Merry Christmas!

We spent Christmas at home this year. My parents were in from Florida, so they got to witness the excitement of Santa's visit!

Roller Skates, a tent and sleeping bag, and a remote controlled snake!

Jeff's job, installing batteries!

Catherine's new boots! She also got a remote controlled spider and a dolphin pillow pet.

Amelia wasn't quite sure what to think of it all and wasn't too interested in the early morning actitivities.

Mario Kart! Gregory's been asking for this for 6 months! He also got a remote controlled car and a spaceship.

Mary Claire's Kindergarten Christmas Party.

Mary Claire's kindergarten class also had a Christmas party the last day before break.

They played games like a bean bag toss.

They did some songs.

And of course, decorated cookies!

Here's Mary Claire and her pal Libby.

Catherine's 2nd Grade Christmas Party.

Catherine's class had a Christmas party the last day before Winter Break.

Here she is with her best friends, Chloe and Audrey.

Amelia, tagging along, as usual!

Catherine got to decorate cookies. Apparently, she decided to devour a bag of icing before I got there!

Girl Scout Christmas Party

20 girls from Catherine's Brownie troop and Mary Claire's Daisy troop had a joint Christmas party at our home.

They made Christmas cards...





...and decorated sugar cookies.

At the end of the party, they exchanged ornaments they had made at previous meetings, then they ran around outside to burn off some of the sugar and excitement! It was so much fun for even the three of us leaders, so I'm positive this will be a yearly tradition now.

Gregory's Preschool Christmas Party

Gregory's class had a Christmas party. As I arrived, he was outside playing on the playground with his friend Noah.

Gregory's whole class decorating their cookies.

They thought Amelia could use some snacks!

Gregory waiting for the game, "Who's in the present?" to begin.


Everyone had to hide their eyes while the mystery person was placed in the box.

Gregory's turn to be the mystery person.

The big reveal!

Gregory hugging Crackers.

Jingle Bell Jogs

The elementary school had a Jingle Bell Jog day. Each of the girls classes participated at different times. They get to wear Christmas gear like jingle bells, hats, etc.

Here is Mary Claire with her teacher, Mrs. Hoover.

They invited the parents and siblings to participate also.

Festive indeed!


We all participated in Catherine's, that was held later in the afternoon!

Catherine and her two best pals, Chloe and Audrey.

By the second run, Amelia had the hang of it!

Could Santa even compete????

Could any gift Santa brings compete with this 200 pack of Dixie cups???

A friend shared this amazing toy with us, and Gregory just can't get enough. He nearly turned a flip when I showed him the box of cups!

Uncle Tim is proud, I'm sure :)

Christmas Card Wreath Project

Last year, a friend of mine saw this project in Woman's Day and made one.

This year, I decided to attempt one for myself.

It turned out nicely, I think.

And now we have a place to hang the cards we love so much!

Gregory's Preschool Advent Service.

Each year, the preschool our kids attend(ed) has an Advent service where they children sing. We went two years with Catherine, two with Mary Claire, and now it's Gregory's turn! This is a picture of Gregory and one of his teachers, Mrs. Carol.

All four, in front of the church's Christmas tree.

Ham!

So excited!

They sang songs like "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger."

Complete with hand motions!

What a fun thing to look forward to each year!

The Theut house is ready for Christmas!

This is the first year that we have ever decorated the outside of the house, and I have to say, Jeff and I are quite proud of how it's turned out. I've always loved the wreaths in the windows and the lit swag above the door, and Jeff loved those trees, so here's the end result!

The downstairs tree is done.

The garlands, adorning the stairway.

The stockings hung by the chimney with care.

And the Advent wreath, made a few years ago by Catherine, Mary Claire, and me, has been out and lit.

To say that we are excited about the season, is an understatement.