Countdown to Christmas

26 and 27 days til Christmas...

Yes, we like to get started early! This year, we decided to have the kids make homemade gifts for each other. Brylee sanding and painting away on Katelins gift. Reveal later...

Zack chose Brylee's name this year.

And Katelin traded to get Madi's name. She was really excited to make her this dry erase calendar for their room.

Didnt get pictures of the other homemade gifts in the making, but you will see the finished products.

24 days til Christmas...

Our ward also wasted no time getting things kicked off this year. December 1st we had our annual Christmas breakfast get together and visit from Santa. Its so great that our ward has connections to the big man. Zack had no reservations climbing up on his lap to tell him that he wanted a remote control robot this year. The candy cane was just a plus.

Alissa is at the curious age when she starts to question Santa's true identity. She asked me several times this year if I thought Santa was real. I really wanted to scream...NO! But knowing the sensitivity of the nature of the subject....and her personality, I hesitantly gave the text book answer of responding with a question to her question..."What do you think?" and "It doesnt matter what I think" and the corny "follow your heart" line. Im really quite pathetic. I cant wait until the whole Santa thing is out of the bag with all the kids! I just dont want to be the one to break it to this kid...she will probably hate us for lying to her and threaten to move to Australia. For now at least she is happy with playing along, even if this guy isnt all that authentic, and seems vaguely familiar.

Although Brylee is coming out of her shell a bit, there is still no way she was going to climb on the big fat, bearded strangers lap. Someone really needs to teach her not to take candy from strangers though...she had no problems with that.

Katelin found out the Santa secret last year, but she was still happy to play along unlike her big sister who is officially too cool for that silly kid stuff.

 18 days til Christmas...

As promised, here are the gingerbread train pictures from Brylees birthday.

There is no such thing as too much candy decoration with this one.

And this was the 3 older kids side, almost complete...before the dog jumped up and ate half of it.

And Zack and Brylees half...again, pre-slobber.

1 day til Christmas...
Shout out to our friend for bringing us some sugar cookie cutouts, frosting and sprinkles so the kids could decorate them themselves. I was so relieved because we had been given so many sweets from neighbors and friends, that I was sugared out. Didnt feel like we needed to make another batch for Santa when we had plenty lying around the house already, but the kids wanted to help make Santa's batch. This little kit fulfilled their need to help and I didnt have to lift a finger to make them! Okay, well I did make a little bit more frosting for more color, but still...Love it!

Ta da!

And following with the Christmas Eve tradition we give you the Taylor House Theatre...

This year we have the shepherds, played by Madison...

Zack and Alissa. Shepherd Dog...Jovi.

Slightly over-zealous angel, Mom...

Dad again makes an appearance as the donkey, and Katelin as Mary.

Dad and Zack make a double appearance as wise men, and back by popular demand...Mom as King Herod (not pictured).

And another appearance by Dad as Joseph! Hes just that good.

 Brylee chose to be a critic.

Before bed, Zack took two of his sisters with him to help sprinkle the reindeer food on the ground.



And then it was time to get into our PJ's. Of course that always comes in Christmas Eve present form. Even Jovi got some sleep wear...poor puppy. (:





All ready for Santa...

Even Alissa's baby got matching PJ's.

Oh, and cant forget the cookies and letters for the bearded man.

Now off to bed in hopes that St. Nick soon will appear!