That's the Jingle Bell Rock!!

Going to the game with Grandpa!


Mommy Makes the best cookies!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! Christmas at The Mathias house was very blessed and full of joy! We are so thankful for what we have been given and for the great health of our boys! The night before Christmas, the boys sat out cookies for Santa along with chocolate milk and some carrots for his reindeer. The boys also sprinkled their reindeer food on the front lawn. After bubble baths we read, 'The Elf on the Shelf' one last time to remind them that Neijel would return with Santa that night. We also had to read , 'The Night Before Christmas'. The boys were so excited the next morning as all little ones are on Christmas morning! They loved all their gifts and have been enjoying them ever since! We also remember the birthday of Jesus and thank God for that special eve every Christmas Day! We enjoy reading, 'The Crippled Lamb' to remind us of that evening!

After our regular morning breakfast buffet,which consisted of homemade waffles and biscuits and gravy, we all got ready and headed over to Grandpa and Grandma's. Christmas lunch was very yummy and unwrapping gifts and giving gifts was just as fun yet again. Rogan wanted to pass out gifts with big brother Grayson. The boys got so many great gifts to add to their collection of Christmas treasures! Later my Aunt Julie and my cousin's, Trish and her daughter Ashley and cousin Wesley came over. We are all so delighted to be able to share Christmas with Wesley! It was so nice to see all of them and share fun and laughter.

We have been recovering from all the fun and celebrating. The boys sure had a fun time with all the celebrating and visits to see Santa. Grayson was able to attend a Colts game with Grandpa this month. They had lots of fun spending special time together! We are enjoying time off from school and the hustle and bustle that goes along with it every day. Our Rogan has gotten his fair share of, 'Jingle Bell Rock'. I can't begin to count the number of times he has requested we play that song over and over! Grayson made me a recorded book from Hallmark of, 'Frosty the Snowman'. It is by far my favorite and most treasured gift! Last but not least, finally we were able to get in some play time in the snow! The boys were so thrilled to be able to run and jump in the snow. We hope all of you had a very special holiday this season and continue to have a great New Year!

Tea Room and Santa Visit with Grandma and baking sugar cookies with Mommy!!

Yesterday we had an adventure downtown to the LS Ayres Tea Room now located at The State Museum. When Grayson got out of school yesterday, Grandma went with me to pick him up so we could begin our holiday tradition! We were ready to eat for certain and have some yummy food from the Tea Room. I love all the giant snow flakes at the museum and the decorated Christmas Trees all throughout the museum. We love the giant toy soldiers and the display window on the second floor decorated like the LS Ayres display windows used to look when I was young and Grandma.

After our lunch we headed over to the train ride through the North Pole where we met Raggedy Ann and she gave us some very pretty snow flakes. The boys blew their whistles from the Tea Room during the train ride. After we had arrived at The North Pole, we went to Santa's house where we met him and Mrs. Claus. We got some funny pictures of the boys. Poor Rogan was getting tired. He's such an early riser and is used to having his nap. After visiting with Santa, we went down to pick out special ornaments to take home to put on the tree in the gift shop.

We certainly enjoy our Tea Room tradition with Grandma and feel so very fortunate to be able to create such wonderful memories with her. Grandma Lyons used to go when she was a young girl with Great Grandma Callaway so it is so special to be able to carry on the tradition with my boys! I enjoy myself getting to ride the train! The boys and I also made our traditional holiday sugar cookies. They are such good cookie cutters and wonderful decorators! We leave our special cookies out for Santa also but we always have to make a batch on Christmas Eve for him and sprinkle reindeer food on the front lawn. Merry Christmas as the days get even closer!! Only 10 more days left!

Visiting Santa at Conner Prairie and Jolly Days at The Children's Museum

Rogan mailing his letter

Grayson putting his letter in!

Mailing Letters to Santa

We have had so much fun these past few weeks with all the excitement of Christmas and counting down the day until his arrival! Last Wednesday we went to The Children's Museum for Jolly Days! We just love the holiday season there! The 'Yule Slide' is so much fun! Rogan feels he should be able to ride it himself but he's still a bit too young. I rode down the slide with him on my lap and boy was he not happy. I thought he was going to hank out all my hair in protest! That's our strong willed boy! Grayson just loved it! He rode down before us with his friend Seth, riding down beside him. Our wonderful friends Krista and her son Seth, who is Grayson's best bud went along with us and Seth's adorable baby sister, Abby. She melts my heart. We also made our way up to Jolly Land where it's all decorated for the winter season. The boys ice skated (in their socks) and Rogan pet and brushed the reindeer. He also played in the ice castle. Our last stop as always , the four floor where we ride the carousel.

We also wrote letters to Santa and dropped them off at his mail box. The boys already got their letters back from Santa at The North Pole. They were so excited to open their mail from Santa. Neigel, our elf, has been reporting good behavior at least a good effort for good behavior. It's hard when your young and there's so much excitement all around! The boys have been enjoying their calendar where they move the candy cane counting down the days until December 25th. After they move the candy cane, they get to pick out a piece of candy from The Christmas Bell from when I was a little girl, given to me by their Grandma Lyons. We have also been doing our holiday baking and sugar cookies too. We love to make trays and pass them along to our friends and neighbors! The boys had a fun holiday craft making holiday card hangers for our Christmas cards. We took clothes pin and decorated them to look like snow men. It was so fun. I just love doing crafts with them!

Saturday, we went to Conner Prairie to spend breakfast with Santa! What fun!! We had a great breakfast along with a cookie and then got to sit on Santa's lap and the boys told him their Christmas wish list. Afterwards, we headed over to see the ginger bread houses. They were amazing. Conner Prairie has a ginger bread contest every year and boy are they a site to see. After looking at the ginger breads, we bundled up and went outside for the Prairie Outdoor adventure. We had so much fun. It was cold but the sun was out and the wind was calm, what a beautiful day! Grayson taught a lesson at the school while Rogan helped too. After wards, we headed over to Dr. Campbell's house where the boys had some cookies they were baking because at Conner Prairie, it was Christmas Eve and everyone was getting ready for the big celebration that night. Grayson and Rogan helped carry in wood with Daddy's help and earned a hay penny (which is 1/2 a cent). They also get to pet some horses.

Today, we are headed to The State Museum for 'The Polar Express' at the IMax! That should be lots of fun as well. More fun to come as the days grow closer to Christmas! My boys have been enjoying dancing and celebrating to 'Jingle Bell Rock'! That is their favorite holiday song this year. One of my many favorites too. We will keep celebrating this amazing season of the birth of Christ and continue to share our memories with all of you.