Christmas Eve Smile

Abe's latest is to throw his head back and give me

a huge smile when I get the camera out.

This is both adorable and impossible to get a

 good picture of because his head is in constant motion.

An excellent example is when Abe tried on his new

wolf hat from Grandma Dedee on Christmas Eve.

Twas the night before Christmas Eve

The girls were counting down the days.  Christmas Eve Eve we watched a movie slept under the tree. And by "we" I mean Macy and Polly.  I made a good effort.  Kind of.

Abe was super excited to join in.

I think this set up lasted 5 minutes before Abe was crawling all over the blankets and was sent to bed.

Was I the only one who was super obnoxious about counting as many Christmas Eves as you could?  TODAY is Christmas eve, eve, eve, eve, eve...

The Card

Almost There!

Grandma Dedee and Grandpa Bill hosted the grandkids for a gingerbread man party.

We took our decorating seriously.

Smiling with food in her mouth.

Abe took eating cookies and candy with equal dedication.

I Can't Keep Up

There's always next year*

We filled our Saturday with friends and snowflakes.

Even though the quality is terrible, there are 2 things I love about this picture.  

1. All my kids have severe bed head.

2. Abe is too busy texting (LOL) to make a snowflake.

*12 posts of Christmas: FAIL

7th Post of Christmas?

I failed by missing the 5th and 6th post.  Moving on.

They look like complete angels, don't they?  Snuggled in the same bed, Macy's hand resting under her chin...Don't let them fool you.

The power of Santa and Jolly The Elf are not working with my kids this year. They must know they are getting presents no matter what.  

This should be the one month a year that I can get good behavior out of them whenever I want.  It is the best Christmas gift a parent could ask for. 

 It's all I want.  Any ideas?

The 4th Post of Christmas

These days, when my kids wake up in the morning they don't know which way to turn.  Look for Jolly?  Get the chocolates out of the Christmas countdown?  Unwrap one of the 12 gifts Grandma Janet sent over?  

Usually all 3 within 2 minutes.

Abe thinks wherever Jolly ends up is funny.  Especially when he was hanging from the girls chandelier.  Several times a day, he would point and laugh.  Not before he screamed "MOM!!"  over and over to get my attention.  And over and over. That boy is LOUD.

This really is the best time of year.

The 3rd Post of Christmas

I'm too cheap to buy an Elf on the Shelf.

But I know it is a new tradition in this world and who am I if I don't follow the world?

I made my own and named him Jolly.

Santa sent a letter in the mail and the next day Jolly showed up.

Polly said, "Hey I saw you making that!" (oops)

Macy said, "I bet the real Jolly is at the North Pole and he sent the doll down with a camera."

  

This girl knows Santa, North Poles, and elves on the shelves aren't real, yet she continues to pretend with conviction.  It's confusing.

The Second Post of Christmas

We stole a tradition  from my sisty, Annie.  "'Tis the Season" is what they do the first Monday of the Christmas season to kick off the holiday.

Ours included fancy-ish dinner, decorating the tree, a small present (Christmas pillowcases) and reading from Luke 2

The girls didn't know we were doing it, so they were super excited to see a candle-lit dinner and presents!

On the 1st Post of Christmas

I think I'll do the 12 Posts of Christmas again. 

12 Christmasy posts to maximize Christmas spirit.

I know you've been holding your breath.

Our Christmas list. 

Some things are repeats, some are new.

If we cross everything off it will be a Christmas miracle.

2011 Christmas list

Have a 'Tis the Season night

Watch Home Alone

Make Gingerbread men

Make Christmas pillowcases

Listen to Christmas music every day

Make these awesome houses into a Christmas village

Make homemade gifts for friends

Have dinner by the Christmas tree

Sleep under the Christmas tree (maybe the 23rd)

Send Christmas Cards

Make homemade peppermint marshmallows

Cover the front windows in paper snowflakes

Make gingerbread houses

Narcissist

I just heard Abe laughing and I found him at the computer desk.  He had managed to turn on the camera and he was laughing at this picture.

I hadn't seen it before.  It's the classic baby-in-dad's-boots.  

  If it doesn't make you smile then you are probably dead inside.  Or you don't love him quite as much as we do.  This could be very possible.  But hard to believe.  But possible.