Journey to Bethlehem

One of our family traditions...driving thru the Journey to Bethlehem at Bethany Church in Fresno

Kids paying the Roman guard 

Traveling to the census while Mary was pregnant 

King Herod 

Mary rode on a donkey all those miles 

Angels of the Lord appeared to the shepherds that the King was born 

No room in any "hotel", they stayed and had baby Jesus in a stall with animals, laid the newborn King in a manager. 

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God sent his one and only son to live on earth with us to share the Good News that he would die and take all of our sins with him so that we might be able to live with God forever....if we only have faith and believe!  

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Thankful for experiencing the true reason for the season, our Savior's birth

Great Grandpa John Corso

We stopped in to say Merry Christmas to Great Grandpa John Corso

Dancing Elves

Dancing elves video.

We have been laughing out loud at this video non stop.

Click link to view

https://youtu.be/OJ7Dmxtclbg

Christmas with the Haushalter crew

All the cousins 

On our way to Bakersfield, a fun memory popped up on my phone...

a picture of the cousins by a door at Christmas 5 years ago

So we tried to recreate the pic.

We all decided Eli is the "most changed"

Love this!!

... 

The adults...I am not sure why this picture doesn't look flattering to any of us...but a child took it, so I am going with that 

Haushalter group

Gaithers, Hartnetts, and Haushalters

(missing Papa John and Meme) 

and for tradition...a crazy pic of us all

(not sure why the kids picked up bottles of wine, but we went with it) 

 

Heather and I attempting a pic...so bad, and so funny!

Charcuterie Platter

Charcuterie  boards

Assorted cheeses, meats, crackers, nuts, bread, & grapes

Mason and I made our first...(well and second, since we made two)

Charcuterie Platters 

...

So fun and so festive and so very yummy!

Mason helped add details and we added some of her sugared cranberries 

A list of the cheeses we served

Goat milk brie

Triple cream brie with wild mushrooms

Garlic & herb stuffed brie

Chevre fine herbs goat cheese

Port salut

Blue cheese

Mild & buttery brie

Colby jack

Habanero jack

Aged Havarti

Smoked Gouda

Baking with Mason

Mason making Mini Mascarpone Tarts

She pipped in the filling  

She even sugared and cooked all the cranberries  

 

She arranged them on the tray and was happy to take her delicious dessert into our family Christmas with the Haushalter crew. 

Nail Salon & lunch with friends

Mason, Brooklyn and Addison getting mani and pedis...what a treat. 

I didn't get a good picture, because I was also enjoying a mani/pedi. 

Lunch and gift giving 

Blessed by friends!!

School dress up

Crazy sweater day at school 

The funny story behind Mason's sweater : she came home and told me one day her friend Caprina, "said she doesn't like pizza, and I told her pizza is life!" (quoted from Mason).  

So when I saw this sweater, I knew I had to get it for Mason. 

Helping serve breakfast at Corben's class Christmas party

Swim Christmas party

Corben was awarded December swimmer of the month

Which meant we had to bring treats in for the entire swim team...we made chocolate covered pretzels with gold and silver sprinkles (channeling olympians)

...

The swim team had a fun Christmas swim and party

After the swim practice, they served them baked potatoes, had them decorate cookies and enjoy hot chocolate.

Decorating cookies 

Enjoying hot chocolate 

Naomi, Kai, and Mason 

December Selfies

My reaction when all the amazon deliveries keep coming and Caleb asking what did I order now?  Christmas shopping via Amazon! 

Kids found this filter and said I had to take a pic!

Not even sure why I allowed this picture...for pure laughter!

Hair update

Went back to a more "natural" look for my hair. 

Took out some of the blonde. Mason told me to ask my hair dresser for "natural highlights like (her) hair". If only, if only!!  haha

Holiday baking

Homemade caramels

individually wrapped 

Peppermint crunch oatmeal cookies, found the recipes on Pinterest and it was by far our family's favorite cookie this season.  

Making a sunflower shaped baked brie with turkey sausage to dip...was supposed to look like this picture....oh well...the taste was yummy!

Loving my time with Mason in the kitchen