18 Days Until Christmas

Todays' always the most full day of our Countdown to Christmas. It's the first Friday of December every year and it's a blast. I'm so happy to have a bigger home now so we can do what I started years ago, and only stopped because my house was just too dang little to throw parties like this...

so in our Matchbox countdown box...

"19 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

OLD FASHIONED TOWN CHRISTMAS PARTY ON MAIN STREET, ENJOY GAMES, FISH PONDS, HAY RIDES IF YOU WANT, FACE PAINTING, COOKIE DECORATING, HOT CHOCOLATE AND DONUTS AND A VISIT WITH SANTA....

THEN COME HOME TO A GRINCH THEMED COUSINS SLUMBER PARTY."

 **these pix are horrid for quality but...this is what we get....

 Grinch Floats...mmmm

 Everyone's Best Grinch Face...

 While they ate their Grinch Floats we read this lovely traditional Dr. Seuss book, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" then headed downstairs where it was toasty warm from the fire Mont built in the fire place and watched "The Grinch". Lauren was the first to fall dead to the world as you'll see below. Then Kars and Mont. The rest were ready to party hardy when the movie ended as you will also see...From late night ping pong and fooseball games to polly/peter pockets and cars to a midnight snack...the three oldest were the crazies up so late...of course I joined in on the fun!

 And grinch waffles were on the agenda for morning...after their party on Kinlee's bed...dang iPad.

The only thing I wish was different was that we could have had more nieces and nephews there. But most live too far away and the others are babies and I'm not sure their parents wouldn't want to send them to a big kid party. We had a blast! These kids are darling and I'm so glad they were there! I'm also super excited to get to start this tradition up again...I hated stopping it years ago when I did. So super fun! Can't wait for next year and picking a theme and pulling it off again.