Caroling

We have the neatest neighborhood. For Halloween, we have a huge neighborhood party that is really anticipated and everyone loves it. For Christmas, we usually give out neighborhood gifts to everyone. This year, since money is tight for many people, neighbors are getting creative with their neighborhood gifts. One family invited the neighborhood to a "progessive caroling" party. They had it for FHE and started at one end of the neighborhood. They would carol to one family and then that family would join in and go to the next house and so on until they got back to the beginning. My kids have been waiting for this FHE all week because they wanted to go caroling. Ethan kept asking me to practice carols with him so he would be ready.

I wasn't sure which direction and how long it would take to get to our house so I got our stuff ready early so we could go when they came. Courtney hasn't been feeling well so she and Bryan were going to stay home. It took about an hour for them to get to our house and by then Ethan was dying to go. The kids all ran to our door and sang at the top of their lungs. Then Ethan and I got dressed in warm clothes (it's been really cold here!) and went along.

All the neighbors loved being sung to and those who went along had a great time. The kids ran as fast as they could from door to door and sang their hearts out. It was cold and windy, but no one really seemed to mind.

When we got back to the starting house they had hot cocoa for everyone and we all took treats to share. The kids went upstairs to play the Wii and the adults stayed downstairs to talk. When it was time to go I found Ethan and then we went home. Courtney was waiting up for us...I forgot that we were supposed to bring her back a treat, so we made some hot chocolate of our own for her and Ethan. Then we went to bed.

It was fun and the adults were talking about making it another neighborhood tradition. The family who started it said they would love to do it each year, so I think we have a winner. It really was fun!