Christmas Update

I know it has been while since I updated the blog, but the Hopkins family is in full swing of the Christmas season.  The first weekend in December, I attended the annual Mueller Ladies Luncheon. My Grandma Sponsel is one of six sisters and all of their daughters, daughter in laws, and granddaughters (and in laws) join together to celebrate the holiday.  It's a great celebration of family (and of course, good food and wonderful Christmas treats)!

Silly Grandma Dotty

 Some of my beautiful cousins I enjoy spending time with

Stephanie, Michelle, Valerie,

Kayla and Molly

My grandma and her sisters Aunt Lucille, Aunt Janet, and Aunt Kate

Last weekend Nick and I enjoyed an nice evening with my Alerding & Co coworkers at the annual Christmas dinner at my bosses house. This week Ali wrapped up her last week at Preschool before holiday break. Her class celebrated with the "Happy Birthday Jesus Party!" Brock and I attended the class events and enjoyed seeing Ali have fun with her classmates.

 Ali enjoying her cupcake topped with skittles.  Okay, so her main focus was the icing and cupcakes, but who's keeping track



My attempt at getting a picture of my kiddos

Ali was super excited about her candy cane

Ali taking a turn at one of the many games of the morning

Ali, Brock, Maddi and I ventured out to Christmas at the Zoo.  I think I lost my sanity somewhere between the Oceans and the Forest exhibits, but we had a great time.  We saw the lights and animals, rode the carousel, visited Santa, decorated cookies, colored pictures, and visited a reindeer.  I think Maddi put the reindeer trainer's knowledge to the test as she quizzed her on reindeer facts.  Maddi was also concerned that there was no activity celebrating the "real meaning of Christmas."  We capped off the night with a little Mexican at Fiesta Ranchera.

The girls loved the lights!

 I'm not sure if Brock was having fun  on the carousel or his face was just frozen



The kids decorating cookies, okay so Brock just stood there sticking his hand in icing, but he was in the festive spirit

The girls taste testing their creations.  Don't worry, they only ate a few bites and then they got tossed.  Maddi was shoving as much as possible in her mouth before I took control of the cookie.

Maddi and Brock catching a ride. The girls fought over who got to ride, but had fun racing whoever had to walk.