Advent!

The most wonderful time of the year! Jon and I tried to shop a ton in October and November so we could run around like chickens with our heads cut off in December to every school/church/team/work Christmas gathering without worrying that Santa would miss the Mot household. :) 

We started doing a nightly Bible reading as a family and opening an Advent goodie. Jon also took this super sweet picture of our very first nativity, which was a gift from my Aunt Joyce. I've always loved it and now love to look at it and think about her love of God and collections of creches. 

Ollie's been wanting to do all the Bible reading this year and wants to read the Christmas story on Christmas. This is what Jon's family did every year when Jon grew up, so I think it's super fitting that Ollie came up with this and wants to incorporate it into our traditions. I know grandma and grandpa would be proud.

This is from an Advent Lego box I had stashed away for 4 or 5 years. We work on our Legos before our Bible story and the little figures have been pretty captivating. Nolan is quite the little builder.

Light up the Lake in Round Rock.

Ollie's school choir has had several performances at different events in Hutto. They are a talented crew, with the song "Hot Chocolate" stealing the show.

Here they are at the 9th grade center.

And they had a really sweet performance at Ray.

Nolan even got to meet Santa at Ray. He was pretty nervous but determined to talk to the big man himself. 

I think he asked for a jet. 

Ollie had a final carol session at Hutto's winterfest. It was actually a chilly (for us) day and they even had snow trucked in, which was pretty funny. Or maybe a bunch of snow cone machines were working overtime? They even had one tiny tubbing hill. 

Everyone's school had some kind of Santa Supper/ Christmas Celebration. Here is Nolan and his buddy, Coryn,  playing hungry, hungry hippos. 

That little turkey steals my phone all the time to take pictures and videos of himself. Here's the most recent one that made me chuckle.

Jon was in Corpus for a week and Nolan usurped his spot in bed.

Chili cook off! Our good buddy Victor won with his smoked brisket chili. Soooo delish!

All that merry making plus sitting on my couch with my pups has made up our December. 

We have four and a half days of school left, but who's counting?!