Big Holiday Activity Weekend

We packed a lot of activities into this little weekend!  It started Friday night with our annual holiday couples' dinner...

Then the next night, we did our annual dinner and Christmas light night with the godsisters- one of our favorite traditions!

We've been doing this for four years and counting!!

The next morning we met up with the twins to donate gifts at the fire station, which Everett looks forward to and talks about all year!

My 3rd child showing the kids how he thinks they should pose for the picture...

That night, Julie and I took Ella and Olivia to their very first real ballet...the Nutcracker at Segerstrom  performed by American Ballet Theatre!  The night was absolutely magical!!

I LOVE the Nutcracker, and Julie and I have been talking about taking the girls since they were born, but we wanted them to be old enough to appreciate it (and behave!), and we picked the right year.  Ella leaned over to me during the performance and said, "I love this mommy."  I can't wait to take her to many more ballets!!

Oh, and she also said that she wants to take more ballet classes. ;)

And while we had our girls only night, Everett had a boys only afternoon at the Ducks game with Nathan and the daddies!

Sock Hop!

Ella and Gary had their Indian Princess Daddy Daughter Sock Hop, and oh my gosh, it was one of the cutest things I've ever seen!

Twinsies!

After the dance, all the girls and dads went to Ruby's for dinner because of course you have to go to Ruby's when you are dressed up 50s style!

And while the girls danced, a few of the brothers got their hair cut! ;)

More Christmas-Time Fun & A Little B-Ball

Ella's girl scout troop attended the Girl Scout Holiday Bazaar, and the girls had an absolute blast!  Lots of troops make crafts, jewelry, etc and sell it at the bazaar, then an older girl scout escorts each daisy through the bazaar, and they get to buy Christmas gifts for everyone on their list!  No parents are allowed inside- so cute!

And I attended my good friend's annual holiday cookie exchange, which is one of the most fun parties of the year...I didn't get a picture, but my stocking cookies won 2nd place for most beautiful!

Everett started basketball this week!!  Even though he's really athletic, he's never played basketball so we're not sure how it will go!

And finally, Elfie continues his antics!

It's Christmas Time!

Christmas starts around here right after Thanksgiving!  Costco got their trees early this year, so we were able to get our Christmas tree Thanksgiving weekend...

Then Ella ran into some of her besties at Target, and they were all wearing their "ugly" Christmas sweaters!

Elfie came early this year (Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend) and left the kids Christmas pjs...

He also filled up their good behavior marble jars!

Made a cake, card and party hat for Everett's birthday...

And told them to watch Home Alone...

Ella got to have a fun holiday dinner with friends at Roma Italia...yum!

Then we made treats for Everett to hand out to his friends at school on his birthday!

The chocolates in the corner of the bag are mini Santas!!

And of course the Christmas decorating is in full swing!

And I'm making some new ornaments for the tree...