the nativity

Every year Scott's mom dresses the grand kids up for a live nativity.
Even Scott's 16 year old nephew is expected to participate.
Maybe I am just biased,
but I thought that the shepherds stole the show.

1st Anual Patterson Progressive Dinner

Every year in December Scott's family has the tradition of doing a progressive dinner.
We do appetizers at one families house, salads at the next, then the main course and then we end with dessert at the last house.


Thanks to Bobby and Autumn getting married this past year, we finally were able to do our own progressive dinner, and it was so much fun (much to Hunter's surprise, who thought that it was dumb to do all of the driving.)
Just as fun as all of the eating, was seeing everyone's houses all done up for Christmas!

We started at Autumn's house were she had Chili's chips and salsa... and also some yummy spinach and artichoke dip that Matt's mom taught her to make.

Then off to Bobby's were they did soup.
Bobby and Rachel got a real tree this year (which is new to our family)
and I think that everyone thought it was pretty cool.

We had the main course at our house, and I did Turkey and Cranberry cersaunt sandwiches which turned out super yummy.

We ended the night at my mom's house for dessert and gingerbread houses
(which was taken very serious this year.)
Gingerbread houses are something that I really struggle with....
I always dream of making this amazing house,
but for some reason I can just never pull it off.
Dakota and Bridger get way into it, so it is always fun
despite my not so awesome house.

Merry Christmas!!!!

the Kindergarten Polar Express

On Dakota's Last day before the big Christmas Break, they had a
Polar Express day at school.
The best part for Dakota was wearing his pajamas... he hates getting dressed.
All of the kids rotated through the different kindergarten classess,
each representing a different part of the story....

1 room was the refreshment train,
1 room had them making snow flakes and then they had a snowball fight,
and our room was the bell room.

Needless to say, all of the kids had so much fun!

That same week Dakota also had his School Christmas Program.
I didn't get close enough to get any good pictures during the program, but Dakota looked so handsome and did such a good job!

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday morning me and Chantell took the boys to
"Breakfast with Santa" at Dear Lizzies. Anyone who has been there knows it is the cutest place ever, and this event was no exception.

Of course Bridger was extremely nervous around Santa, and wanted me to hold him while he told Santa that he wanted a dump truck and tractor.

They had it all set up so Santa would call them by name up to his lap. I asked Dakota how he knew everyone's name???? He said that he was just looking at the list that lady next to him had.
Dakota is certain that the real Santa is at the North Pole working on all of his toys.

Dakota is basically not capable of a normal smile....

Bridger spent the majority of the time feeding his cow and baby Tiger!

Karate

I decided to sign Dakota up for Karate.
He is always saying that he wants to do it and
I thought that it would be something fun to keep him busy.
Dakota absolutely loves it and asks everyday if it is a Karate Day.

On his second day he was tested and earned his white belt. After that he was given the chance to break a board. They showed him how to do it with the palm of his hand.... he decided to go all out and punched it with his fist!!! His poor little knuckles were sore,
but he could not have been prouder!

Santa

Bridger refused to sit or stand anywhere near Santa....
so we all had to join in this year!