Christmas Festivities

We have partaken (partook?) in some fun Christmas festivities over the last couple weeks, but it's been so busy I haven't blogged about it.  I thought I'd roll it all into one post, pretty much just because it's WAY past my bed time!

The first one was, of course, decorating the Christmas tree.  This year, Haley was the star decorator, continuing to add ornaments and adjust them long after everyone else was done.

We had a lot of fun going to a Christmas event that one of the local churches hosted, including a 50's diner, live Bethlehem village, a hay-ride, puppet show, bounce houses and a petting zoo.  The Bethlehem village was really neat and all three kids loved signing the census and making their own dreidels.  Seth immediately wanted to leave, though, once a group of Roman soldiers came through shouting "hail Ceaser"!

You can kind of see Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus behind the girls.

The hay ride was a big hit with the wee Webbers!

 I think one of our favorite Christmas traditions is making gingerbread houses.  Uncle Nate (my little brother) always makes some great houses for us to decorate, and this year was no exception.  In fact, this year, not only did he make house but he made dog houses, a church, a school house (complete with bell tower) and a manger.  We had such a great time decorating.  I don't have pictures but I actually managed to make a tether-ball in the school yard, and it's still standing, along with the flag that Laura made and the basketball hoop that Nate made!

This is the roof of the manger, which Haley decorated!

Abby spent a long time making a Santa to go on the roof of her house!

A new thing that we tried was making some Christmas gifts.  I found a recipe for birdseed ornaments, so last night Carey and I helped (hardly at all, actually) as the kids made a mess and some fun birdseed ornaments (of which I don't have pictures of the finished product)!