Christmas Festivities

Truth: I feel like we have been 9 shades of crazy over the past month (year? life?) trying to balance all of the real life work/parenting/cricket buying for the lizard/normal things, so adding festivities in the mix seemed impossible. But, this is why I love my blog-when I look back on the pics, I realize that we really have celebrated pretty intensely!  

Our church did a Holiday celebration where kids could "shop" for $2 gifts for family members. This was Max/s first year to do it & he was so excited. I am just hoping that they don't bring home anything that I donated to the sale. 

This is not Christmas, but Anderson & I went to see "Fantastic Beasts" & it did not really change my life. I have entirely too much love for Harry for anything less than amazing. 

Cookie decorating at the Farragut Town Hall. 

Santa. 

Also, a teenager & a marine. 

Anderson told me he was not going to sit on his lap, but then he did and it was really so cute. 

GG is always game for a festivity!

I love, love these yearly frames & am so grateful that someone told me to start them when Anderson was little. 

Also, love the decoration by Aunt LoLo!

Christmas tree decorating-they actually participated  a little this year! They loved the ones that had their pictures or that I bought specifically for them & it was fun to tell the stories behind them. 

I always like to sneak in a little proof that I exist, too. 

I have convinced him that the dog's name is Max Dominic Glover. #winning

Santa & crafting at Noni's Y

He LOVED making this. 

Gingerbread house making/icing eating. 

Wrapping presents & football watching. 

We went to see "A Christmas Carol" for Noni & Bop's birthdays. We did an awesome deal where we got super cheap tickets that included dinner! I was a little nervous about Anderson since it was his first play & it was really late on a weeknight, but he loved it. I smell a new tradition!

Max has now been in the paper as a Ninja Turtle, a Fireman, a SWAT guy & a marine. I feel like my blackmail collection for when is older is now complete.

Pops loves shopping at Christmas, so one night I met him at the mall where we ate free Petro's & took overpriced pics that captured our confusion & merriment. It was a fun time. 

Noni came by to help us decorate our special little tree. I do love that special little guy, especially after reading Lab Girl. (you are welcome, Nicole)

Thrilled. 

Of all of the things the elf did, this was BY FAR their favorite. I am not sure if Spots agreed.

Back to the play....follow along, here.

 So grateful that I was able to go to the play with my parents & Anderson! We really did have a fun time. 

My online shopping was on point this year. 

Brandon's Christmas party-picture taken by Anderson. I do love those moments when I get to be with my original love. 

Of the things that I am grateful for, one that tops the list is the fact that Anderson actually likes his after school care. And, when I picked him up one day and saw they had just finished winter games, hot chocolate drinking and were just about to decorate super elaborate cookies, I can't say that I blame him. 

I just love that where we live has so many festive outlets for us. They had so much fun running around the Christmas lights at the library park. 

Another one of the Elf favorites-mostly because he brought the much coveted Reese cups WITH Reese pieces. 

(I cannot find them anywhere in stores, so thank you Target.com with your free shipping on even a $2 purchase.)

Cookie making with head protection is the only way to go. Also, Anderson veered away from the actual holiday activity and was pretending to be a scientist studying a wounded bat. I don't even know, but I felt like he was at least in the same room with us, so I counted it. 

Merry Christmas, Y'all!