Family Fun: 25 Days of Christmas - Days 13 & 14 {Christmas Cookies and Build A Bear}

Today's Christmas activity was very low key. Cause Momma is tired. Very. Tired. Haha. So the the girls got to examine all the cookies I brought home from the Lawson Cookie exchange and choose a few to try!



We also got to check out our new wreath that my friend Becki made me. She did a beautiful job. I LOVE IT!



The following night our Christmas activity was Build A Bear. One of my favorite Holiday traditions is coming here and choosing two of their select Christmas "Bears". So far we own The Grinch, The Elf on the Shelf, Rudolph and Clarice. I wanted to add Santa and Frosty to our collection this year so bad! I was so excited...






Here they are! Our new additions! The Mouse from Twas the Night Before Christmas and Frosty.




Birth Certificates with Daddy



I wish I could say it was fun, but it wasn't. For the 2nd straight year we made it clear we were going ONLY to get one of the Christmas "Bears" since every year they release special ones.My kids decided to throw a hugely ungrateful fit because I would not get them a pug and a polar bear. We almost left before they saw the error of their way (and were threatened with getting NOTHING). So unfortunately it left a bad taste in  my mouth again, and we decided not to do it again next year. If they don't appreciate it, they don't deserve it.



The Christmas Tree at the Mall

Family Fun: 25 Days of Christmas - Days 11 & 12 {Christmas Lights and Cookie Night}

Tonight after bath time we got on our jammies and headed out to look at Christmas lights in the neighborhood. The kids were moody and grumpy and bickering in the car the entire time. Joy to the world haha. And neither of them wanted their picture taken.




The next night the girls helped me get ready for my Lawson Cookie Exchange. We baked sugar cookies with peppermint Hersheys kisses.



They grabbed some of the toilet paper our Elf had put on the Christmas tree and made tails for themselves.



Check out our finished masterpieces!



It was really fun and they were actually able to HELP me and not slow me down this year :) And they were very willing taste testers too.

Family Fun: 25 Days of Christmas - Days 9 & 10 {Gingerbread House and Paper Snowflakes}

Tonight our Christmas activity was to make our annual Gingerbread house. We love this activity every year. And every year too much candy makes it into their mouths and NOT onto our house ha ha.

This year to save time we chose a pre-fab house. Worked perfect!



Mommy helping to Frost the roof



The girls working hard on eating placing candy on the house ;)



Having fun!




We had fun and they were very proud of it :)



The next night our Christmas activity was to make paper snowflakes.



So fun!

Family Fun: 25 Days of Christmas - Days 7 & 8 {Light Up Millbridge & Lawson's Cookies with Santa}

On Saturday we started our day with Fluff hot chocolates and Christmas shows all morning. We seriously stayed in jammies till like 2pm. I LOVED it!!



Then we went to dinner before heading to Light Up Millbridge event in Waxhaw.



Millbridge is a neighborhood next to the kids' elementary school. This year Waxhaw asked them to open the event up to the public and they obliged. So we went!! They have this cool bridge in the neighborhood that they cover in lights. It is beautiful to drive through.



Driving through the bridge and the lit ramada that led to Santa and a large lit Christmas tree in the center of the community.



Waiting in line to see Santa




They had a great Santa (except he doesn't look Jolly in this shot!!) and an awesome tree!



Below are photos of the lit Club house and the luminaries that line all the streets of the neighborhood.



We had a great time and appreciate their hospitality which also included Christmas carols, hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and candy canes. Thank you Millbridge! See you next year. On Sunday it was time for OUR neighborhood celebration here in Lawson!

It was great seeing friends there! We did crafts and had hot cocoa and cookies.



The Lawson Christmas tree. New families to Lawson were asked to hang an ornament on the tree with their family name and year we moved to the neighborhood. Here are the girls hanging our ornament.



Here is our key ornament. It says "First Christmas in our New Home 2013". I think I need to get another one for MY tree!



Photos with Santa (who arrived on a Waxhaw Fire Truck by the way!!)



What a fun day with neighbors and friends. The girls colored, made frames, had treats and cocoa!



We love living in Waxhaw and in such a Family friendly community. We are truly blessed!