Merry Christmas!

Hope your Christmas was this full of joy! Merry Christmas from the Boskovich Family.

Christmas Eve

Our lovely friend Nell invited us to her neighborhood Christmas Eve party and look who showed up! Amelia and Luke's eyes nearly popped out of their little heads when Santa walked through the door with a big Ho Ho Ho! They both just stared and slowly backed up near me. Santa luckily had read all the kids lists and had just what they wanted in his sack, labeled for each child. Luke just kept saying, "Mommy, I can't believe Santa remembered I wanted Bolt." It was so cute to see their reactions and how in awe they were. We had lots of yummy food, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus complete with a birthday cake and then it was home for naps before church. Thankfully they both slept because Christmas Eve church was a little longer than normal and I had the bright idea to keep Luke with us and not put him in the nursery that night. They behaved pretty well but their were lots of whispered threats of Santa not coming if they don't behave. The last song was a candlelight version of "Silent Night" during which Luke tried to blow out the whole congregations' candles like they were birthday candles.

Barbara has come all the way from Wisconsin to stay with us for a couple of weeks over Christmas. I am so thankful Barbara is here to help keep the kids busy now that I am in full out waddling mode.

When we got home from church it was time for new Christmas jammies! Look how excited they were , they look like they are going to burst out of their seats. By the time we went outside to sprinkle the reindeer food, got together a cookie plate for Santa and got them "nestled all snug in their beds" it was very late.

Pageants and Parties

Amelia and Luke worked hard on their gingerbread house. Some candy even made it onto the house instead of in their tummies!

Amelia's Christmas party at school. They made these Rudolph hats and elf hats that were so cute. The kids had a book exchange and of course lots of sugary treats.

Luke's Christmas party at preschool. He is showing me his reindeer food to put out on Christmas Eve for Santa's reindeer.

The kids Christmas pageant at our church, First Presbyterian. It was so cute. Luke was a sheep but he wouldn't wear the ears, too itchy. He then insisted on bringing a stuffed animal, the initial one he chose was Clifford, as in the Big RED dog. I thought, um, no. So after much "discussion" I convinced him to bring Molly instead because she looked like a sheep.

Amelia was a Roman citizen and walked up the aisle, pointed at the big star and shouted, "Look at that very bright star!" It was a beautiful performance of a Roman citizen :) Luke's big line was BAA, but he got a little stage fright and just bee lined for the front of church and sat down. It was so sweet to watch them and hear their little voices singing, "Away in a Manger" and "Little Town of Bethlehem." Christmas pageants are such a fun part of the season.

Busy Weekend!

On Saturday night we went to Bellingrath Gardens in Alabama with our church. It was absolutely beautiful. Bellingrath Gardens is a 65 acre garden and it was filled with 3 million lights and 835 lit displays. I loved this train and look at my awesome photography skills with it reflecting off of the lake.

Amelia and Sophie loved this rainbow display with the unicorn. It reminded me a little bit of growing up in the 80's with My Little Ponies and Rainbow Brite. Another note, look at Amelia and how bundled she insisted on getting. I swear it was like 53 degrees that night, come on Mimi, you were born in Chicago!

Sophie, Ben, Amelia and Luke, this was the best picture I got of the four of them. They were too busy running around, saying, look at this and that to stop and pose for pictures.

As fun as it was: Note to self, walking around a GIGANTIC garden when you are 8 1/2 months pregnant and GIGANTIC yourself, is not the best idea.

Sorry, this post is out of order. After my shower, before the light show, the kids met Cynthia and I downtown for a trolley ride. It was a cute, little ride around town and they gave the kids hot chocolate. Which, on second thought, giving kids five and under a steaming hot liquid while bouncing around a moving trolley might not be the best idea. Oh well, tis the season. Totally different thought, don't Amelia and Mckenzie (far right) look like they could be sisters?? Freaky.

Ready to take the trolley ride.

Oh Baby!

On Saturday, these wonderful ladies threw me a baby shower for Addison Kate. The shower was at Martha's Tea Room and we had a delicious breakfast. I had such a fun time and Addison received so many adorable outfits and keepsakes. Thank you to all my dear friends, I am so glad you all came to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Addison Kate.

My crafty friends. Marian made me this beautiful diaper cake and the top little poof was a really cute baby outfit! My friends are much more creative than I am.

Kristen also made me a gorgeous diaper cake and look at this cake topper! It is a preggers "super mom" which is fitting for any poor soul who saw me in my wonder woman costume last year at Halloween!

Thank you so much to Cynthia, Blake and Kristen who planned this shower for me. You guys are the best and I had such a great time. Thanks for being such wonderful friends.

More Christmas Fun!

On Saturday night we were lucky enough to hitch a ride on our friends' boat to see the Biloxi Boat parade. All the boats decorate their boats with Christmas lights and play Christmas music and some even had Santa to wave to the kids. The night ends with a firework show. I know it seems weird that we are able to go out on a boat in December but it is a cool perk of living in the south. However, I have to say we have become quite wimpy since living down here. I think it was about 48 degrees that night and the way were dressed you would have thought it was about 20 below. I took about 20 pictures of the boats but clearly I am not a very good photographer and/or do not know how to work my camera. Unfortunately this is the best shot I got, but you get the idea. One boat even had a coordinating light/music show, it was so cool.

On Sunday, we had a Holiday Tea at Mary Mahoney's in Biloxi. It was a very cute event, with crafts for the kids and of course Santa, Mississippi style. The kids had cute, little tea sandwiches, fruit and yummy treats and cookies for lunch.

Enjoying our lunch.

Santa is coming to town!

Santa came to downtown Ocean Springs last night on the firetruck. I was in the line to visit Santa before he arrived (ever the practical one) when the firetruck pulled up. Amelia went running over to the firetruck with a bunch of friends to get a closer look, Luke decided to stay with me. Amelia came running back to me as fast as she could a few minutes later, jumping up and down and yelling, "Mom, mom, he's really here, he's really here!" It was so cute, one of those moments I wish I could capture forever. So here we are with the big man, Luke decided he needed Mommy up there too. Funny how Santa and I seem to match in our jackets and our girth this year, funny or very, very sad.
It was a fun event with carolers, cookies and the kids even got to write letters to Santa and mail them. Amelia only had one request, a toy dog. Luke wanted a pirate ship, a new truck, a lion cub and a flag. Your guess is as good as mine on that last one, I think he just started looking around and saw the flag pole and thought he might as well add that too.

The kids had fun running around hyped up on cookies with their buddies. Both my kids came home exhausted and with muddy knees so it was definitely a fulfilling night.

Just Like Daddy!

Luke picked out a kid's shaving kit at the store the other day and has loved shaving, "Just like Daddy does." What a big boy!

We Elfed Ourselves

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