Day #23: Polar Express

The Polar Express is probably one of my favorite holiday movies and we did buy the book a while back as well.  For one, I love Tom Hanks and it is just a very cute story, and I love the songs! My favorite is actually "When Christmas Comes to Town".  "Believe" is also pretty.  And then there is the image of the hot chocolate!  The perfect hot cocoa that we all strive for! I can't even think of watching this movie without dreaming of watching it with hot cocoa.

On Pintrest I saw a really cute idea that they called the Minivan Express. After the kids have had baths and are ready for bed they are surprised with tickets.  They even get their tickets punched by the ticket master as they load up.  You can have all sorts of treats like popcorn and I thought to-go containers of cocoa would be fun, if you dare. You can go around town looking at the Christmas lights together.

Day #22: Food Drive

I'm counting this activity because even though we didn't really do it all it was a group effort I think it had a big impression on our family. We have been the collecting place for the ward food drive.  I have been so impressed with the generosity of our ward.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised really, we live among so many great people.  But just seeing the space in our garage fill has been very moving to me.  So many have given very generously.  I have been reminded of the story of the widows mite from the New Testament.  It has blessed our home with the Christmas spirit.

Day #21: Sledding

We actually didn't have time to take the kids to the sledding hill, that and it is still so cold!! So instead the kids went "sledding" down our stairs on the big body pillow.  This is actually one of their favorite activities.  I remember doing it in sleeping bags.  Good times!

Day #20: Wrap Christmas Presents

The kids wrapped the gifts that they are giving to each other today. They've been asking for several days to do it but I kept putting it off.  I don't really enjoy wrapping presents.  I'm planning on gathering as much material after Christmas this year to make Christmas bags.  They are recyclable and cute. Win, win!!

Day #19: Christmas Socks

Thought it would be fun to get some fancy holiday socks for the kiddos.  There weren't a lot of choices, but they found some fuzzy red and green ones.  Maybe if we do this again, I'll have to look early for them. They've been wearing them all around the house, which has been a really good thing since it has been so cold this week.  I've been layering.

Day #18: Deliver Neighborhood Gifts

This year we delivered calendars around our neighborhood. The kids love being my runners and that's great since I would much rather stay in the warm car. We loved all the snow today too! Glad I have 4-Wheel drive though.

Day #17: Christmas Sing Along

This has been a new tradition for us but one that we have looked forward to this year.  We invited a few families in the area to our house for a Christmas sing along.  We enjoy music, especially the songs of Christmas and it is a wonderful chance to share this with those around us.

It was a fun night for all of us.  We sang, drank hot cocoa and ate yummy desserts, and just visited with each other.  We decided this year that we would also put together a couple blankets to donate some of the older children were good to help us out. Such a wonderful evening!!!