It's beginning to look....

These just make me smile. Luke's list of things he's thankful for.
Macaroni and Cheese
Books
Candy
Bacon
Awesome Brothers
Warm Beds

Okay- there is THE COOLEST event in our little town.
The family that does the Halloween Train, also does a Christmas Train.  It's soooo popular that they now have a registration online, and it's a lottery to see who actually gets to go.  They picked us out last minute and we got to go. It's so so so great because:
You start by taking a seat in their giant garage and watching parts of the Polar Express while you wait
Then you're seated on this mini train that takes you past all sorts of Santa Clause-ee and candy cane-ee type lit up decorations.  Then we got to the "North Pole" Inside the kids (about 10 per load--so no giant lines) get to sit with Santa, get a candy cane and tell him what they want for Christmas.
After they've all had a chance, Santa talks to all the kids about the real reason for Christmas. He shows how even looking at a Candy Cane can help them think of the Shepherds crook, and how it can be  "J" for Jesus.  Then leads us all in singing Silent Night as we get back on the train.
NOW what the train takes us past, is dozens of giant gorgeous pictures of Jesus and his life on earth.
All the while playing Christ centered music on the train.
SO SO SO GREAT.

I loved it so much. :)

So so so fun!  Andrea, Julie and me got to go to the Nutcracker this year.   It was freezing, and Andrea may have stepped into a puddle and soaked her feet through and through, but we had a GREAT time going to lunch and spending time together. I love these ladies!   I've seen it once maybe? but this time was the only time I had certified awesome dancers next to me to tell me all about the play, and the dancing.   It was a wonderful afternoon.

Luke's been going early to school every Tuesday and Thursday for choir practice.  He's so cute.  They're big performance was for a Christmas Around the World show.  He did lovely.

There's a fun house by us that totally DECKS out their place in lights and has a radio station that you can listen to  in your car that they set their lights to.  After delivering Christmas goodies with the boys, we stopped by and watched.  It was perfect timing too because the first couple of songs were Fineas and Ferb Christmas songs.  LOVE THEM! HA!

Rhett getting set to sled down the hill on one of our snow days.

Mini Golf with B.J. and Kara.  It was at Trafalga--all black lights...which is an interesting way to play mini golf...without lights....and non-glow in the dark balls and clubs......just interesting.

Kade's 3rd grade Christmas singing performance was great too.  He LOVES LOVES to make his voice go like Alvin and the Chipmunks, so my favorite song was when the whole grade sang a song like that. He looked like it was the best day EVER.

Luke has a tender heart.  For Christmas he took this coupon that he'd got from reading for an entire month, wrapped it up without prompting, and gave it to me.  I love him.