Christmas Eve with the Arning Bros.

We had a fun, but very busy, Christmas Eve at the Arning household. I always forget how long it takes to make Christmas cookies... make the dough, roll it out, cut it into shapes, bake, let cool, then decorate which, in and of itself, takes forever... especially with a 3- and a 5-year old. (Note to self: Next year, bake cookies a day early and decorate on Christmas Eve.)

In between baking and decorating, we all went to church. The Christmas Eve service is always so wonderful and festive. It really puts things in perspective. I love all of the singing we get to do at the Christmas Eve service. You just can't beat "Silent Night" holding candles. Makes me cry every time!

After church it was time to decorate our cookies. Well, truthfully, I'm the one who decorates. Charlie and Chase are more of the taste testers and sprinkle dumpers. To say we make a big mess is an understatement. Regardless, it's fun for all. (And, I enjoy a Christmas cookie or two myself... ok, maybe three or four!)

Afterwards, we set out our cookies for Santa and then headed upstairs to read our final two Christmas books. (Side note: I wrap 25 Christmas books at the beginning of the season and the boys open one book each night every day in December. The boys love it!)

This year, I found a book called "The Pajama Elves." It tells the story of how there are certain elves that do nothing but make special pajamas just to wear on Christmas Eve. These pajamas are magical and as soon as you put them on, they put you in a sweet sleep so that Santa can visit your house and deliver your presents without being noticed. So fun! After we read "The Pajama Elves," the boys put on their pajamas and then we opened and read the final book of the year, "Twas the Night Before Christmas."

All in all it was a great day. Charlie was SO EXCITED all day long that he was quite literally buzzing with excitement. He couldn't contain himself. Chase was another story for another blog. We love him dearly, but good grief can he test us! Holy cow. Long story short, he was a PILL! Just ornery and fussy beyond belief. He's lucky Santa still brought him any presents!

Anyway, here are a few photos of our festive Christmas Eve. I sure will miss these days when the boys are all grown up...

This is our elf, Scout. Christmas Eve is his last day at our house.
It's a very sad day when he leaves. We miss him!
This year, he left Charlie and Chase a note... and a little advice. :)

Here we are decorating Christmas cookies. Chase went straight for the sprinkles.
Charlie did, in fact, decorate a few cookies, but then dove into the sprinkles so as
not to be outdone by little brother.

I love that I have all of these wonderful pictures of me with the boys.

Doesn't Chase look happy?
(This was one of the few times he was happy on Christmas Eve.)

Charlie asked me to compose a note to Santa. He signed it himself.
Here he is posing with his note to Santa.
This little boy was SUPER EXCITED that Santa was visiting our house.

And, if you're wondering, here's a close up of the note so you can read what it said.
Straight and to the point.

The boys laid out cookies and milk for Santa and celery for the reindeer.

Our annual attempt at a Christmas Eve hug.
(These boys really love each other. Truly.)

Here's Mike reading "The Pajama Elves."

And the boys opening their pajama presents.

Once they were in Christmas pajamas, it was time to open the final book of the year...
"Twas the Night Before Christmas."
(Don't they look super cute in their pajamas?)

The Arning men on Christmas Eve... L O V E !

Polar Express Party

Last week, my friend, Erin, hosted a Polar Express party at her house. Oh, what fun! It was so cute seeing all of the kids dressed in their pajamas, plus us moms got to wear our pajamas, too!
B E S T   P A R T Y    E V E R .

Anyway, we started the party off downstairs enjoying train-shaped sandwiches, snacks and a Christmas tree full of fruit. Then, the boys "boarded the train" and headed to the North Pole. They even had to have their ticket punched before they could climb aboard the Polar Express.

Once we arrived at the North Pole, the boys decorated Christmas cookies at the Cookie Factory before watching the movie, "The Polar Express" and enjoying hot chocolate and popcorn. And, all of the kids received their very own silver bell at the end of the movie.

Everyone seemed to have a great time and there was lots of Christmas spirit in the air. I know my kids were SO excited about Christmas after the party. In fact, the next day, Charlie and Chase played "Polar Express" all day and imagined they were on a train headed to the North Pole to see Santa. They left presents for each other under the tree, and they also rang their silver bells throughout the day. A few times I caught Charlie saying "I believe, I believe," under his breath. Super cute!

On a side note: To my family who checks this blog regularly, bear with me. This post will have lots of pictures of kids that you don't know. But, I'm putting all of the Polar Express party pictures here so that my friends will have a place to view them.

So, with that said... ALL ABOARD THE POLAR EXPRESS!

Cute decor!

Train tracks!

Christmas tree made out of fruit!

It's snowing at the North Pole!

The Cookie Factory

Yummy snacks.

Cute cups for hot chocolate. So festive!

Colby and Max in their pjs and ready to go!

Sweet Colin is ready to board the train.

Charlie and Chase with a little brotherly bonding.

Jack loves trucks, too!

All aboard!

Ready to go to the North Pole!

Time to decorate cookies!

Cute picture!

Ready to watch the movie.

Hope Santa was good to you!

A StoneBridge Christmas

The final holiday presentation we attended last week was Chase's 2-year-old class "performance" at StoneBridge preschool. I say "performance," but really there was no performing involved... from anyone. Literally, all of the boys and girls just stood on the stage and stared at the audience.

Well, that's only partly true. Chase didn't sing, but he did add a bit of his own choreography... picking his nose. I say picking his nose, but really, it was more like digging for gold. Seriously. And, he had his finger so far up there that I was truly shocked that it didn't get stuck. Nice, eh?

I'm just wondering where I went wrong as a parent. Last year, Charlie had the whole hand-down-the-pants thing (click HERE if you'd like to re-read that blog entry) and now Chase is the nose picker.

Awesome.

Well, if you're interested, here are a few photos and a couple of videos of of the "performance."

Just make sure you're not eating breakfast while you watch...

At least he's a cutie!

Yes, Chase. You're supposed to be singing.

Notice how Chase is next to Max. I don't think he was supposed to stand there.
He wiggled the little boy on the left out of the way so he could stand next to Max.
So, he's a nose picker and a bully.

The smile is nice, though.

What's with the hand on Max's shoulder?
What is he? The Godfather of preschool?

Chase, are we boring you?

Guess so.

Let the nose picking begin.

Nice.
Real nice.

After the performance, we headed back to the classroom for cupcakes and snacks.
Charlie went straight for the cupcake, of course.

The Arning men.

Charlie is back at his old stomping grounds...

Yes, Chase. You're cute, but the nose picking? Not so much.

We just love Mrs. Yascur!

Arning Family 2.0

And, now for the videos. They're all very short... and very entertaining!

Enjoy!