A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS & DECEMBER!

Our December was so exciting! We went to several parties and actually saw Santa four times. I don't know if we will be able to see Santa so many times next year. I was waiting for Jack or Annie to say, "Why Santa look different today?"


Christmas lunch with Gigi and Aunt Bee



We went to The McInturf Christmas in the Park. It was 20 degrees outside but we had a lot of fun. We took a horse and carriage ride through Story Book Lane(or Humpty Dumpty road, as Annie calls it), rode the rides, took pictures with Santa, watched ice carving, saw a real reindeer, and camel, sang Christmas carols, and iced cookies. Annie loved taking a pony ride. She had to pick a pony that looked like her horse, Nanny. She sat up so straight and tall.

Jack's smile was priceless riding the cars. He couldn't believe the rides were open in the winter. He grinned so big the whole ride.

Cousin Briko was making sure there wasn't any trouble in the park.

Jack and Annie try on reindeer antlers.

Christmas Eve- acting silly and ready for Santa

You might notice our advent calendar is empty. There was a present in each pocket. Each day Jack or Annie got a present. I had to take all of the presents off and put them on top of the fridge because the partners in crime got a stool and started unwrapping all of the presents. It was just too hard to wait for their turn AND all of those presents were just hanging there in plain sight. I was always amazed going to friends' houses and seeing presents under the tree before Christmas Day. They would have been unwrapped for sure in our house.

Santa Tom told Jack he had a orange concrete crusher for him. Jack's eyes were as big as saucers. Santa Tom also told Jack it was time to go on the potty. We are still working on that!! Any suggestions???

Jack told Santa Doc all about an orange concrete crusher.

Annie wasn't sure about Santa. She told us she wouldn't sit on his lap but quickly did after she watched Jack.

Annie's favorite present was a pack of paper plates. Yep, just white styrofoam paper plates. She jumped up and down and said thank you. She wanted them opened to put right in her kitchen. Barbie dolls were ignored and yes that is her blue tractor in the background.

Jack's favorite was his square hay baler. We promised him a John Deere green round hay baler when he goes on the potty. It was so hard not to give it to him on Christmas. He knows he gets the round baler if he goes on the potty but that doesn't seem to be enough!!!!

Jack waits patiently while Grandpa Bob opens up the corn grinder.

The orange concrete crusher-yeah!!!!! We couldn't find an orange one so I covered it with orange duct tape.

And . . . who needs toys when you have a good box!

The tractor and manure spreader were decorated in our front yard.

Annie acts silly on Cousin Briko's 30th birthday surprise on New Year's Eve!

Looking forward to our next holiday- Valentine's Day but not before Annie's Birthday. She talks about her birthday everyday. She asks everyone, "You comin to my birthday party, February 10?"