Reindeer Handprint

There were so many ideas on pinterest and we decided on no paint..... So handprint reindeer with paper, wiggly eyes, red Pom Pom as nose and pipe cleaners for antlers. Montgomery gave them to nana&papa, uncle jj & auntie cara, auntie gina and Kevin, grandma & grandpa miller and made one for daddy and mommy!!!

Merry Christmas

Nite lights at 53rd

What a night after the live Nativity, Dad took us for hot chocolate and then we were off to Nite Lights at 53rd ball park. It was a fun night and Montgomery loved the lights, he got to sit on papa's ap and drive and nana's lap auntie caras lap and my lap. What an amazing trip downstate (minus having no snow)

live Nativity. critter barn

watching the show

reindeer (montgomery) and mommy

live nativity

nana and montgomery

goat tried to eat montgomery's reindeer ears

dirk and nana

silly goat

MOM & DAD

dirk and montgomery

mmmmm..... bunny

cara and dirk

cousins

millie and bunny

donkey

cara and millie (with dirk)

santa

Took Montgomery to see santa at Floral Craft, in Ludington.

Manistee Tree

It was raining on saturday 12/15, so we were unable to see the santa express {huge bummer}, we still found time to go see the Manistee Christmas Tree. Its way bigger than our Ludington Tree. We met daddy for dinner at china buffett, and went to kmart. Montgomery and I also went to the dollar store and goodwill.

Chuck "34"

Chuck turned 34 on 12/11. Montgomery wanted to get his daddy a cake!

Chuck:33

Chuck:32

sinterklaas {part 2}

 Saturday 12/8 at 11am, Montgomery and I met, Mom & Cara, Gina, Dirk and Millie at Nelis' Dutch Village to see Sinterklaas, hear him read a story and have photos taken!!!! Then we looked around the store. Its the same store where we bought our wooden shoes!!

Montgomery and Sinterklaas

Auntie Cara {never too old}

waiting for Sinterklaas to read story

Sinterklaas {part 1}

Montgomery was so proud to put out his wooden shoes for Sinterklaas that he was chewing on them...lol he put carrots and hay for the horses...

Then in the morning a spoiled 8 month old little man woke up to find wonderful treats left just for him...

Santa & Mrs. Claus

At least Montgomery and Mrs. Claus are smiling, Santa looks a little scary... This was taken 11/24 after the aglow on the avenue parade. I got a 5x7 and 6 wallets. You cannot see Montgomery's tie :( how sad, but pretty sure with all of our December outings well have another photo opt. Maybe with a less scary Santa.

Advent

Advent: I can remember every year doing our advent candy felt thing with tie on candy! My mom and dad always things so special for us, and being a mom, that's what I wanted to do too, but Montgomery is way, way to young for candy. So brainstorming, and searching pinterest, I decided to find books, Christmas books and wrap the, and every night leading up to Christmas we would open and read a book. I found them all for less than $5. Cara even managed to find the grinch at a 2nd hand store! Score. We have books about baby Jesus, ' 'twas the night before Christmas, reindeer books, star books, Santa books. 24 holiday books, and the last one ' 'twas the night before is wrapped with his Santa jammies and hat, along with my Santa hat!!! I also found armed, white & green fleece blanket at target for only $3 on black friday, and was going to wrap it with 1st book, but we used it for the parade!!!

Decorating the tree

Decirating the tree this year was different, unusually, fun, silly, and early. I am a stickler for no tree, decorations, no Christmas music till after Thanksgiving. well this year is the 1st year in three years I've had my tree out. I had it out in 2008, in Zeeland, I had it out 2009, living in Bear Lake, then 2010, and 2011 I was living with the Miller's and then I was my sister's nanny. So to take my tree out of the box and all my ornaments... I was kind of giddy and with this being my sons 1st Chriatmas!!
The tree came out a week before Thanksgiving, but wasn't decorated till the 24th of November. It was a Saturday afternoon, before the aglow on the avenue Christmas parade, we put Christmas music on on pandora, and sang and danced and decorated the tree. Montgomery was amazed with the lights and a bell ornament. He played with his creepy singing Santa and a stuffed animal with a bell, and my polar express santa. I love how our tree turned out this year!! Love sitting in the living room, with just the tree light up. Hence why I think I'm getting a lot of logging done lately. And because I don't want to miss any moments, as this is the most wonderful time of the year!

Aglow on the avenue

Aglow on the avenue is Ludington's holiday parade, and make sure to be able to see the tree at James street plaza, cause when Santa comes by, he magically lights the tree. Then it's off to the art center to see Santa and Mrs.Claus. 11/24

Christmas check~list»

We may not get everything done: but wanted to have some ideas!!!

Aglow on the avenue parade (DONE){11/24}
Picture with Santa & Mrs. Claus (DONE){11/24:pick up 12/4}
Picture with Santa {12/15}
Santa Express {12/15} *(it was raining and didn't want to take montgomery out in the rain)
Celebrate Sinterklaas {12/6}
Story with Sinterklaas And photo with Sinterklaas (free) {12/8}
See or visit reindeer(maybe next year)
Live nativity at critterbarn {12/22}
Make a snowman
Holiday footprint craft( became a handprint reindeer instead) 12/21
Sledding (took him sledding at state park for his 9 month photos)
Montgomery 1st time Ice Fishing
Make Jesus a birthday cake & sing happy birthday!!
String Popcorn for Tree*(next year)
Christmas cookies
Christmas music while decorating tree (DONE){11/24}
Make Homemade Ornaments *(decided not this year, maybe next year)
Send out Christmas Cards
Set cookies & milk out for Santa
Take a walk at the State Park
Advent Calendar (DONE) {11/28} will start December 1st!
Find pin for stocking
Make gingerbread house
Homemade pizza
Nite lights at 53rd ball park, grand rapids $12/car
Look at Christmas Lights in our town
Go see Manistee's tree downtown {12/15}
Make a Birthday cake for Montgomery's daddy {12/11}*(bought cake)