The clock is ticking and the countdown has begun

The First Snow!!

 Riding the L.S. Ayres Train with Mommy

 State Museum trip with Grandma

Daddy and Grayson see The State Museum too. Rogan put your tongue in your mouth!

I'm still bigger than this toy soldier!

No Rogan, I am!

Watching the window display at The State Museum with Big Brother!


Like many of that are reading our December post, we have had a exciting but very busy month. Rogan and I went to The State Museum with Grandma to see Santa and eat at The L.S. Ayres Tea Room. We had a wonderful time. Rogan had the adventure all to himself this year with Grayson being in 1st grade. It was nice too for Rogan to share a special memory by himself for once, but we still missed big brother Grayson. That said we decided to make another trip to The State Museum so Marc and Grayson could come too and so Grayson wouldn't miss out on the special train ride. Also, can't forget that traditional Christmas photo with Santa at The State Museum. Grayson also had a special outing with Grandma attending The Yuletide Celebration. I even got to go this year too! It was just amazing, truly amazing! I think I was just as excited as Grayson.

We also enjoyed a wonderful family holiday at Aunt Shirley's. Lots of great food, great fun and joyous laughter filled the Snider Home. The boys enjoyed seeing their Aunt's and Uncle's and cousins too! Grayson is now enjoying Christmas break. He would wake up every morning counting down the days until break that has now changed to the countdown until Christmas! The boys are both so excited as all young kids are and adults too!

The boys and I have made many holiday cookies and are about to begin another batch for Santa. We also made and decorated ginger bread houses. The boys love eating all the small candies that decorate the ginger bread house! Who doesn't, right! Grayson had a class party on Friday I was able to attend. What fun! He has such sweet kids in his class! It made my day to be able to spend that time with Grayson and his class. Another exciting moment we had in the last few days... The First Snow of the Season!  Our boys were thrilled to see the first snow. They couldn't wait to get a chance to put on their snow boots and make snow angels.

 " Have you been good this year boys?"

Grayson catching up with Uncle Tony

 Smile Callaway Ladies. Callaway Family Christmas

Playing with cousin Lilly, "Lilly I said, not to stick my rock up your nose!"

 Grayson at The Yuletide Celebration hugging bear.

I got this Mommy, I'll shovel for you!

My masterpiece, a snow angel!

Rogan is equally excited that Santa is almost here along with a very special birthday... Jesus'. We have been reading many fun festive holiday books and talking about how very special Christmas is and what the 'true' meaning is. Only two more days until Christmas is finally here!

Thanksgiving, Trimming the Tree and getting ready for The Christmas Season

Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Grandma's was very nice and as always yummy! Grayson had a Thanksgiving short play in his class that his teacher put together for the parent's in his class during our luncheon. Grayson read his list of things he is thankful for, "The Feast, Family, Friends and Pie!".  I guess that sums it up right. At church we went through the ABC's and named something from each letter we were thankful for and can I say there is a lot to be thankful for! The boys wanted to put up our tree the night before Thanksgiving, they were so excited.

What can we say, our tree was up the night before Thanksgiving. It was fun but very busy. Grandma made yummy pies for Thanksgiving as well as Aunt Pam! We have a lot of yummy pie makers in our family. Thanksgiving weekend was relaxing around our house. We stayed away from the hustle and bustle and just enjoyed the long weekend of Thanks! To welcome in the season, we have gone to The Children's Museum to celebrate Jolly Days. We just love going down the Yule Slide. The boys have written letters to Santa and that Santa wrote them back so quickly even though it's his busiest time of the year. Rogan delivered their letters this year. We have already visited Reynold's light display, another tradition in our family after getting ice cream from Handle's. That same weekend the weather was so nice, we headed downtown to show the boys the Christmas Tree on the circle. They loved it and yes, we stopped in the candy shop too and got  reindeer noses! The boys were just amazed as we walked around the circle! We saw a real reindeer in front of the Yuletide. It was just a perfect night. Next week, we go to 'The Tea Room' at The State Museum and also to see Santa and ride the train. Grayson will be attending 'The Syphony Yuletide Celebration' with Grandpa and Grandma. That was always a tradition before the boys and now that Grayson is old enough, he will be going. He will get to experience the fun and magic, dancing Santa's and their story of  "The Night Before Christmas."

 Circle of Lights with Daddy!

Underneath the Tree of  Lights!

 We promise we've been good Santa!

 Fun times with Mommy too!

Rogan says, "This is so fun Grayson"!

Grayson also had his very first school play the other night! He was even an actor, a red candy cane. His play was called, 'Candy Cane Lane'. It was so cute and they were wonderful. When they started singing, it brought tears to my eyes it was so sweet, the sound of their voices. We bought a copy so next gathering at Grandpa and Grandma Lyons', you may get a preview. We will be watching it a lot at our house! Today we attended Grayson's last basketball game at the Y. Marc was his coach, today was also trophy day! Big day! We have a tree upstairs in our loft too that has all of the boys ornaments they have made hanging on it. It's thier special tree and Rogan has enjoyed adding to it this year. Rogan has also enjoyed going to school to see Grayson during his lunch and eating with him!

 The Children's Museum Rocks!!

Here they come! Looks like Grayson is in the lead and Rogan is close behind

Jolly Days!

Mailing our letters to Santa at his mail box!

 Is that candy cane cute or what! I knew there would be an actor in the family!

 Christmas Time on Candy Cane Lane! Grayson's First Grade Play!

Marc presenting Grayson with his trophy!

Our Elf Nigel has returned for the season too and the boys just love looking for him every morning! That's the first thing they do when they wake up. Nigel came on December first. He had a long journey from The North Pole. Nigel is sent here by Santa to watch over the boys and make sure they are good. We certainly have enjoyed all our Christmas shows this month so far! Honestly, we can't get enough of them! Tomorrow is our Christmas Cantata at church, can't wait! We hope each and every one of you are enjoying this special time of the year! I still can't believe our boys are so big, each Christmas brings back memories from the last and how much they have changed! I cherish their excitement.