Cookie Party

We love decorating gingerbread houses for the holidays.

We usually like to invite friends over and make a special thing of it.

Our new church has an actual gingerbread house decorating party.

How cool is that?

There was tons of candy, baked goods, and hot cocoa.

We sang songs and Santa read the Night Before Christmas.

Love this tradition!

Violet's 1st School sing

Another huge triumph this year was watching Violet perform in a school sing!

She didn't do it at all her first year of preschool-not for the Christmas or the Spring performance.

So you can imagine how shocked I was to see her actually walk down the aisle and perform, and not just perform but do it with such zest!

Seriously the cutest thing ever.

Gumbo anyone?

Every year we host our one and only party (other than a kid birthday party) at Christmas.

I make a huge pot- well several- huge pots of gumbo weeks in advance and freeze them.

This year we had a ton of families come out to celebrate with us and it was so fun.

I got stuck by the stove most of the time, so my goal next year is to be better prepared so I can visit and take more pictures!

Dewey our elf decided to take a marshmallow bath in my bathroom sink
this was a poor choice because too many little hands could reach her at this level 

most of the kids hung out up on our deck watching movies outside
with cocoa and popcorn

Christmas Parade!

Santa Barbara has a great tradition of a lighted Christmas Parade.

The parade even includes huge balloons (mini Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade style).

Our church has offices right on state street with balconies overlooking the street.

So its the perfect spot for grabbing a cup of cocoa, and watching the parade in a nice warm seat!

The girls had a blast!

there was also a little impromptu dance party after

Violet's First Performance- on stage...

One of the highlights of my Christmas holidays, heck the entire year- was getting to finally watch Violet perform on stage. I have waited for this moment. Violet is one of the most "colorful" people I know, and one example of that is through her song and dance- which we at home get to see plenty of. 

I knew she had the desire, but what she lacked was the nerve.

It definitely helped that her best bud and cousin shared the stage with her.

I'm just so proud of this little four year old.

She's going to take this world by storm.

Here's pics of my little snowflake.

The show was Rudolph performed at the Lobero Theater by the State Street Ballet's Young Dancers

I love these two cuties enjoying a moment all to themselves