the church. It’s also gotten very difficult to juggle my odd hours with Travis’ increasing work and travel schedule. It was a good run, but it was time for me to resign.
7. Owen’s Pre-K class had a morning for moms on December 16. All the kids participated in a reenactment of the nativity story. Owen and his friend, Nick, got to be shepherds (which was evidently the coveted role according to him).
Everyone in his little class had a role. Here they all are, gathered around the manger.
Afterwards all the moms got to decorate Christmas cookies with our kids. As you could tell from my previous post about Jesus’ birthday cake, Owen is a big fan of sprinkles. And that held true for cookies, too.
8. Trav and I went to his annual work holiday party. It was at a great restaurant downtown called Copia. This was his 9th holiday party with his company. Crazy. We’ve gone from being the young ones at the parties to being considered some of the older ones there (advertising tends to draw a pretty young crowd)…not to mention I’m the only stay-at-home mom and probably the only female in the room that drives a minivan. That being said, I was still able to have some great conversations with some of the girls he works with. Here we are…my one occasion each Christmas to buy a new dress and look fancy.
9. One more thing worth mentioning…I let Owen and Molly pick out something to give the other for Christmas at the dollar store. They each got to have “dates” with me to the store to pick out their gift. It was cute to see them picking out a toy for their sibling. They often picked out things they personally would enjoy (I giggled as Owen tried to convince me that Molly would enjoy some wrestler action figures…who am I kidding…she probably would). What they ended up picking out was great. Owen chose a baby alligator figurine for Molly because “she likes to play with animals and she like alligators”. And Molly chose a microphone. You’ve seen them…the ones that are echo mikes that take no batteries but somehow magnify your voice. Once she decided upon her gift, she proceeded to test it out through the remainder of the store yelling “I AM A BAD GUY!!!” into the mike. Over and over and over. I splurged and secretly bought another mike just for her…I could see the fights they’d have over that silly thing and decided to make my life a little easier by spending the extra buck. I can’t wait to see them give their presents to each other on Christmas morning. My guess is Owen spills the beans before she gets the wrapping paper off.
That pretty much wraps up December! Have a Merry Christmas!!
What a great summary of the month of December in the Ulmer household! Love the picture of you both at your office party!