Christmas (I need a) Break!

To say the time leading up to the holidays are busy is an understatement. There are just so many events and traditions to squeeze into such a short time frame, that an extra week before Christmas would be great :)  The last few days of school before the holidays kept us busy with Dylan's Christmas performance (see previous post) and Gavin's school's Songfest.  I also got to go Christmas caroling with Dylan's school and of course there are the Christmas traditions...baking cookies, making gingerbread houses, and something new we did this year- the "Polar Express" to see all the Christmas lights around Honolulu.  Oh, and did I mention that we have jobs that take up the majority of our time?  At least we have some time off over the holidays, so I can' really complain.

The 2nd grade class at Noelani singing Christmas music for the Songfest.  Gavin is the second row, second in on the left.

We opted for a gingerbread village instead of a gingerbread house this year. Although this doesn't look as "presentable" as the pre-made kits you can buy, the kids loved making their own house rather than a group-effort house.  At least all the Halloween and Christmas parade candy was useful for something.

Looks like someone didn't clean off the evidence that he was eating the decorations as he made the house :)

Gavin and his 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Watanabe, after Songfest.

Dylan and I donned our Santa hats and went Christmas caroling around Manoa Marketplace with his preschool. 

The last stop on the Christmas caroling field trip was lunch at McDonald's.

Dylan helped me make Christmas cookies for Santa

...and for the boys' wrestling team after their last practice before Christmas.

I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it would be a fun new tradition to start.  After wrestling practice one night over Christmas Break, we surprised the boys with a trip on the "Polar Express."  They had bowls of popcorn and hot chocolate to drink, a clipboard with a Christmas Light scavenger hunt, and tickets to ride the Polar Express.  I packed it all in the car as we went to practice so we were able to surprise them when we got to the car.  They were so excited to drive around and see the lights.

The driver of the Polar Express :)

Gavin took the scavenger hunt very seriously!

The boys got bunk beds over the Christmas Break also...Dylan had long since outgrown his toddler bed/crib and it was time to upgrade to a big boy bed.  As you can see, the Polar Express wiped them out :)

The Buelow Christmas card through the years :)

Waiting to see a movie with their Christmas gift cards.

Big Hero 6 at the movies.

Dave and Busters for dinner one evening so the boys could use their Christmas gifts from Grandma.