The Florida Johnstons: Christmas is Coming!

The fun and excitement and special activities kept us very busy in the week leading up to Christmas. Lots of time with family and friends is what the season is all about.

The weather in December was very un-Christmas-like, but we took advantage of it and headed to the beach one night for dinner and sunset. One of my New Year's resolutions for this year was to get to the beach more often. I guess I did get there a little more often than in the years past, but there is just no denying it...the beach is hard with kids! It's a dirty, sticky, sandy mess and it seemed like we always went on extra windy days. The kids do love it and they are not really sit-and-build-a-sandcastle kind of kids. They are more like let's-jump-and-play-and-splash-and-go-as-far-in-the-water-as-we-can kids. Not an easy task when it's just me with them, but maybe every year as they get older it will get easier.

We hosted a gingerbread cookie decorating party for Bridget and her classmates. She loves her classmates so much it's always fun for kids to see each other outside of the classroom. She was thrilled to have her friends over and everyone had such a fun time.

It was not until just a few days before Christmas before I find some time to do some baking. Bridget loved helping, but mostly enjoyed making a mess and eating the cookie batter!

This was likely one of her biggest challenges of the month...unwrap the kisses, don't eat them and wait for the peanut butter cookies to come out of the oven!

Always ready for a picture:) Where's Ross, you ask? Ross has had a particularly grumpy month and cooperating for pictures was not high on his priority list...

Playing outside and venturing into our backyard "woods" for the first time.

The kids school parties were so fun and festive. I LOVED being there and I surprised the kids and had Caroline (home from a school break) come along with me. The kids each presented us the most special and heartfelt handmade gifts they made at school. These are the special things that I'll tuck away and save forever. Thank you again to their teachers who spend so much time and effort on all these projects.