Christmas Activities 2013

We started off the Christmas season with the Heidelberg Christmas market on Thanksgiving day.  It was pretty magical.  We think most Christmas markets are similar, but this was a great way to start off the season!  We did try Kinder punch (Warm grape juice) which is the alternative to hot wine.  We thought it was pretty nasty, but some people must love it...  

 Then St. Nicholas day came.  The kids leave their shoes out and St. Nicholas fills them with sweets if they were good and branches for swatting if they weren't.  I guess he also gives a combo in they were nice/naughty.  My kids think the branches are hilarious and swat each other's bums with them.

 We also baked, baked, and baked some more.  Austin was very meticulous about his cookies.
Funny boy.  He would take a good 5 minutes just putting the icing on.

 Tyler just squeezed icing out for about 30 seconds and then decided that he was done.

We did our annual Christmas crackers, played Christmas bingo, and watched a nativity video of our primary kids.  Tyler ended up having a complete melt down and falling asleep in my arms.  Poor guy, it was a really long day.  

Christmas morning was much happier!  I love watching the pure excitement in the kids' faces coming down the stairs.  I love Christmas!  

 Zach eventually woke up to join the festivities.  He was most excited about his new pack of diapers from Santa.  How did Santa know?!  

The aftermath.  We were all sleeping like babies by the end of the day.