December - where oh where did you go?

Our December was not exactly as picture perfect as I envisioned it when I wrote my last post.  Sickness struck soon after and then it hit again and again.  We have been through 4 antibiotics, about 52 bottles of tylenol and motrin, and lots of orange juice, ice cream and hot tea.  Thankfully we were all feeling fine by Christmas eve and, for the other few days of December that we were well, we did manage some Christmas fun.

I don't waste any time getting Christmas decorations up, so the day after Thanksgiving our preparations began.  Our mantel and our tree helped to lift our spirits all month long with their twinkling lights and soft glow.

Hannah made a sweet Mary for her class Christmas program and of course "Pink Baby," as Hannah calls her, made a wonderful baby Jesus.  All the girls in the 4K classes were Mary and the boys were Joseph.  Hannah and her friends sang Christmas hymns and prayers and really helped prepare our hearts for Christmas.

Later that week some of our friends down the street had us over for milk and cookies with Santa.  It was such a treat to hear the big man himself read "The Night Before Christmas." 

Here are Hannah and Lily with Santa.  Lily was absolutely terrified of him but at the very end of the party I got her to stand sort of near his knee for a split second in exchange for a sucker.  Of course, smiles were a little too much to ask for in that moment.  Lily is still talking about how Santa gave her a sucker though.  Suckers and candy canes...probably Lily's favorite part of Christmas :)

Other than a trip to look at Christmas lights with hot cocoa in hand and gingerbread cookie making that was about it for the Brown family pre-Christmas memory book this year.

Thankfully, though, by Christmas Eve everyone's spirits were lifted and we managed to make it to Christmas Eve Mass healthy and happy.  

After a quiet and restful night we woke up Christmas morning to all the excitement and wonder that this special day brings for little ones.  Candy before breakfast...

a surprise doll house made by mommy and daddy...

and a certain 4 year olds' Christmas wish for snow granted!... 

It was just enough snow for a light dusting on the ground but it was a white Christmas nonetheless.  Hannah went out early on to test her new umbrella.  Her Christmas wish list only included two things (besides snow) this year...an umbrella and a pink fishing pole.  She was very excited to see that Santa left her both under the tree.  

Lily didn't really remember snow so we had fun watching her explore the cold white powdery stuff that her sister was so excited about.

And together they built this little snowman (aka. Candy Cane).  He finally melted away yesterday and Lily is still not sure what to make of the fact that he is gone.  She has looked up and down the street for him and Hannah keeps explaining that "he will be back again some day." :)

After a fun Christmas morning together and some afternoon rest time the fun started all over with a visit from Bebe and Grandad.  They stayed for dinner and we had some special last minute guests join us as well.  My friend Beth called to say she and her fiance Shawn's flight to Portland was delayed and she wanted to stop in and visit.  Beth is a good friend from college and I had not seen her in quite some time so we invited them to join us for Christmas dinner.  It was such a special day and this unexpected visit made it all the better.  I loved having those faces around the dinner table and it will be one of my favorite memories this year.  I could not have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate Jesus' birth and I am so very thankful that our month was able to end on such a wonderful note.  I hope you all had a very merry Christmas as well!!!