Picking out a tree
... and also setting it up and decorating it. We found a really nice tree at Sam's Club for $30.

Making thumbprint art
Looking at Christmas Lights
We actually did this on several different nights. If you live in the area, don't miss the lights on Upland Drive in Chandler. In addition to incredible lights displays, there are horsedrawn carriage rides, popcorn, hot cocoa, carolers, and more.
German Christmas Market in Downtown Phoenix
The whole family went, this was just a selfie with some of my dudes. We loved the food best of all, but it was all fun.
A Christmas Concert with two of my boys
This was a free Christmas concert performed by a local string quartet. Absolutely outstanding! I love going places with just a couple of the kids for special outings.
Drinking Hot Cocoa
Naturally, we did this more than once, too. :)
Making folded paper window stars
This is a traditional German craft, though there are some places online that sell the "kite paper" used for these. (instruction books and paper here)
I would also like to thank everyone who has mailed our family a Christmas card this year, as well as those who have sent us and/or the children gifts. Thank you for being a blessing to our family. Our children are in this as much as we are, and I am always especially grateful when others bless them for the part they play.
I am ***so*** excited for Christmas to start tomorrow! Our church is offering hot cocoa and cookies at 6 p.m. before the evening service. Traditionally, our family opens gifts on Christmas Eve in the evening, but with church, that would get much too late. Instead, just my husband and I are exchanging our gifts to each other tomorrow night after the kids are in bed, and they will all get their gifts on Christmas Day in the morning. I am just making frozen croissants for breakfast, so that should be easy enough even with all the craziness.
Then a big ham dinner in the early afternoon, and hopefully, with that much food cooked, I should be able to take the whole day on Friday off, to enjoy with the family at home.
What are your Christmas plans?