Christmas fun!
We had an awesome Christmas season! I LOVED celebrating with the kids! We were very festive - baking, shopping, going to parties, enjoying every moment.
We had an amazing Thanksgiving with family. After being in New York City last year for the Macy’s Day parade, we loved being back to our traditions. The feast was heavenly! The company was even better. My sister joined us from Philly again and, as usual, helped us get our tree up and the house decorated.
To kick-off December, Ella made her stage debut as a baby angel in our church play, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.“ And it was! Ella stole the show when she got a little nervous and had to be shuffled on stage, cute as ever! (Note the tiny little shy angel front right.)
Cousin Summer had a lead role as the snooty, snotty Alice.
Cousin Siah and his buddies were shepherds.
We took our traditional stroll back in time to visit the holy family at our church’s Live Nativity. It is so cool for the kids to see the animals and visit baby Jesus.
Ella and best-bud Giovanni pose with Mary and Joseph.
Giovanni paused to give some kisses to baby Jesus!
My friend Shelley surprised me as a shepherd! Shelley and I grew up in youth group together and she just moved to DC!
Cookie Decorating Party! - Ella hosted her buddies from our church playgroup for cookie decorating at our house! The kids ate as the decorated and many sprinkles were consumed!
The hostesses with the most-esses!
Snow Storm! - We had a history making snow fall the weekend before Christmas! It was incredible! We went to play with cousins and get crazy in the snow! Our church had record low attendance since people and their cars were stuck! The Schmidgalls were there both Saturday AND Sunday, of course!
She insisted on the goggles!
The next day was a little more tiny-kid friendly since the snow stopped blowing. We took the kids sledding and then built their first-ever snow man!
Since we were going to be gone for Christmas, we went to stay one night with Grandma Schmidgall and celebrate early. It is always snuggly and cozy to relax at her house and the snow made it even cozier!
Zeke opened his first-ever Christmas gifts! Stockings first…
…and then the Grandma jackpot!
Joel and I are very intentional about encouraging our kids in service and looking for opportunities to care for others as a family. On Christmas Eve-Eve (Dec. 23rd), Joel and I took the kids and Giovanni to a convalescent home down the street to give flowers to the residents and wish them a Merry Christmas. I can’t even tell you how sweet it was to hear their little voices. They even sang some carols!
