Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is equally anticipated with Christmas over here. We always go over to Grandma Vicky's for a delicious dinner of prime rib and the kids get spoiled with gifts. She has yummy desserts for us and we always have a fun evening. Driving home is always so cheerful because we know Christmas is the next day! 

Drive Shack

We usually have the Munns family Thai Christmas dinner on December 23rd every year. Well we had folks out of town for Christmas this year so we decided to have it earlier. That left us with the evening of the 23rd to do something together a family and we went to Drive Shack!! It was the first time for me and the kids. We had an absolute blast! I wish I had taken more pictures! Kids had a great time. We will definitely go back!

Christmas Pins

 I have a slight obsession with Christmas pins. Not sure when it started but my mother-in-law has a rather large collection of them. One Christmas, years ago, she let me pick a pin! It was the most darling little Santa with the cutest beard. Shortly after, Ranier gave all his daughters a cute little felt beaded Christmas tree pin. I had the urge to make this a Christmas tradition. So my sister-in-law Heather, in her gift-giving wisdom, the year her family was assigned to give gifts to my family gave me an entire stocking full of an assortment of Christmas pins. It was the most thoughtful gift!! But she didn't stop there... every Christmas since, she has added to my collection and this year was no exception!! I used to have to make my kids (the boys really) wear Christmas pins on Sunday but now they willingly oblige (because it makes me so happy!!) Here are a few of my Christmas pin pictures!

Christmas in the air...

I do love Christmas time!! It is a busy time, but a good busy!! I didn't take enough pictures for everything we had going on but here are a few...

Christmas Sunday. Our Sunday program at church was so so good this year!! Lots of beautiful music and well coordinated messages with a special musical number by our very own Ivy!! She was prepping to sing in primary when she was asked to sing in front of the whole congregation instead! She nailed it!! It was so so good. So proud of her. 

Kids got to meet Santa at our church's Christmas Party. It was a struggle to get them all together. Don't know how much longer this will last...

Daniel and I at the Wild Florida Christmas Party! There were several yummy food trucks, great music and the evening weather was absolutely perfect!! A fun night was had by all!

I got to go to a couple school Christmas programs this year!! Ivy's was a Christmas around the world presentation which was very fun and Benny's class sang a variety of Christmas carols!! Tis the season!!

 

House Progress Pictures

We had a lot going on at our house in December! I'll caption the pictures as needed below:

View of our house from the rear. You can see beautifully installed windows!!! After quite the wait, the finally arrived and we can start moving forward!! You can also see the gazebo and the pool framed up. 

This is our new sea wall!! We are so happy with how it turned out! I love the little canal and the dock will eventually go out the end of the peninsula. We will eventually back fill this and lay sod. 

The framing of the pool from the balcony.

Views of the front of the house

Now that the windows are in we can start moving along with all kinds of things. Here they are finishing the exterior of the 2nd floor so we can paint it. We are having batten board done. Once they paint it then we can have the roof done. Once the roof is done we can start rolling inside (insulation and dry wall). 

After the framing of the pool comes the digging of the pool!! Also the trusses of our gazebo were set!

Decking of the gazebo roof. 

The block walls are done on our shop!

Trusses of the shop laid and decking started!

Benny's 7th Birthday

My Benny Baby Boo Bear turned 7!! He is so fun to celebrate!! Even our elf, Christopher Poppinkins joined in the birthday festivities! But no breakfast in bed for Benny... he wanted Fruity Pebbles!! He went to school as usual, toting birthday cake mini muffins for his class. Daniel picked him up early from school so they could do some shooting. That night... his dinner of choice was Hibachi!! Always a fun dinner! We enjoyed dessert afterwards at our house with both birthday boys, Benny and Jordan, and a handful of cousins. Of course we didn't stop there!! We always go to a hootel for Benny's birthday so Friday night we hit up Fun Spot (another birthday request) and stayed the night at a Hilton nearby. It was a super fun night for all the kids and so fun to drive just a couple minutes "home" to crash at the hotel. We went to breakfast in the morning on the way home and called it a wrap!! Love celebrating my Booshka!!