Shortly after coming home from Thanksgiving we jumped right into the busyness of the season.  On Monday I took Atticus and Finley to the park to meet up with one of Finley's friends from preschool that moved to Maryland this past summer.  They took off playing like they hadn't been a part for so long.  They had a great time playing, and I know she looks forward to seeing her again when they visit.
Andy worked on building a manger for our nativity out of old wood from Jeff's barn.  He did a great job with it.  Santa was also delivered this week so we got him set up on the playhouse.  I love the way the house looks at Christmas.
That Wednesday was Briley's 5th grade musical, Suessical.  She has talked about this musical since the first week of school, and was so excited that it was finally here.  She was an understudy for Lola the  Kangaroo, but the girl playing the part did not get sick so Briley was part of Who Family number 4.  It was very cute, and the kids all seemed to have fun preparing for it.  Briley looked at us the whole time she sang to make sure we were paying attention.
That Friday Briley went on a holiday tour with choir.  They sang at a nursing home, and then went down to Crown Center to perform.  I gave her $20.00 to eat on, and she came home with nothing.  She ate at Fritz's, stopped by the candy store, and then put the rest in the Salvation Army bucket.   One of the Mom's was sweet enough to take pictures and send them to all the parents.  I wish I could have gone, but the thought of fighting Crown Center crowds and Atticus missing nap time was enough to keep me home.
 That night, we took the kids and went to the Luminary Walk at the Arboretum with some old neighbors.  It was a beautiful night out, and the super moon made the woods even more pretty.  They had hundreds of candles that lit the trails and creeks.  I could not take any pictures that really did it justice. They had a lot of different activities like seeing Santa, sleigh rides, and people playing music along the way.  Definitely a fun activity that we need to add to our list of things to do each year.
Saturday was a busy day.  We started off with Briley's first basketball game.  She played Briley's softball team and we knew how good they were since she had played them last year.  It was definitely a rough first game for her team.
Later that afternoon was ringing bells at Salvation Army. We only had to ring for an hour so it wasn't too bad, but the kids did get a little restless.  They say if someone is ringing the bells, they will make 30.00 an hour versus just having a bucket there.  We blew that number out of the water, and I think it is because we went as a family.  People can't turn down kids that hold the door open for them.  Baylor sang Jingle Bells for an hour without stopping I think.
That night Andy and I went to the book club Christmas Party.  It was fun getting together, and a lot of good food.  The book we read this month was Hillbilly Elegy.  It was interesting, but a hard one for me to get through because I'm more of a fictional girl.
Sunday morning we went to Church early for breakfast with Santa.  The kids all sat on Santa's lap, and that was a surprise.  After we ate, we went up for Church. Briley had to stay afterwards for an alter server's retreat.  Once she was done, we went to buy items for the kid's that were adopted each of their classes at school.
The following weekend we had my Mom come into town on Friday afternoon.  We took the kids to see Coco that night.  Really cute movie about Mexico's Day of the Dead.
The next day was Finley's big dance recital.  Andy's parents, my Dad, and Karen came down for the recital too.  Finley has been so excited for this day, and wanted her dance clothes put on as soon as she woke up.  She marched right back stage with a smile on her face.  When it was her dance she looked a little overwhelmed by being on the stage, but she started to get into it after awhile.  She was on the end, and was supposed to lead them off stage, but she wouldn't go.  She would take one little step, and they would keep telling her to go, and she would take another little step.  When she finally got close to back stage, she turned and took the train of girls toward the back.  It made us all laugh.
After the recital we went back to our house for Stroud's before everyone had to leave.  Finley is already asking when her next recital will be.
Sunday morning we went to Church for the Introduction of those that are a part of RCIA.

Briley's Choir Tour

Love the little fairy houses along the trails.

Always have to stop awhile to see the model trains.  The train town was decked out for Christmas.

Impossible to get a picture of these kids.

Amity made Briley a new hat.  She wears it everyday.