Christmas Season 2017

When we visited the zoo in October we decided to go ahead and purchase a membership, thinking we'd get there a few more times through the next year so it would be more cost effective.  So because we had a membership we went to Christmas at the Zoo.  This was SUCH a bad idea!  I had read about the event on the booklet we received in the mail.  It sounded so fun, as this year they had created a Christmas Village with several activities to participate in.  Some of the activities were marked with an asterik that indicated they would cost extra.  But from what I read it definitely seemed like the other events were included in your entrance (or membership) fee (as they most certainly SHOULD HAVE been.)  So instead of going early in the day like we would normally do, we went after naptime.  But of course we got out the door way too late and with a long drive it was already dark when we got there.  It was a pretty mild December night and the zoo was PACKED.  So badly that we were constantly bumping shoulders with people.  We waited in a very long line to decorate a cookie in Mrs. Claus's kitchen only to learn as we get inside that it cost $3.00/cookie!!  What?!!  David's like, "Let's get out of here," but I told him we can't make our kids wait patiently for something and then just say nope after all!  It was terrible.  We were so frustrated.  Every single thing cost extra.  That was why we came!  We could have come in the morning to see the animals! We stopped by a few exhibits but we had to move through like snails with sooo many people around.  It was really a bear.  I can't believe a zoo membership has NO perks.  Conner Prairie has several awesome events for members.  The Children's Museum does as well.  The zoo doesn't even let you have free carousel rides!  Never again will we be buying a membership.

We did enjoy seeing the pretty lights.  We loved walking through this blue-lit tunnel.

Clara loves having her picture taken, and loves posing, unlike her brothers!

Enjoying her most expensive cookie ever!

I sadly didn't take any pictures of us decorating for Christmas this year!  It was a little chaotic, as we had so much sickness through December.  We got out the boxes on a  Saturday night and started decorating, then I was planning on working on putting on all the ornaments Sunday afternoon.  The kids just couldn't wait!  When I came out of the bathroom from getting ready for church they were already pulling out all the ornaments and hanging them up.  I know it's exciting.  They love decorating for every holiday, especially Christmas!

My mom gifted us a new Nativity set this year.  It was supposed to be kid-friendly (but it wasn't a plastic toy set).  But of course the kids loved playing with that set, and it didn't take long for the angel's halo to break off, the camel to lose its front legs, the shepherd's staff to get bent, etc.  I was still so glad they loved playing with it.

We participated in the church's "Light the World" initiative by doing small acts of service every day, including bringing treats to the neighbors and others in our ward (I made 7 batches of our favorite chocolate peppermint cookies!), helping make food for a teacher luncheon, donating to the local food pantry, etc.  We also read a daily scripture that went along with the "Light the World" topic of each day. Always a special time of year to help spread the joy and love of our Savior Jesus Christ!

Eli's class at school had a fun Polar Express pajama day on their last day before Christmas break.  They watched the movie and had hot chocolate and fun activities.  The littles and I joined him for the class party at the end of the day.  He loved that special day!

We all went to the Children's Museum a few days before Christmas.  That was our only Santa visit this year.  Ezra was terrified so I didn't bother making him scream on Santa's lap.  

This was them standing in the overlook in the dinosaur exhibit, watching the sky change.

They were laying on the rotating bench, looking up at the ceiling of Fireglass.  Lots of beautiful colors and shapes!

I serve in the Primary presidency at church.  As a presidency we planned and put together a special Nativity program for the children called "A Night in Bethlehem."  We set up the Primary room as a stable and had assigned speaking parts of the different characters to ward members--Mary, Joseph, Innkeeper, Angel, Shepherds, Wise Men, Nephite in America.  (We find the idea/script online.)  We gave them their parts about a month in advance so they could get familiar with them and be able to paraphrase their role without reading.  The counselor whose idea it was to do this production put together the costumes for most of the characters, plus made the scene set.  She does everything fabulously!  The children all sat on blankets on the floor.  Afterward they all were given a star cookie to eat and we sang some Christmas songs.  Such a beautiful experience to help everyone remember that sacred night of Jesus' birth.  We gifted the children little bags that had a little trinket that represented each Nativity character: a tealight candle for the Nephite in America; a piece of fabric for Mary, who wrapped baby Jesus in swaddling clothes; a wood chip from carpenter Joseph; a key for the Innkeeper; a candy cane from the shepherd; a star for the Wise Men; and a white feather for the Angel.

