24 Days of Christmas fun!!!!

It's that time again, 24 Days of Christmas Fun!  The best season EVER!!!  This is absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite season, and I'm pretty sure the kids agree with me.  We've been secretly listing to Christmas music since mid November and when everyone else says their annoyed by all the early Christmas decorations in stores, we love it!  Gets us all warm and fuzzy, and super excited.  And since we feel this way, we don't want a day to go by that we don't get into the Christmas spirit so we started the 24 Days of Christmas Fun!  I put together a calendar and then either wrap or write down and put in a sealed envelope what we'll be doing that day.  The gifts and envelopes are all numbered and put in a basket and each morning the kids open something up.  So fun!  This was hard to get ready for though since this year Thanksgiving was so late, and sadly, Garrett had to leave on December 1, the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, for a two week work trip!  Ugh, two weeks out of our 3 weeks of Christmas!  So we got things started early and Day 1 brought chocolate Advent Calendars (the kids favorite!) and Christmas tree hunting.  This year we hit Costco and took the first wrapped tree in line.  We had no idea what we were in store for...

But to our luck and amazement, we unwrapped the biggest, best tree ever!  It was a bit too tall so Garrett cut the top off and made it work.  We also put a large piece of plywood under so we could set up a train set to go around the tree but that was a bit much to think we could tackle on Garrett's last day here.  Instead, with all new strings of lights, we decorated the tree and called it a festive first day.

Garrett had to leave at 3:30 which we were all very sad about.  We missed him so much!

Since he was leaving, we needed the outside lights up before he left as well.  He got them up and said good bye but then a few hours later when I flipped the switch, this is  what I found.  Half the lights out, no working Christmas tree or deer decorations and a sad rope light being the only thing working in the front.  Ugh! 

But as a get it done woman, I threw away the old deer, got a new set of three deer and constructed them, got help from a neighbor to find the blown fuse, and after getting a few more extension cords, whala!  We have light! :)

Day 2 they opened Christmas books which we read all together that night, and then Day 3 was ornament making!  Here are some ornaments that Erica sent from Guam for the kids to make. 

We also made 6 of these cute melted snowman ornaments, so fun! 

Day 4 we made some peppermint body scrub, Day 5 we wrote letters to Santa and sent them up the chimney, and on Day 6, we drove up to Irvine and went to South Coast Plaza with Grandma to see Santa.  This is the best place to see Santa, for sure!

The decorations are beautiful, the kids loved seeing this little train display.

And all the working elves!

Grandma and I enjoying our short wait to see Santa.

And Scooter, the silly elf that kept us entertained till it was our turn.

I opted to take my own pictures this year, just costs $9.  The kids were so excited and couldn't wait to tell Santa what they wanted.  Tatum told him a backpack and a bike, and Ty said he wanted a transformer and a scooter.

Cheese!

Then we all got in there for a few good shots.

Santa was so nice and listened as the kids talked on and on.  They didn't want to leave!

And they were so excited to get candy canes and a free ride on the merry go round too!

The merry go round was full of deer so Tatum jumped on one. 

Ty opted for the still sled, more his speed. :)

But always a goof ball!

After playing in the Disney toy store, we walked over to Crystal Court, across the bridge, and the kids enjoyed a train ride.

We ended the night with Wahoos dinner and then headed home.  Great day!

Day 7 started off with a tea party. :)

Grandma found some delicious peppermint tea and she also gave Tatum a new tea set she found in the garage.  We all enjoyed the tea.

Then we cleaned up and got ready for a chili party with our friends!  Here's the girls table...

and the boy table.  We had the Jazayeri's, the Andersen's, Jane, Barbara and us!  Grandma made some delicious chili, corn bread and salad while the kids enjoyed mac n cheese, hot dogs and fruit.

Then we headed to Tustin to check out all the pretty lights!

Photo bomb!

We were definitely missing Daddy but had a wonderful, festive night!

Day 8 we headed home to make sock snowmen.  The kids loved this and were very helpful pouring in the rice and hot glue gunning the accessories.  Cute!

On day 9, I met with my wine night girls and we had a Favorite Things party, my favorite party ever!  We all brought 5 of our favorite thing under $6 and exchanged, and I ended up with two big, wonderful coffee cups, tea, lotion, thank you notes, chocolates and neat bag that folds up to a cute little purse!  While I enjoyed the gathering, the kids watched Christmas movies with Grandma.  Day 10 brought a letter from Santa that came in the mail!  So exciting!