Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day was spent in Frankfort at Gigi & Poppy's with all of the kids' grandparents, Aunt Julie & Molly, Phoebe & Marshall Smith, and Tom & Paula Elam.  The kids must have been really good this year, as Santa and the Grandparents were very generous!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Worzala family dinner at Bridgewater.  Cory was ill, the kids were with a sitter

Two days before Christmas, Melanie was given a rainbow loom as part of a gift through the doctor's office.  Santa brought her a kit to organize all of the rubber bands.

This table from Gigi & Poppy was a big hit

Matching Christmas outfits!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Kindergarten Fun

Melanie pointed out that I "never" go to her class parties, so she was pretty excited for me to come to her holiday party on their last day before break. 

Classroom birthday party

 

Jammie day on the day of the class holiday party

Making Mel into a snowman

Now we're getting into it!

Fun game

Random pics

The Rainbow Loom Christmas Season
Melanie got it in her head very early that she wanted the Rainbow Loom for Christmas.  She started practicing very early, with making bracelets without the loom, just on her fingers.  She then upgraded to the loom, and watched weeks' worth of how-to videos.  She was beyond convinced Santa would deliver.  Lo and behold, two days before Christmas, she received a Rainbow Loom from a care package delivered to Joey's clinic.  She quickly recovered and thought her original Loom could be delivered to Joey; instead, Santa wrote her a note and said it would be redistributed, but delivered an organizing tote for the thousands of rubber bands she apparently needs.  The pictures below were all of the prework that went into this loom acquisition.

After weeks of practicing making bracelets without the loom, Mel finally gets a lesson from Wyatt on Thanksgiving Day

Learning more about the loom from the Flaherty boys

Practicing



More practicing; she started pretnding she was making her own how-to videos

Just some random pictures

 

Joey with his new friend

Shopping with Daddy for a Green Egg grill

Sleepover with Molly at Gigi's

 

Melanie received a personalized trophy in the mail for her "Courage & Strength" as a SuperSib.  She was beyond excited.

Joey doing arts & crafts

A little painting

 

He actually had a ton of patience for decorating the gingerbread house.  Long after Mel was done, he was still at it

 

 

Jolly Days at the Museum

I tried to make it up to Melanie for having to miss Alexa's ice skating party.  Sock-skating at Jolly Days!

Always happy to ride the carousel by herself!

Our first Children's Museum play - it was SO cute!  How have I not known about these??  We were in the front row and this is of Mel posing on stage

GNO

Mel on her way for a nail appointment, movie, and pizza (we vetoed the added sleepover portion of the party, and unfortnately she had to miss the next day's ice-skating due to weather)

My own nails/dinner birthday party.  Like mother, like daughter

Santa!



It's just amazing she actually approached Santa. She must REALLY want that rainbow loom box.

First Santa sighting; Melanie was at her friend Alexa's birthday party when Santa came through A's neighborhood

Over the course of 3 weeks, Santa makes his way through all Zionsville neighborhoods on the fire truck.  Very cute tradition!!

Waiting for Santa sighting #2 - in Fieldstone

Santa was running a bit behind, so we came inside to warm up.

Christmas Parade

Goofy kids' faces.  Great weather for the Christmas parade!

Excited to be at a restaurant

Girls' turn

 

Mel was very excited to put the angel on the top

Cheese!

We had a great weekend after Thanksgiving.  We got our tree, decorated it, went to the Zionsville Christmas parade, and out to dinner.  We also got to see "Frozen" all together.