did you have a merry little christmas?

It felt like Christmas was taking for.eve.r to get here, and then BOOM - it was two days before Christmas and I was completely unprepared.  I had the presents bought and wrapped, and the cookie dough chilling in the fridge, but I wasn't ready for something I had waited on for weeks to be upon me.  Because once the wrapping paper goes flying, Christmas is gone for another whole year.  Ugh, I'm so ridiculously nostalgic that it hurts my heart for Christmas to be over.  But I guess I get to relive it here, remembering how much fun we had!

Britton and her friend Lola made Christmas cookies.  We made sugar cookies, and also gingerbread cookies (from the recipe in the back of "Ninjabread Man," a kid's book!).  

Santa must have believed these kids when they swore they were good all year because he delivered!  Britton got the Shoppies Bride doll, a frog squishamal, a bucket of slime, and a scooter. Barrett got a remote control Rocky, My Little Ponies, and a go-kart.  Smiles all around!

It's getting to be more fun watching the kids open gifts than it is to focus on our own gifts!  But the hubs and I got some great things too, and even surprised each other with unique finds.

A view of us on Christmas morning, next to the Disney tree!  I hope you had a Merry Christmas too!

barrett: 67 months old

What a fun month December is shaping up to be!  Barrett had his last soccer game last weekend, and we celebrated with the team at Chuck E. Cheese.  The kids all got their trophies and team photos, and Barrett was so excited that he has been sleeping with his trophy in his bed every night!  

Tomorrow we are having breakfast at the school, then hitting up the bookstore and seeing Santa Clause.  The school puts on this Santa breakfast every year, and it's a great opportunity to avoid the mall for a Santa photo, plus I get to check out the goodies at the bookstore.  Barrett has his list ready and wants to bring his tooth fairy money to buy some books.  

Likes:  Rainbow Dash - he picked her out at Build-A-Bear at Thanksgiving!

 Dislikes:  not getting to open up his Christmas presents yet

112 months old

We had a great Thanksgiving!  The hubs' parents, and aunt and uncle, came over to eat, hang out and spin yarns.  Britton helped make the pies, and loved hanging out with us while we cooked dinner.  

Mostly, Britton loved having the entire week off of school!  She read a ton of books, slept in, rode her bike around the neighborhood, and went out with Memaw and PawPaw to the trampoline park and Build-A-Bear.  Britton just performed in her play in mid-November, so practices have stopped, but she has a piano recital coming up for Christmas.  Always something coming up, it seems!

Britton decorated the family tree this year - on her own!  She took out the ornaments, put hooks on, and decided where they would go.  Super Hero Barrett (yes, that's a tree skirt as a cape!) was her assistant.  

Likes:  apple cider, hot chocolate (even when it's hot outside), decorating for Christmas

Dislikes:  having to be patient, practicing piano