Pendleton Christmas

We had the Pendleton Christmas the weekend after Christmas, because everyone is always so busy running from one house to another, etc.  Plus, this way we definitely have more time to spend together!

We usually do finger foods and appetizers rather than a sit down meal, so we can snack all evening and socialize!  

At Thanksgiving, it was decided to have a tacky sweater contest...which turned into tacky outfits!  (I even had to text Aimee ahead of time to see if a t-shirt could qualify instead of a sweater, haha.)  There was everything from classic Christmas sweaters, to "I'm just going to glue this here, and glue that there...yep, that looks good" shirts (oh yeah, that was mine, ha), to planned out sweaters and outfits (Abby's and Alison's, obviously!), to Alexander and Victoria's creative ideas: crazy cat lady, and The Day After Christmas!  It was so fun to see what everyone would wear.  Everyone voted on their favorites and the winner won scratch off tickets!!

We also do a crazy gift exchange, which is always really entertaining!  

Hope you enjoy these pictures of the evening's festivities!

I made Memaw's cheeseball! It was so delicious!

Matt cuddling with the Sant'Anna's new puppy, Roxy! She's such an adorable little thing!

Alison and Alex.

Alison looks like she stepped out of Whoville!

Alison and Xel

Love these next two of Alison, Victoria and Alexander!

You guys, my shoes had a little bit of heel to them. I'm positive Alexander will be taller than me the next time I see him!!

Lots of yummy food!

Jacquelyn and Declan

Abby passing out gifts

Probably the best picture of the evening!

Alexander had one of those little magic puzzles that we was working so hard to figure out!

That's the smile of someone who is proud of themself for figuring it out!

Now, he has to figure out how to put it back together!

Declan reading to me

Alison was the winner of our tacky shirt/outfit contest.  

Everyone couldn't wait to find out how much she won!

Lots of gifts!

No idea what's going on here...

Papa got cash....and immediately put it in his pocket! haha

Papa got a huge box of presents! 

Aimee was really exicted about something! 

My Aunt Diane made a photo book for Papa of all his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids..everyone enjoyed looking at it!

25 Days of Christmas: Day 11

This evening was the Varina High School Annual Winter Concert for the Strings Orchestra, Choir, and Concert Band.  Dad and I went, and I'm so glad I was able to attend this year!  All of the students performed so well! I was very impressed!

Several of my Student Advisory students and Office Aides, along with other students I know well, were involved in tonight's show, so it's nice to see familiar faces up on stage!

A wide variety of Christmas and winter songs were performed, and I pretty much like any Christmas song, so it was great for me.  But, I will say, I was looking especially forward to hearing the Strings Orchestra play "Let it Go" and the band to play "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"  I mean, wouldn't you? haha.

This was definitely a good show to get anyone in the Christmas spirit.  Once you hear any song from A Charlie Brown Christmas, such as "Christmastime is Here," sung by the choir, you can't help but feel Christmas around you!

The Strings Orchestra

 

The Choir

 

The Concert Band

 

Mr. Moseley's daughter made a special appearance in the show.  She sang along with the band while they performed "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" It was THE CUTEST thing ever!  If you've seen Frozen, just imagine young Anna singing...it was adorable!

 

The final song included audience participation.  The Band and Strings Orchestra played, the Choir sang "Peace Peace Peace" and the audience sand "Silent Night" all at the same time.  It was pretty neat!

 

Loved the winter decorations they had on the stage!

 

Horns Up! to all who performed tonight and those who were a part of making tonight so wonderful!

25 Days of Christmas: Day 2

Well, I sure am glad you came back for Day 2! I haven't bored you yet, I suppose!

If you've ever been to our house at different holidays, or any time really, you've probably seen our chalkboard in the kitchen. I made it last year and will redecorate it for different occasions, or with different quotes...anything really!

I have had a Christmas chalkboard idea saved on my computer desktop for over a year now (so long I don't even remember where I got it from!).  Well, I forgot to do it last Christmas!! I sure didn't want to forget it this year, so I have kept it on my desktop, where I always see it! haha.

I was really sad at first, because I didn't want to erase our Fall chalkboard--it was one of my favorites to date!  Then, as I started drawing this one, I got really frustrated because I couldn't get straight lines and nothing seemed to be working in my favor. WELL, the end result definitely passes the expectations I had for myself-I LOVE IT! I'm never going to want to erase this one. Fortunately...this one can probably pass and stay into a little bit of January, too ;)

So, here's the Fall one I didn't want to take down:

Annnnd, here's the new Christmas one!!

Luckily, it still has a similar look like the Fall one, so I love it!

I can't decide it I like it with the lights around it....still debating on whether or not to keep them up!