'Tis the Season

What a busy month we have had!  I went back to work on November 12 and things have been a whirlwind ever since. Its been so hectic we decided to send out Happy New Year's cards instead of Christmas ones.  The week I went back was finals week (we're on a trimester system), then we had a week off for Thanksgiving, and then four weeks of school before Christmas Break.  Between the holidays and getting into the swing of things with work, I sometimes feel like I haven't sat down in a month!  This year (of all years, right?) I took on a bit more at work - I'm now teaching AP US History.  I'm loving it...but it is taking more work to put the course together and then grading on top of it.  Not complaining...just sayin'.

Here's a bit of what we've been up to on the home front:

We hosted Thanksgiving at our house again this year for both Ian's and my side of the family.  Fun as always...even if it is a tight fit in the dining room.

Are you on Pinterest?  Holy moly - the good ideas that are floating around cyberspace.  I'm a HUGE fan.  Here's some cornucopias I made from ice cream cones as table favors:

Speaking of Pinterest...I got a great idea off there for how to hang our stockings without buying five stocking hangers...using an old curtain rod and ribbon:

On Thanksgiving we were able to get some good pictures of the girls with some of the great-grands:

Like this one of Evaline with "Papa John" (my mom's dad)

Or this one with Willa and Grandma Ethel Mae (Ian's dad's mom)...oh and Aunt Katie's there, too

Grandma Ethel Mae again with all the girls

We put the tree up on December 1st - and it was about all the girls could do to wait that long.

Christmas cookies and hot chocolate!

The girls put on most of the ornaments this year...

And Willa hung out on the couch watching

There's an old historic mansion in town.  I was an intern there during the summer of 2003.  My parents both volunteer for various events and give house tours.  My mom used to work as part of the house staff, which means she supervised the house while tours were going on.  Anyway, in early December they had a big "Santa, Snacks and Stories" event and we took the girls.  Both my parents volunteered for this event; mom didn't make it any of the pictures, but see if you can spot my dad...

Waiting for Santa with lists in hand.

Meeting the "big guy"

The first snowfall this season.  Nothing stuck, but Cora and Evaline were super excited to go out running about in it.

The second snowfall...last Thursday.  Several inches of heavy, wet snow and blowing wind meant school was cancelled two days before break, and then a late arrival the next day.  (Not many kids were at school on Friday).

Shoveling the driveway is So. Much. Fun!

And hot cocoa is the perfect finish.  Evaline insisted that they drink hot cocoa from regular mugs...and that will be the last time that is allowed for quite awhile.  They drink milk out of non-sippy cups all the time...but this ended up all over their fronts.  Probably because it stains.

Christmas cookies and crafts!

Chocolate covered Ritz sandwiches

Santa star ornaments**

I took the girls' 'Thing One and Thing Two' shirts from Halloween, removed the white circles from the front and turned them into Christmas shirts...

We also started a couple of new Christmas traditions around the house this year:

Heart-Star joined the family for the month of December:

Then, on Friday night Ian got Cora and Evaline ready for bed as usual, but when they got into bed they found these tickets under their pillows.

We all piled into the car with hot-cocoa (again...but in sippies this time), Texas Trash (aka. Chex Mix for the non-Coopers), and Christmas music playing and drove around looking at Christmas lights.**

**Another idea I got from Pinterest

And that gets us pretty up-to-date.  We have my Wiley family Christmas this afternoon, then Ian's family tomorrow (Christmas Eve), and my family on Christmas day.  A busy, happy, start to the week!

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!