Christmas!!

December is always a busy month for us. We love preparing for Christmas and enjoy all of the festivities that come with it. We were fortunate to see Ben's family and extended family a lot. We were in Kalona 3 times in December to celebrate Christmas with his family. Parker loved the food, snacks, presents and play time with cousin's. His favorite thing he got was a Nala and Simba stuffed animal....and airplanes. His expressions were priceless and wish I had captured them on camera. He was so happy. He got a lot of cool things and was grateful for everything he got.

We also visited Santa at our local library, had movie night at Jr. Theatre, they played the movie The Polar Express, complete with lemonade, and pizza...just $6 for the whole family. Parker finished his first basketball season.....in which he did awesome. He scored every game and improved so much by the end of the season....we are so proud of him. He is looking forward to winter basketball in a few weeks.

One of my highlights was watching Parker preform at his school Christmas concert. He and his class had worked hard to memorize 6 songs. He was apprehensive to do it....he had asked 4 times that morning if he could stay home....I think he was experiencing a little stage fright....which totally sounds like me. I hated doing stuff like that, being in the spotlight is not something I enjoyed as a kid or do I enjoy it now....After some coaxing from dad and a promise that I would not look at him during his performance he agreed to do it. He did awesome....I video taped it too.....:) He later told me he had fun and glad that he did it. Afterwards they had cookies and I couldn't resist taking pictures....

Dad took a lunch break and came to watch Parker....he was so happy to see his dad!!!

Parker and one of his best friends from school.

Parker and his teachers....Mrs. J is his favorite (far right) "She is super nice and never yells or gets mad." She has been gone on medical leave for a month and he is dying to have her back....hopefully after the new year!! And Mrs. B is his other favorite (in the middle).

Parker performing with his class and the AM Pre-school class. Loved hearing them sing Felitz Navidad.


Parker woke up Christmas day and saw that Santa ate the cookies and drank the milk and left him lots of cool gifts. He got some How to train your Dragon, dragons...including one that makes noised when he flies. He also got a bunch of art supplies, paint, colored pencils, coloring books, ect. and a lot of play-do. He is really into stuffed animals now, do Santa also left him a lion and a puppy from build a bear.

The best part of all of this was that we were able to do it all with family. My sister flew home and Parker was in heaven....he loves his Aunt Rocky. We went shopping, saw MI:4, Rock took Parker to see the Chipmunk movie, and so many more fun and exciting things. We also reflected on the birth of Christ and how important this holiday is, as we can celebrate His birth.

Have a happy and safe New Year!!!