Christmas Play & Christmas Parties

Last Sunday (12/22/2013) we had our Christmas play at church, and all the kids did great!

While we were at the first practice assigning parts, Jackson spoke up and said he wanted what was probably the second biggest part in the play. I told him he had to really practice and memorize his lines, and asked if he was sure he really wanted to do that, and he said yes. One day while we were at home I gave him the play and told him that he needed to read through it and memorize his parts. He read through it, and then handed it back to me. I gave it right back and said, "Read through it again." He did, and laid it back on the table. I said again, "Jackson, you have to memorize all your parts," to which he replied, "I already did." Not believing he had, after reading through it twice, I said, "Fine, let's go through the play." I started reading through it and every time I would get to one of his parts, he would say exactly what he was suppose to. I wish I had his photographic memory! Ansley did wonderful on all of her parts, and was even given another small part right before the play began because one of the girls was out with the stomach bug. Elsie did good at the beginning, but then she decided that she would cross her arms and pooch out those lips about half way through, and not say anything else. My favorite part of the play was when Eric and the kids sang, "Go Tell It On The Mountain." If you watch the video clip, you'll see what I mean about Elsie crossing those arms. That girl!

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The next day we went to Mamaw Ollie's to have a fun Christmas party with all of the Phipps family. The kids love hanging out with Abigail, Amelia, Bella and Carter, and if you know Mamaw Ollie, you know there was plenty of delicious food to eat.

All the Phipps great-grandkids, except we were missing Blake

The next day, Christmas Eve, we had the Watson Christmas Party. It was full of laughs, stories, and lots of excitement from all the kids 

We came home to give our Elf on the Shelf, Simon, a good-bye hug (it's okay if we touch him on Christmas Eve, because the kids are allowed to give quick hugs and kisses, put him back in his box, and then lay him under the tree for Santa to pick up when he stops by). We then put some cookies and egg nog out for Santa, laid a note from Ansley and Jackson to him, had a quick sip of egg nog for the kids, read Twas the Night Before Christmas, and then kept with our tradition of having a sleepover in mommy and daddy's bedroom.