Holiday Cheer

I have decided that all of my kids are at the perfect age for Christmas this year. Finn still tried to take everything off the tree and there is always trouble if you take yours eyes off him, but it was still so fun. This awesome turn of events made me decide that I was going to dedicate a lot more time this year to things like crafts and decorating and holiday themed entertainment for the kids. It was great.

 Caleb and I got dressed up for a work holiday party. Not our greatest photo, but we don't have many of these, so it is worth documenting.

 Henry is Mr Independent and loves to do things before we ask him, like cleaning up and getting ready, including combing his own hair. I have be pretty impressed with his new ability to calm the cowlick. And I also think it is pretty handsome so I have to keep taking photos of it.

 These two have a crazy relationship. I love the moments when they are being nothing, but nice to each other and good friends... and when one isn't punching the other.

 One of the biggest additions to my decor were some trees for the family room in the basement. It was nice to have holiday cheer in both areas of the house. My wonderful friends, Caryn and Gabby, came over one Friday and helped me make these trees. It was quite a job, so I am glad they were both so willing to help.

 I think our efforts were well worth it.

 Wyatt also got to have a little holiday party at school and make this Christmas tree. While he was making it he kept saying, I love gum drops and putting more on. The teachers told them to wait until they went home to eat it, so when he was buckled in the car he pulled off a gum drop and ate it. Our conversation went something like this-

W- "That was disgusting. I do not like gumdrops."

M- "I don't either. I had a feeling you might not like them. Why don't you try one of the M&Ms?"

W- "Those were not like gummy worms. I don't think I am going to eat anything from this tree. I think this tree makes the candy disgusting."

He never saw that gross gum drop coming. 

 He was also the only one of my children that went to see Santa in person this year. Not because I am not a fan of taking them. If they wanted to, we would go, but they just don't seem to want to. The older boys prefer to write letters and avoid physical contact. We happened to be at the Children's Museum one day when Santa was sitting out in the mall. He had no visitors so I tried to talk Wyatt into going over to talk to him. He was not having any of it. Finally, we go a little closer and the helper came over to talk to Wyatt. He still didn't want to go until she told him that Santa would give him a candy cane. After that he March right up, introduced himself and Finn and said that he wanted pajamas for Christmas because Gavin told him he would get them. Through all of this he stayed a good 5 feet away from Santa, but he got his candy cane and then booked it out of there. When we got back into the museum he told that he was really brave for talking to Santa. I have to agree.