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Pre-Christmas Fun!

It's December 16, and I'm in denial that NEXT WEEK is Christmas!!! We haven't had much snow, which surely sets the tone of the holiday. It's been 40-50 and rainy....not exactly Jingle Bells weather. We've been busy most every weekend, and though I've done some here and there shopping online (and a lot of window shopping, start a cart, not finishing my purchases online)...I still feel like I hardly have anything done! I HATE feeling behind the 8ball. Oh, and we're anxiously awaiting the arrival of my best friends first baby...or should I say, BABIES!  Stacy is due any day now with twin boys, and the anticipation and excitement is almost too much!! She's going to be a wonderful Momma! Times TWO! 

Anyway -- we've been celebrating with anticipation the Christmas holiday! The first weekend in December was PACKED. Friday night, Mom, Dad & Trent treated all those who helped at the farm this fall to a wonderful kid-free dinner! Gotta love DATE NIGHT! 

Love this guy!

Saturday, we took off on a much needed girls getaway weekend. We've done this before, Jessica & Jacki and Mom and I, but this year, we added Jason's Aunt Debbie & Jenna....wonderful addition, I might add! SO. MUCH. FUN. We headed to Cincinnati and straight to IKEA. Only 1/2 broke, we spent the evening in the hotel, then dinner at Dingle House, an Irish Pub. Sunday was a traditional Stockment getaway morning....breakfast at Bob Evans! :) Then off to an outlet mall to spoil ourselves a bit, then on to our last intended stop, Warm Glow Candle Company! Wonderful weekend with wonderful family!
IKEA Love!

So blessed to call this lady Momma!




The fun didn't stop Monday, when we decided to cram getting our Christmas tree into a day already packed with school, work, dentist appointment and church!! Kids didn't mind though -- they were great, and Colton's been an awesome tree watering fool!
Fun at the Christmas Tree Farm!

You don't use a helmet to water your tree?

Decorating the tree....


 By Wednesday night, Daddy was ready to hunt again -- so the kids and I enjoyed a candle light dinner! Love the glow of the lights & candles this time of year...not to mention, these three blessings! We even worked in a little bit of crafty fun!

Thursday night was our Random Acts of Kindness 2015 night -- Colton and several of his 1st grade buddies (and a few of their siblings) gathered together to sing Christmas Carols in the Brookston Retirement Apartment Complex, and hand out candy canes. For a group of mostly 7 year old boys -- they did a wonderful, loud, and happy job of singing! By request of our kiddos, we visited my Great Aunt Rene's house, and the smile on her face made me realize exactly why we do this. So blessed that the kids are such kind hearts and have friends who share the same core beliefs!


Friday night we loaded the kids up (mostly to keep them out of my freshly cleaned house) and took them to Whistle Stop for supper, then through Lowery's light display! Saturday they spent the night with Grandma & Grandpa Hall while Mom & Dad attended our first (hopefully annual) Christmas House Hop with Jason's cousins and friends Adam & Krystle. SUCH a great time with great people...not to mention the worlds coolest little brother as our sober driver! :


We even had a photo booth at our stop of the tour. The kids enjoyed the props on Sunday afternoon!






Needless to say...we're a bunch of TIRED Christmas fools this week....but the fun hasn't stopped! Jason is carrying on a tradition near & dear to my heart with our own kids, by taking them on Daddy Dates. Since we were very little, my Dad has taken each one of us on our own special night to Christmas shop with him, along with dinner at our choice. We get one on one time to visit. We get some shopping done. We make memories. Still. 32 years later....I get my date tomorrow night!

Emmalyn and Jason kicked off this years dates last night, and got off to a late start...not leaving home until almost 6:30. By 8:45, when I texted to see how they were doing, they were just stopping for supper. Yes, he didn't feed our FOUR year old until almost 9pm. At 9:45, he texted they'd be home in 15 minutes. A good 2 hours past her school night bedtime. Ugh, sorry Miss Amber, her Dad was in charge! :) They had a wonderful night together, and I'm so thankful that Jason is carrying on this tradition. He said Emmalyn was a very gracious/generous shopper -- she thought Colton would enjoy nearly every toy on the shelf! He said not one time did she ask if she could get something, and she seemed to relish in picking out something for her two brothers & Mom. He said she hung right in there too, despite the late night, and finally fell asleep singing along to "Cool Kids" on the radio just a few miles south of Brookston!
This is how we found the kids (both in our bed, mind you) when we finally crashed at 11:30 last night!
I think we've sufficiently wore them out!!! Time to rest up before Santa makes his appearance!!





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