Christmas Fun and Happy New Year!

We had a very blessed Christmas and enjoyed seeing lots of family over the holiday weekend. The kids were more than blessed with lots of opening to do and enjoyed every minute. Elizabeth even got the hang of it and cried "open open" as she delighted in seeing the new things.

Santa was very good to both kids. The highlights included a new baby with a horse stroller for E and Stinky the Garbage Truck and a new dog (stuffed, of course) for Ben.

We have enjoyed some time off from work and school this week and made our annual trip to see the lights at Rhema. The picture is awful, but shows you that Ben was pretty much a blur the whole time dashing from one display to the next. We all enjoyed the light tunnel several times and look forward to going again next year.

Briefly pausing by the fountain for a picture

It may seem early to be posting this, but we have rung in the New Year McCullough style. The kids enjoyed watching Toy Story 3, eating Spaghetti-o's and playing some Wii games. Then at the stroke of 6pm we popped bubble wrap (thanks to Grandma Lyn and Grandpa David for those supplies!), wore fancy hats and shouted Happy New Year! The realistic element was added courtesy of CNN with shots of London and Moscow and their celebrations. Ben knew the routine pretty well, but even Elizabeth got into it and shouted "Appy Newear!" to all of us.

E's Christmas Party

Just before Christmas Elizabeth's class had their Christmas party. The kids were assigned a "secret Santa" for a gift exchange. Elizabeth got a little boy that we shopped for. Ben directed the shopping and we got a toy boat with blocks. Elizabeth's name was drawn by one of the little girls in class who must have similar tastes with Elizabeth. The gift was a baby doll complete with pacifier, bottle and teether - it couldn't have been more perfect! The kids also ate a festive snack and did a Christmas tree craft. It was a fun afternoon on the last day of school before Christmas break!

Eating yummy snack

E opening her new baby

The recipient of the boat

Christmas School Party and Program

Ben’s class party was Thursday. He enjoyed lots of treats and got to bring a gift to share with the class. The next day was the all school program. Ben’s class sang “Everyone Clap Hands for Santa Claus”. It is a “rock and roll” song and the kids had tie-dyed t-shirts and got to rock out. Ben even did parts of the song in a low Elvis type voice when he practiced. They knew that one of the staff members was going to dress up as Santa and come out during their performance. Even though they were prepared,

they all stopped singing and moving and just stared with open mouths at Santa when he came out. Ben was so excited to ask me about it later and is still wondering if it was Mr. Jeremy or the real Santa.

Elizabeth’s class sang Jingle Bells. All week during rehearsal time she wouldn’t even go on the stage and had to be held. Miraculously the large crowd must have scared her into doing anything her teachers asked. She sat on stage politely (with pacifier) and even shook her bells now and then. She had a special shirt with bells on it that she was pretty proud of and will probably wear more this week to show off to other friends and family.

Christmas Train and Letters to Santa

Our countdown to Christmas is going strong and the kids have really enjoyed all of our extra activities and traditions this month. The kids were to write a letter to Santa one of the nights as we were headed to see Santa that weekend and wanted to make sure we were prepared. Mom decided a picture letter might be best, so we used a bunch of toy catalogs and each kid got to pick what they wanted to put on their letter. Ben had lots of enthusiasm and used nearly all of the cutout pictures, but did share a few with his sister of the “girl toys”. Both kids were pleased with their creations and had great lists to take to Santa.

We visited Santa at the Christmas Train in Dry Gulch which is a little over an hour away from our house, northeast of Tulsa. It is a cute Old West style village with several restaurants and shops and the highlight is a Santa House and a train ride that tells the story of Jesus. We went to see Santa first to make sure the kids were at their happiest. Ben went right up to him and really enjoyed talking to him. He was a little starstruck so it was good that we brought his list to show as Ben couldn’t remember anything he wanted. Elizabeth was not so sure of Santa. She immediately climbed up Dad and starting crying. So we took a family picture with Santa so she could be near him, but still in Dad’s arms. The train ride was next and we got to enjoy it with some special family friends. Ben and Owen enjoyed the ride the most and Elizabeth and Kate tolerated it fine. The ride includes three live scenes depicting the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus along with additional pictures and narration. We enjoyed hot drinks and cinnamon rolls afterwards with our friends and then the kids were nearing bedtime and needed to head home.

Mom felt successful with the letter writing to Santa and sharing the letter with Santa after that weekend. The next day at school, Ben proudly pointed out his letter to Santa on the wall of the classroom. We read it together and Mom realized that the letter contained five items, none of which were on the original list. We will do our best to get the list to Santa in time and hope he comes through with some of the items. Ben wanted a couple of things that he already has, so hopefully he won’t be disappointed if he doesn’t get the entire list.

That night at home, Ben asked how to spell dog. Mom told him and he wanted it written on a piece of paper. Then he signed his full name Ben McCullough. We didn’t think much of it as he is into learning new words and writing things a lot these days. Ben then explained that he was going to place this “note” under the tree for Santa to find when he arrived on Christmas. Santa would then read it and leave a dog for Ben. Mom panicked a little and tried to explain that the family might not be ready for a dog and Santa couldn’t bring something that was too much trouble to take care of, but might when the family was ready down the road (years down the road). Ben laughed and explained that it was going to be so easy to take care of as it was a stuffed animal dog he wanted and Santa would know what to do when he saw the note under the tree. Mom is relieved but now hoping that there are no additional notes created in the next week, and if there are, that they are placed where Santa can find them. Hopefully it will all fit in the sleigh!

Church Christmas Program

Ben was one of the wise men in the Christmas Program at church. He enjoyed his elaborate costume and carrying the special gift to Baby Jesus. He most enjoyed the cookies afterward though. :) Ben did a great job and we enjoyed watching all of the kids in what has become a tradition for our church and family.

Christmas Plans and Celebrations

We have been gearing up for Christmas pretty much since Halloween. Thanksgiving weekend got us into high gear and we enjoyed making gingerbread houses with Aunt Terry and family, decorating our Christmas tree and hanging lights on our house and bushes. Ben was very good at inspecting the lights and was a great helper outside. He also caked millions of candy treats onto his gingerbread houses and hung many ornaments. Elizabeth was more interested in the ladder that Dad used to hang lights, but did enjoy decorating with the “pretties”. She also loves to see Christmas lights and looks completely amazed by their beauty.

Part of unpacking the Christmas decorations included discussion of the advent countdown calendar. Ben remembered the “treats” from last year and could not wait to open the first door. We discussed how we needed to wait a few days until December 1. The night before he told us that at school he learned that it would be a new month tomorrow. Did we know what that meant? Time to open the first door! It was as if the first day of advent was actually Christmas morning. He got up extra early and proceeded to ask us for about 30 minutes while we were getting ready if he could open the first door yet. Mom was not prepared for this and had thought that the activity would take place in the evening. Not willing to disappoint, we let him open the first door and have a chocolate treat for breakfast. We did decide that we would delay the activity for the day until after school, so we could look forward to having time to enjoy the reading of the Christmas story together.

Some of our activities in the countdown will include crafts, writing a letter to Santa and visiting the Christmas Train. We are looking forward to making this month special for both of the kids as we look forward to celebrating together.

The kids have a program at school and Ben has already learned the song they are performing. He will also get to be a wise man in the program at church this month. Pictures and details to come. We just wanted to share how we were preparing for the holidays and getting excited about the upcoming events.