Samantha suggested we get a gingerbread house to decorate so we picked up a little village to decorate.  We each chose a house and got decorating.

The kids loved making each of their houses look different and festive and have asked to do it again.  They did well handling the frosting, sprinkles, etc.  We were proud at how they did!

Samantha's house

Dad's house

Blake's house

Mom's house

Samantha has been having to read an average of 20 minutes each day for several months now.  She also has to keep record of it and turn in her sheets to her teacher.

Sometimes she reads aloud to Travis or myself.  Sometimes she reads quietly in her room.  Last night she was reading to Blake and all their animals.

It's the Christmas season for programs!

Samantha had her elementary school program Thursday night, December 6th.  The kids sang three songs and I'm pretty sure their favorite was "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas!"

The same week our church held it's annual Cantata.  Both Samantha and Blake sang in the Junior Choir Friday night and Samantha sang in it Saturday night as well.  Travis was one of the Wise Men and Samantha got to hang onto his cape.  She was thrilled with her roll in the Cantata.

I told Blake he only had to sing once in the Cantata and he held me to it, there was no convincing him otherwise!

Travis and the other Wise Men

King Herod

Mary, Joseph and young Jesus

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The entire cast!

It's December and it's been unseasonably warm.  The kids have enjoyed the warm weather with more time outside.  In fact, one Sunday they decided it was time to climb the tree without coats and shoes!

It's Christmas time once again and I wanted to get a quick shot of the kids all dressed up.  We decided to use these pictures for our stamps for our Christmas cards.  Of course, in order to get a "good" shot you have to do some silly faces too!

We got some new decorations for our tree this year as the kids were tired of our other ones.  It's pretty with the blues and silvers....

It was a couple of days before Thanksgiving and the kids had little headbands as a craft.  They also made them for their dolls and animals so I decided we should document all of the little Indians.

Grandparents Day

The Monday before Thanksgiving was Samantha's Grandparent's program.

BeBe planned for some time to come and see it.  We were so surprised when we got here that Papa had been able to come with her!

The program was fantastic.  Samantha's class did a fantastic job.  We stayed for a yummy Thanksgiving day lunch afterwards.

BeBe and I were able to do a bit of shopping the next day before they left and Blake got some special time with Papa.

Before BeBe and Papa left town we all went out to lunch after picking Samantha up from school.

Operation Christmas Child

Our church participated in Operation Christmas Child this year.  We decided that each of our kids would make a box for a child.  We went out shopping one day as a family to fill the boxes.  The kids enjoyed filling the boxes to brim with good things the other kids would enjoy.

We packaged them up and took them to church with us.  We're still waiting here where our boxes went but we can't wait to look it up on the map!

Election vs. Dictatorship

It as the night of the Presidential election.  Samantha had heard about it at school and asked if the president made all of the decisions for the United States.  Travis explained that he didn't but if he did it would be called a dictatorship.  He proceeded say, it was like our house where he is the dictator.  Samantha came back and said, "No, mom is the dictator in our house."

We enjoyed a little giggle when she said that.