The Twelve Days {before} Christmas!

In keeping with our tradition to attempt to make Christmas more than a 5-minute Santa-focused unwrapping event, our 12 days of pre-Christmas celebrations:

On the first day of Christmas we wore new Santa hats and munched on peppermint pretzel snacks.  And they were goooood.

 On the second day of Christmas, we dipped and decorated and ate ourselves sick.  Also, Grandma and Grandpa Wallace flew into town!!

 On the third day of Christmas we exploited said grandparents.  Baking and game-playing and eating galore.

 On the fourth day of Christmas we said goodbye to our grandparents and cuddled up for a Christ-centered Christmas read.

 On the fifth day of Christmas, school was canceled for snow and we pretended to be angelic.

 On the sixth day of Christmas we made tasty teacher gifts.  Or at least I hope they were tasty.  They certainly were germ-filled.

On the seventh day of Christmas, we made a gigantic mess.  I mean, snowflakes.

 On the eighth day of Christmas we were entertained at the elementary school sing-a-long.  I took videos.  And I am way too lazy to upload.  Just know they were merry and bright.

On the ninth day of Christmas we wrapped up and delivered goodies to friends and neighbors.  Uhhh-mazing Caramel Popcorn varieties for the win!

 This has nothing to do with Christmas, but they're super cute.  Moving on...

 On the tenth day of Christmas we toured the Turtleback Zoo lights with fabulous friends.  And sat on Santa's lap.  And rejoiced in a 70 degree December day.

On the eleventh day of Christmas we made Santa's very most favorite treat: peppermint brownies.  Side note: Tessa hates peppermint.  Obviously somewhere, something went terribly wrong (I'm thinking, hospital nursery).

On the twelfth day of Christmas we celebrated the birth of a baby.

We all had several roles to play.

I make a pretty convincing Joseph.

Watching my baby Mary instinctively kiss her baby Jesus was a spiritual experience.

And then we watched it done right.

I love Jesus.

Amen.