Magical Winter Lights

An add on my Instagram feed caught my eye one evening when I was scrolling.  It was for the Magical Winter Lights.  I clicked the link and within seconds of being on the site knew that it was something festive that our family would enjoy.  I showed it to Benjamin and we made a plan to make the drive to La Marque after Winston's last day of school for Christmas break.    

We left our side of town at 5 PM and made a stop at IHOP on the south side of Houston for some grub.  Our family loves a good dinner of breakfast foods!  By the time we arrived at the Gulf Greyhound Park, it was completely dark outside and perfect for looking that the lights!  

2018 One Second Everyday

I thought about the best way to wrap up this year and I can't think of a better way to reflect on the three hundred and sixty five days that made up 2018 than sharing this video.  😍 I used the 1 Second Everyday app.  {I cannot say enough great things about this app!  If you want an easy to use way to document your year, download from the app store.}

Thirty Date Night Ideas

We had been stuck in a date rut.  Each Kid's Night Out we would go eat and then walk around a store or two kinda aimlessly.  Our joke is that we would always end up buying Benjamin a pair of pants.  😂  A few months ago I knew Kid's Night Out was coming up and I wanted to break out of our routine.  So I gave Benjamin two options: rock climbing or lazer tag.  To my surprise he had never been lazer tagging and that right there decided it!

Christmas Morning Essentials

After one or two Christmas mornings where I had to go looking for a very specific type of screw driver to free a toy from it's packaging, I decided the next year I would be prepared.  Now a day or two before Christmas I gather the following items from around the house and put them into a bucket.  Then I put the bucket in a place that is handy for our Christmas morning shenanigans!

Delicious Tiger Butter Recipe

Tiger Butter is on the top of the list as one of the things that reminds me of Christmas.  My mom would make batches of this to give as gifts to friends, postal workers, store owners, doctors, anyone who she wanted to give a little something to as a thank you for all they did in the year.

Houston Zoo Lights 2018

The boys and I took our annual trip to see the Houston Zoo Lights during their member's preview weekend.  This Zoo Lights event is one of the first things that we do to kick off the holiday season.  We decorate the wagon with Christmas lights and dress the boys in Christmas jammies.  The weather had turned cooler so we grabbed some blankets to bundle up with!  Benjamin was out of town so my Mom accompanied us for her first Zoo Lights experience!  

Friday Favorites

All of the holiday things were scheduled for this first week of December.  It made the week very full but very festive! 

First we got home from our yearly trip to the Gaylord Texan and went right into opening all the advent calendars!  I has been my favorite to see how excited the boys have been opening their calendars they get home from school this week.  

They both have Lego advents and we are doing Truth in the Tinsel this year.  It's Truman's first year to participate and the time we've spent together making the crafts and talking about the stories that surround Jesus' birth has been a favorite!

Also, the boys' Santa shark jammies are one of their favorites this year.  They glow in the dark!  You can find them here.  

I shared a few of our favorite Christmas books to read together in the evenings in this post.  

I volunteered at Winston's school this week making copies for his teacher and then being an elf in the Holiday Shoppe!  I was able to stop by his class for a hug.  When I got home I checked my purse for something and found this little note folded and stuffed inside!  Winston is a little sweetie and by for my favorite note of the day! 

Wednesday night was our children's choir Christmas production.  Winston was Inn Keeper #3; he gave Mary and Joesph his stable for baby Jesus to sleep in.  He was pumped for his role and did a great job!  This little wave was my favorite of the night.  

The next morning was Truman's little Christmas concert at school.  I had promised Winston that he could come along.  He was excited to leave school for a little break to cheer on Trumy.  My niece's class was performing their song at the same time which was special to be able to see her class perform too!

NaNo took my camera and I found this little gem of two of my favorite people!  

Truman did an ace job singing Jingle Bells and shaking his bells along with the song.  He gave Winston a big hug when he came down the aisle.  Truman beamed the entire time he was on stage and was precious next to baby Jesus.  He requested to wear his favorite Christmas shoes for the special occasion!  

I took Winston back to school mainly because his class would be visiting the Holiday Shoppe and he was not going to miss out!  He wrote his list and did a fabulous job shopping.  He was so excited to give his gifts.  When I asked if he wanted to save them for Christmas Day he said, "No Mommy.  These are my gifts to give and I get to to decide when!"  He can't keep a surprise and was bursting with excitement!   He found exactly what he wanted to get Truman; a green monster truck!  And Truman has not let it out of his sight yet!  

He proudly gave me the bag that held my gift.  He was so excited to see my reaction.  I said "Oh its orange, my favorite color!" and he said that's exactly why he picked it out.  He was chuffed that I had made that connection.  Picking out presents with definitely Winston's favorite and I will always cherish this sweet necklace!

Whew!  That's a full week, right?!  But how can we be anything then filled with joy because this is the season to all the festive things.  I think we'll may make some Christmas cookies, watch a few Christmas movies and take a ride to look at Christmas lights.  What are you doing this weekend?

Today I'm linking up with Andrea, Erica and Narci for my Friday Favorites!  

Christmas Books

I love bringing out holiday books from our collection at the start of each new season.  It breaks up the routine of what we read at bed time.  We get to enjoy some of our favorites and since I'm always adding to the collection, have some new ones to add to the round up too!  

First up is The Jolly Christmas Postman.

Here We Come, Santa Claus!

Every November I get very excited because I know that Christmas is right around the corner.  I start I shopping the holiday sections on H&M, Boden, Hanna Anderson and Tom's for coordinating outfits for the buddies.  I live for all the themed clothing!  I also start planning out some of our favorite Christmas activities.  On the top of that list is visiting Santa Claus!  Each year since Winston's first visit, we always go to Market Street so that we can visit the Man in Red.