December

 What a fun, packed, crazy busy month.  We arrive back home from our family vacation and Thanksgiving in Beaumont and the month of December is off with a bang, on Dec. 1 was Lydia & Gloria's church choir performances.  They both did beautifully and we enjoyed Nana & Grandpa coming and burgers after.

 That weekend we had Lydia's party (see next post) and that evening set up our tree and Christmas decorations, later in the month including outdoor lights!

 At church we had a special prayer wall for all the people of the world so the girls and I dressed up in international clothes.  That afternoon we made gingerbread (graham cracker) houses at UT with Janine.

 Friendship International's Christmas party, Mom & Dad came and we did a pj skit of a typical family Christmas morning.  It was super fun

 Then we all went to see Santa at the mall, not too bad a line and sweet girls.  And celebrated Grandpa's birthday at Matt's El Rancho.

 Rasmia, Gloria and I took a trip to San Antonio and this is the tree in front of the Alamo.  It was a cold drizzly day so we meet Julie and baby Jude at their home before horrible traffic all the way home.

 Our Sunday school Christmas party.  Over 30 kids and their parents packed out the house, performed a wonderful nativity play, ate a potluck and decorated cookies.

 Gloria and I had lots of fun visiting friends including sweet baby Sara who was matching in purple this time!

 To make December even more festive, it is the month that our Bradford Pear tree's leaves turn beautiful colors and fall off.  So we had several afternoons of fun, raking and jumping!

 Gloria's Pre-K had a Christmas musical.

 The class

 A group from Friendship went to Mozart's coffeeshop to watch their Christmas light show.  We had a great time chatting and enjoying it.  3 ladies came from Morocco, two from Iran and me and Roxane.

 Texas Parks & Wildlife had a big Christmas party with Santa, division potluck, tons of crafts and activities, and Caleb got off at noon to go to….

Lydia's class party.  Gloria is about the same size so she slips right now.  They consumed as much sugar as they could in one hour of fun.  Her teacher LOVES Christmas, they had learned about it in various countries, did Santa problem solving and more.  We got to take her home to begin the Christmas break.  That evening we walked around the neighborhood enjoying Christmas lights (easier than going to Zilker)
As I write this it is New Year's Eve and I felt a little behind the whole month.  Now I know if we plan another family vacation for Thanksgiving week, I need to think ahead a little.  We didn't do our advent candles or advent activities.  I hope overall it was a good mix of fun cultural activities, friends and still focusing on Jesus!  Merry December to all!   And next to blog Christmas in Salado (though I did stay up to date with FB pics)