December Birthdays

I did a few different things with our advent calendar this year. This year the days were interspersed with small toys and treats, a Christmas book to unwrap, or a Christmas activity that we could do together. And then there was the Star Wars Advent calendar that Matt got for his birthday from Uncle Bryan. The boys loved it, and Matt was very good about waiting until Will woke up in the morning to see what was in the calendar so they could do it together.

These boys were VERY excited about the approach of Christmas, and really enjoyed playing together over the break from school.

Having a birthday in December is the thing to do in this family...Pam, Steven, Joy & Ken all have one. This year we got smart and decided to have one big party to celebrate them all. It was fantastic fun, and I think we may have ourselves a new tradition. We started the evening with some bowling at Dart Bowl. While there are no pictures of us bowling (not sure how we missed that), Steven did get this awesome one of the kids playing one of the racing arcade games. Matt's down there pushing the gas pedal and Caroline is holding Will, politely letting him help her steer.

After Dart Bowl enchiladas and bowling we came back to our house for cake and present opening.

A sampling of the gifts received: a sewing machine, Pottery Barn ledges, no-scent spray for the outdoorsman, and video games. You guess who scored what! I made a delicious Snickerdoodle birthday cake. Oh my heavens. You will do a double-take when you see the absurd amount of butter that is in it, but let me assure you it is very, very worth it. Thanks, Pinterest, for the idea. I've found myself a new classic cake. Oh, and that is Matt's Kwanzaa hat he made at school. He put it on for the celebration.

What I don't have pictured is the performance that Caroline, Ava, Matt & Will put on after we had cake. Got some awesome video of it though. They put together a choreographed routine to the 12 Days of Christmas. Rip-roaringly hilarious. While the girls were coordinated and into the moves, my boys were awkward and loud. Matt was running around with a wooden chicken leg thrusting it at each of us during the 5 golden rings refrain, and Will was alternating between dancing and playing drums.

That Sunday for church the boys agreed to wear their new ties that Poppi & Grann gave them. So incredibly handsome! Will kept his on through Sunday School I'm told but by the time I picked him up after the service he'd pulled it off. Not bad!

That afternoon I got to to attend the Nutcracker ballet with the Moran family, Joy & Ava, and Mimi Rener. Weeks ago I saw a billboard for it and excitedly asked Matt if he wanted to come with me. His response: "No, Momma, that's for girls and it looks boring." Sigh. Zach was so kind as to watch the boys so that I could go with all the little and big girls. Bryan included. :) It was delightful. The music, costumes and dancing were all incredible. I'm glad I have girls in my life that I can do such things with! Aren't they pretty?