Christmas Party #1 {The Bishop Family}

We did our Bishop Christmas Party early again this year so that my Grandpa and Grandma can head for Florida before the snow flies (they leave December 8).  Plus, David and Rachel were in town for Thanksgiving so it worked out perfectly!  I only have 3 cousins on the Bishop side of the family (my Mom's side) but it's always fun to get together with them.  I don't see them often enough!  The kids did really well too . . . again, it is so much easier to take them places lately!  They aren't nearly as shy and clingy.  

 My Mom made sweet little bell ornaments (crocheted) for the kids this year.  She usually buys them each an ornament, but I like this better!  So special for my kids to have!  Hope was being a stinker when I told her to show me her bell . . . so you can't really see it all that well.  All you can see is that sparkle in her eye and that mischievous grin!

 Samuel and his ornament from Aunt Sandy.  My Aunt Sandy also buys an ornament for my kids every year.  I think this is such a special tradition.  My grandparents did the same for me as I was growing up and now I have all of those special ornaments to hang on my own tree every year!

 Aliyah with her bell ornament and her penguin ornament.  And please note she is wearing the same outfit that she wore on Thanksgiving.  I tried to hide it so that I could put a different outfit on her, but she saw the tights and insisted on her "sparkle shirt and skirt that matches".  

 Samuel got an Angry Birds game and Angry Birds wall stickers from my Aunt Sandy and my Grandparents (his Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Bishop)

 Hope got pop beads!

 Aliyah got some pop beads too!  They are a little too challenging for her right now, but it won't be long!

 Samuel also got a couple of matchbox cars and Sequence for Kids (a much better game than Angry Birds . . . at least in this Mommy's opinion!!)

 Hope's other present was Trio blocks.  She loves to build and create things.  These will be challenging for her . . . but good!

 Samuel playing Sequence for Kids with Savannah, Grandpa, Aunt Anna

 Some of the crew!

 Aliyah's other present - a Polly Pocket pool.  She loves it!

Mommy's turn to play Sequence!