Gearing up for Christmas

I always have big plans for our family for the days before Christmas.  There's so much to do to soak up the season and spend time with the family.  I always seem to run out of time or energy or both.  Despite not starting my Christmas shopping until the 16th of December, we managed to squeeze in some good stuff too like sipping hot cocoa with marshmallows, watching Christmas movies, Advent crafts, decorating the house together, Preschool Christmas programs, shopping for the Angel tree kids, crazy elf on the shelf shenanigans, and visiting Santa.


I thought for sure that Annabelle was going to be happy to see Santa this year.  I thought she might be confused and call him Papa after our Christmas card session where Papa dressed up as Santa.  Annabelle kept saying "Aw, tute (cute) Papa!" But she wasn't fond of this Santa.

The Christmas Card picture mentioned above...Norman Rockwell inspired.

Buddy, our elf, zip lining through the house Watching the Mickey Mouse Christmas special for the hundredth time this year. This is the new ornament this year. Cody and I picked it up as a memento of Holland while we were there in April.

Annabelle had her first preschool Christmas Program this year.  Her class shook bells to Jingle Bells.  So cute!  It's always so hard to watch your child on stage looking a little scared when they can't find your face in the crowd.


Then, there's that special moment for a parent that happens during these things...Out of all the warm adoring eyes in the crowd, her eyes find yours, and she smiles and relaxes...



...then she runs so fast off the stage to give you a hug you don't have time to adjust your camera settings!