Christmas festivities

We have been going full force in the Christmas celebration department around here. And for the most part, we have enjoyed it all.  I am going to try to catch up here before the big day arrives.

The weekend after the Teddy Bear Tea, Kate and I went to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular here in town.  We went with my friend Amy and her daughter, Eden (they like all the Christmasy stuff as much as we do!)  Kate and I LOVED it.  I have been to see this in NYC as a child a few times and it was just as I recall it (with fewer Rockettes though).  I hate to say it but this was even better that the Nutcracker.

Kate and Eden at intermission...

George and Barbara Bush were seated just a few rows in front of us at the show.  The whole theatre stood and clapped when they entered.  It was really exciting to show Kate one of our former Presidents and First Lady.

The same weekend, Kate had a gymnastics recital/exhibition.  Unfortunately, the exhibition overlapped with the Christmas caroling we do every year with our church.  We had just seen Kate do all of her routines many times for the whole meet season and Dave and I think that it is important to bring joy to the seniors so Kate only participated in the first two events of the exhibition (bars and beam).  Kate was quite fine with that.  She knows that it is the season of giving to others.  I got a few photos of her stretching but not much else.

Her flexibility and strength amaze me.

{These are dark because no flash is allowed and I am too lazy to lighten them n Photoshop;}

We quickly changed and headed up to church for Christmas caroling as a family.  We have done this in Houston since Will was a toddler.  It is one of our favorite things to do every Christmas season.  We are not good singers at all but it is so nice to see the smiles on the seniors' faces as they sing along and enjoy the caroling.

There was a group of about 50-60 of us that went to different nursing homes, assisted living centers, a convent and the fire station.  Then we all met at a restaurant for pizza.  This is always such a fun church activity.

The next day ( I think)....Kate had her violin recital.....





Kate and her awesome violin teacher (she has different colored hair all the time.
 Kate and I love seeing the variety!)

A few people on Instagram asked me how Kate can do violin with her rigorous gymnastics schedule.  We are so lucky to have a strings program at Kate's school.  Kate has two lessons per week.  Her private lesson is during the class day.  She also has a group lesson at the end of one school day.  Her gracious teacher has been so kind to schedule Kate's classes on non gymnastics days so she can stick with it.  Kate opted out of ballet this year but she really wanted to continue the violin.  If our school did not offer this program there is no way she would have time for violin.

Next up was a Christmas Party date night for me and Dave...

Will and Evie babysat Kate for us...

Then this Sunday, we made Christmas cookies....this butter cookie recipe is my grandma's.  We baked them every year when I was growing up and I have never tasted another cookie like it.  They are SO good.  They are not very pretty but they are delicious!!!!  I will say that Will was a tad reluctant (so was Harry) because his friends invited him to a movie (although it fell through). In the end, Will told us he was so glad that he stayed home and made cookies with us.

My happy girl was dancing around and being so silly.

I have the original cookie press (and box) that my Grandma gave my Mom over 50 years ago.  We still use that one (and another one too). I love looking at the old label.  They did do even use zip codes back then.

Kate added all the ingredients...

This year we had Will mix the dough.  You mix it by hand and it is not for the weak.

Harry is quite good at pressing the cookies.  There is a technique to this...

We decorate the cookies with maraschino cherries and jimmies and dragees.









Dave and Will made the last few cookies:)

After dinner, we went to look at the lights like we do every year.   One house that always has Santa had snow this year!  They had little snow blowers up in the trees on timers.  Kate and Harry got very excited seeing the snowfall from the trees for a few seconds.

{this is the snow coming out!}

Last night we had such a nice family evening.  For the last few years, some friends have invited us to a Posada but we have always had another commitment.  This year, we were able to go.  It was so beautiful.  Our friends invited many families from our church and neighborhood area.  I bet there were easily 150 people there of all ages.  We had a fabulous dinner.  We prayed.  The whole group from tots to teens to grandparents..walked down the street with candles. The little ones knocked on designated houses asking if there was room at the Inn.  At each place, we were told no.  As a group, we sang beautiful Christmas hymns.    I loved looking around and seeing my friends, family and church family singing.  At the end, there was a piñata for the little kids.


Will's girlfriend, Evie came to the Posada with us and  she took these photos just before we left....

Will's sweet girlfriend made the necklace that Kate is wearing as a Christmas gift. 

She made me one too.  We love them.

And tonight we are headed to another party we go to every year on the 23rd. I doubt we will stay too long as we are kind of worn out.  I also had my book club and Mom's group Christmas parties these last few weeks.  We have had so much fun and I would not have wanted to miss any of this but I am looking forward to spending a few days in my jammies just watching movies in the next week:)


I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and a blessed new year.  Thank you for following along for the last 8 years!!!!