December 2023

December was such a joyful month filled with concerts, baking, fires, reading, and lots of wonderful time with those we love!

Sunday, December 3 was my children's choir performance in all the Sunday morning services!  We arrived very early, provided breakfast, sang in 3 services, and rang jingle bells!  It was terrific!

Emma and Sophia participated in the T and T craft fair!  They sold their beautiful glittered pine cones, and Mom-o was one of their customers!

Titus always naps just like this in his crib with his face pressed against the bars.

When Titus isn't napping, he keeps me busy by trying to practice musical instruments.

(He even had Emma's band book laid out in front of him!)

The youth group has a dessert challenge on the last night of youth group in December.  Isaac worked so hard on his entry!  I was in Flower Mound with Emma celebrating Cannabry's birthday, and he was texting me hilarious updates.  "Not done yet."  "It fell over."   "Hi the tree fell."  "I redid the tree."   "Working on the star."  

My favorite was this picture and caption:
"Finished product selling for $14.99-at Walmart" 

I was reading in Caddie to Emma on one of her home days, and she thought it was so hilarious that I was holding Tex that she took a picture and sent it to Dave.  

Titus and I spent a day at North Park!  It is always so festive and fun during the holiday season.  We heard a choir singing while we were eating lunch in the food court.  After we ate, we stood on the second level and watched them below us.  Titus clapped when they finished a piece.

Titus put the star on the tree that evening!

Josiah helped Dave with Christmas lights.  

Emma and Josiah sang in the three Christmas concerts at church!

Is it really Christmas if your mom doesn't put you in a smocked Christmas longall?

I had a lovely evening at the Women's Christmas Banquet at the Bowden!

Ashleigh did such a beautiful job decorating our table!

While I was at the women's banquet, Dave treated the kids to hot chocolate and reading by the fire!

Isaac's band played at a local assisted living center, and this was a sweet picture in the CDA newsletter of Isaac talking with some residents. 

Isaac spent an evening at EVO in Southlake with the CDA band.  At the same time, Dave and I were at the Darden's for the Sunday School ministry Christmas party!  And, all our other kids were at our house with the Davis kids and Jaidyn, who babysat all of them!  Everyone had a wonderful night!

Josiah played basketball this winter, and Titus got lots of extra attention from the Pendrich girls.

How special to have all 4 grandparents at your game! 

Sunday lunch at Mac's!

A special Christmas gift from Tiffany!

The days up to Christmas were filled with....

reading by the fire...

cleaning cabinets, of course!

shopping....and a treat....

....buying thoughtful gifts for others...

(I stood turned around from Emma in one of the aisle so she could pick out a gift for me...)

....baking....

....and games.

Dear friends on Christmas Eve morning

On Christmas Eve afternoon, Emma and I baked caramel rolls.

We drove to Denton Bible on Christmas Eve.  The sky was absolutely beautiful!  We all had so much fun singing in the car while we drove!

Christmas Eve evening at Papa and Nana's

Christmas Morning

Dave had drawn Titus' name, and he gave him light-up Paw Patrol shoes.

Titus had drawn Josiah's name, and he gave him a new journal (with help from Dad)! ;)

Josiah had drawn Emma, and he gave her a Squishmallow he picked out at Walmart. 

Emma had drawn Dave, and she gave him new socks.

Isaac had my name, and he bought a Starbucks gift card for me!

I had Isaac's name, and I bought him a CDA football water bottle.

(We both had each other for the second year in a row!)

Pop and Mom-o came for breakfast.  We had a scrambled egg bar and enjoyed the delicious rolls!

We all kept laughing because Tex kept sitting by Mom-o. 

Emma got a new camera!

This made me smile! Emma took a picture of her new water bottle!

building a new Lego set

Dave took the kids on a walk to enjoy Emma's new scooter, and they stopped by to see the Davises.  (Actually, I guess Titus walked right in!)  I walked over soon after, and it was so fun to see them on Christmas Day. 

Elli took lots of pictures of us, ha!

That evening we spent at Kym and Bernie's.  After we left Kym and Bernie's, we stopped to surprise the Mosers by caroling at their front door!  

The next day we went to Tim and Susie's to spend time with them and Mike and Megan.  The kids were showered with more amazing gifts!

Dave made his amazing ham, and Mike and Megan made hand pies. 

Post-Christmas was just as festive!  

Isaac wore Emma's Squishmallow and made us all laugh.

 We played an intense game of Ticket to Ride.

We also saw the star in Decatur!  Dave, Pop, and the kids also enjoyed time in Decatur riding 4 wheelers and motorcycles before Titus and I joined them and we ate at Sweetie Pie's.

 

4 wheeling ended with some amazing bruises!

This "green cleaner" was a gift to me from David, and Emma set it up and worked on a stain on one of our cushions with it!

We finished sugar cookies after Christmas.  Oh well!  It was still fun.

This is Titus' "music box" that he received from Papa and Nana.  He loves all the songs it plays!

Mike and Megan gave Titus this set of construction vehicles, and his favorite activity with them is to line them up straight!

A night of "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad" on December 30

A gorgeous sunrise to close out the year - thank you, Lord, for 2023!