The kids learned a beautiful song in Primary called "If I Were a Shepherd."  They sang it to the congregation during Sacrament Meeting on Christmas Eve.

This was the first year we didn't spend Christmas Eve at my parent's.  We could have, but all of my family was coming to my parents for a week AFTER Christmas.  Some of them were already there for Christmas Eve, but I knew it would be too long to stay for longer than a week.  So we had our own Christmas Eve/Christmas morning at our house.  We read some special Christmas stories (we read a LOT of Christmas stories all December long.  Some of my favorites are "The Little Match Girl," "The Littlest Angel," and "The Little Drummer Boy."), watched a video on the Nativity, watched our family's old classic "Twas the Night Before Christmas," and sang some Christmas carols.  The kids opened their new jammies, and Eli set a trap to catch Santa.  ;)  He's pretty convinced that Santa isn't real.

Christmas morning I was finally smart and didn't set out any stockings!  I prepared them all Christmas Eve night and hid them well so Eli wouldn't wake up and get into everything without us, like past years.  When all the kids woke up we opened presents from under the tree, then I brought out the stockings.  I made buttons & bowknots for breakfast and later in the day we went to David's parents to celebrate Christmas with the rest of the Hayes family.

Right before opening presents!

Videos of Christmas morning--

We enjoyed spending the rest of Christmas at the Hayes grandparents' house with most of the family.  

Eli received a new wallet.  Even better with money already inside it!

Clara received her first nightgown that had a matching doll-sized one.  She had her Patch dog with her and thought that dress would look perfect on him!  Such a cutie.

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Sweet baby keeps that thumb in his mouth when he's unsure of his surroundings.  Lots of people in that house!

The day after Christmas we packed up and headed to my parents for a week-long reunion with my whole family!

When everyone had arrived we did our Christmas gift exchange.  Clara was so cute and sweet during the present-opening.  She excitedly squealed over each present she received and wanted to show EVERYONE what she got.

Each cousin gives to one other cousin.  Holly gave to Clara this year and Clara of course loved her gift and gave Holly a big hug!

It was a week of parties!  My dad retired from 39 years working for Eli Lilly right before Christmas.  We had a great time celebrating him with a retirement party!  With all the grandkids there we wanted to make it very family-friendly and have the kids involved.  The kids made two posters that we hung up.  We set up several games as different stations that we visited in small groups.

1. What should Grandpa's new hobby be?  (a ring-toss game)

2. What time does Grandpa wake up now that hes retired? (writing in the time on paper clocks)

3.  Where should Grandpa (and Grammie) travel to? (taping your chosen location on a world map)

4. Dress the retired Grandpa in his new daily attire. (designing the outfit on a person outline)

Ryan gave a touching toast to honor Dad.

After all the kids had gone to bed at the end of the retirement party, all of the adults gathered around the kitchen table and we listened (and recorded) to Dad telling us the story of his career--begin with graduation from college through all of the ups and downs that occurred in those 39 years. We're sure proud and grateful to him (and Mom) for their many sacrifices and hard work spent on our family!

We loved all the time we could spend together! The weather was RIDICULOUSLY cold in the negatives, so we stayed indoors.  The kids crowded around together to play a few silly games on Grammie and Grandpa's computer pretty frequently, but they also spent lots of time coming up with their own imaginative games.  They'd get pretty wild down in the basement!

These two babies!  Love them!  They sure loved playing and toddling around together.  They won't be the youngest in the group much longer!

I was able to spend the most quality time I've ever spent with my niece, Kate, who's 3.  She was sadly struggling with some sickness that week but was such a doll.  All of the adults except for David and I went to an Escape Room (I didn't want to leave Ezra).  So I was able to help take care of Kate and get to know her much better.

Sick Kate snuggling with her dad.

Party #2 was a birthday party for Annie, who turned 10!

We of course had our traditional Grammie's Tea Party, a favorite for the kids!

Party #3 was a New Year's Eve party!  My mom put together some games for the kids and we ate a smorgasboard of snack foods and showed the kids the "King Julien New Year's Eve Rockin' Countdown" on Netflix.  It was 3 minutes of crazy music and dancing (which the kids LOVED.  Cute baby Rosie spent practically the whole three minutes jumping).  (Ryan and Jeri's family left that morning so that's why their kids aren't in these pictures.)

We created so many happy memories over the Christmas holiday!  Always such a joyful time of year!