Amarillo December Fun

This year we left for Dallas on December 18, which left us just a few short weeks to squeeze in all the local Christmas fun. Now that we have lived in Amarillo for a few Christmases, the kids are starting to remember and look forward to the different activities from years past and we keep discovering new fun things around us!

In addition to our usual favorites, this year we also went to a synchronized light display at a house owned by one of Dave's students that was fun. We also attended the elementary school Christmas party that we weren't able to go to last year. And Charlie's favorite activity of the season was just driving around to look at lights. Our neighborhood has some really impressive houses and we drove through at least a few times a week to enjoy the light displays before leaving town.

Grandma Howe sent Sophie this adorable reindeer dress

We decorated for Christmas and even Diamond got a little something to make her tank festive

These look more like fall pictures, but we had a really nice day in December so the boys and I went outside to clean up all the leaves that had blown into our backyard.

The kids always look forward to walking Candy Cane Lane and this year we were lucky enough to find Santa again at the end of the street!

Sophie asked for more CDs, Charlie said he wanted a choo choo, and Davey just wanted to get his free candy cane and leave :)

Sophie wrote a letter to Santa on behalf of all the kids this year

Sophie drew this adorable Christmas T-Rex picture for Davey

While the boys and I were gone in Seattle, Sophie and daddy had lots of fun back in Amarillo. They went out to eat, got donuts, and met Santa at the ward party!

Davey's letter group had a Christmas party where they each brought a book to exchange and made a cute reindeer headband craft

Sleepy Hollow Elementary had a Science With Santa event that we went to one night. They had a few different activity stations and story time with Santa in the library. Sophie set a record by stacking 14 sugar cubes, and since we never checked back later in the night to see if anyone surpassed her, we let her assume that she was the champion!

We also were able to squeeze in a visit to the Botanical Gardens for their light display before leaving town for Dallas. Davey looks a little stunned in this photo, but he was able to pull himself together enough to ask Santa for a Remote Control Batman car.

We celebrated "Grandmari" Christmas early so the kids would have some time to enjoy their gifts before we had to leave them to go to Dallas. They loved everything they received!

November & December Video Clips

Mel & Boys Trip Seattle Christmas Trip

The boys and I flew to Seattle again at the beginning of December to make one last use of our Southwest Companion pass before it expired at the end of the year. It was a crazy time of year to plan a last minute trip and our itinerary was brutal (10 hours with 2 layovers), but it was worth it! There are so many fun things to do this time of year and we loved being able to do it all with grandparents!

We were lucky to get an empty middle seat on all three flights. The Dallas to San Jose leg was a really close call, and I was so relieved to not have to hold Charlie on my lap for 4 hours while pregnant.

Charlie loved this drumming Santa decoration. He's been entertaining grand kids for the last 10 years and will hopefully live on for 10 years more.

My mom found some of the famous Trader Joes melting snowmen at her local store! I had her get me a few to take back home as gifts, and of course we let Davey test one to just make sure they were good and he loved it!

My puzzle helper

The Bellevue Festival of the Nativity takes place the first week of December and we have always wanted to go, but are never in town that early. I was so glad that our visit this time was during the Festival! They set up an amazing display of over 500 nativities from all around the world. 

Davey in the dress up room as one of the wisemen

Davey liked this nativity because it was blue

We also enjoyed the lights at the Botanical Gardens and then drove over to Bellevue Square for the Snowflake Lane parade. We tried to go to the parade last year just a few days before Christmas and the crowds were crazy! This time we had great seats and the boys loved all the  music, dancers, and floats. 

We also made a visit to Redmond Town Square's Winter Wonderland Village. We rode the carousel (lucky Davey got the dragon) and the little train.

I saw this with my dad while my mom watched the boys. It was so good! The guy was changing back and forth between Daniel and Mrs. Doubtfire right on stage, just like the movie.

Poor Charlie came down with a double ear infection in the middle of our trip. We were able to find an Urgent Care and start antibiotics that night, which helped so much.

We went up to the cabin one night with my parents and brother's family for a delicious dinner, games, and football. There was not enough snow to play in, but the boys still had fun with all the toys. Hopefully next year there will be lots of snow when we come so we can ski!

We drove from the cabin to downtown Seattle to see the gingerbread display at the Sheraton and the Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont. My dad dropped us off at the door both times so wouldn't have to find parking and walk with the boys through the city. They loved both displays!

There was a life size gingerbread house you could walk through at the Fairmont. It smelled so good!

Davey loved this giant bear in the Teddy Bear Suite

On our last morning Paco took the boys down to the lake to throw rocks. Davey was having a hard time understanding why we couldn't also swim or go on the boat. 

Thanks for having us Grandmari and Paco - we can't wait to come back with the rest of the family next Christmas!!

Seattle December Trip Videos