Santa Visit #2

Our Country Club does a fantastic dinner with Santa every year. It is chaos with all of the kids running around, but it is just such a wonderful night and one we look forward to every year.  I know this sounds so cheesy, but I just love it!

We had to take a few pictures before leaving the house...

I just feel like a little boy in a bowtie and a sport coat is too cute for words. 

We stopped for a picture on the stairs going into the club too...

We all arrived and Santa walked in jingling bells and singing a song.  The kids froze in their place-- the same as every other year-- and they were in awe staring at him. 

There were a few other little guys in blazers this year-- so so cute:

I am starting to see the end of the tunnel for the terrible twos-- we are still IN them, but I think I can see the end of the tunnel...maybe? He has been sweet to me lately and I am clinging to these sweet moments!

All the cousins were there and we had to try for a photo op.... Cal was SO happy-- can you tell??

There was quite a line to see Santa and the boys did such a great job waiting.  Cal actually held our place in line-- ha! He was standing with a group of about 5 boys and they were all so so good waiting! That is not easy for a bunch of boys to do!

Cal walked right up to Santa-- every time he is around Santa, he turns into this soft spoken, sweet little thing.  It is heart warming to say the least.  This time, he told Santa he wanted a race car track and a bike.  

Andy was pretty sure he wasn't going to have anything to do with Santa.  But then he spotted Santa's bells and he was hooked.  He wanted those bells.  Inch by inch he got closer and closer until he was holding the bells.  Then he warmed right up to the guy in red and was chatting his ear off.

Soooo.... on the way to school Wednesday morning, I said to Andy: "Andy, tonight when you see Santa, he is going to ask you what you want for Christmas. Do you know what you want?"
Andy replied: "yes. Boobies."

I have NO idea where this came from or why he said that to me-- I was kind of in shock! ha! I took a video and posted to instagram (of course).

Needless to say, I was more than a little worried when he saw Santa what he would say when Santa asked what he wanted.

He said, "I want BIG BIG.....big boy bike!"

PHEW.

After each kid had their individual turns with Santa, we attempted a cousin shot again-- I think it turned out pretty cute! Notice Andy made it to the lap-- he was getting more and more comfortable!

After dinner, I got a picture of Cal with his best buddy, Brad.  These two are so cute together-- I hope they always stay friends.  Brad just makes me so happy! Love his smile!

Speaking of smiles-- this was Cal on the way home! He was SO happy! He had the best time and kept saying how great of a night it was! Oh, one last thing so I won't forget-- when he was getting dressed and I put on the bow tie, he said, "it's like we are getting married, mommy!" and I wanted to cry.  These boys have me so wrapped around their little fingers!

And, finally, the instagram picture I posted with the caption: "Cal looking all angelic while Andy is trying to figure out how to steal Santa's bells...."

Loved getting to do this dinner again with such great friends!

 

The Grinch!

Last Saturday, my mom and I took Cal to see the Grinch at the DPAC. It was so cute and Cal loved it! We told him to keep himself from turning into the Grinch, he would need to shout "I LOVE CHRISTMAS" over and over again-- and he does! I love it!

After the show, they pump some fake snow out-- Cal was mesmerized by this!

We took a few quick pictures and then headed home.  

We have been watching the Grinch movie in my car every day and Cal has it memorized now.  He tells Andy: "he is going to try to steal Christmas, Andy, but it will happen anyway! Just wait!" annnnnnd, my heart melts!  Love this time of year :)

 

Oh, Christmas Tree

Normally we get our tree the Sunday after Thanksgiving-- since we were still in Texas, we weren't able to get it until the following weekend.  We got up on Saturday morning and headed to the tree lot.  Cal and I were going to see the Grinch at 10, so we had to get there and get the tree. 

It was COLD-- finally! It's been so mild here-- it was nice to get a Christmas tree and have it feel like Christmas!

Standing in front of the winning tree! Eddie picked it out this year-- and we all loved it!

They put the tree on a huge tree shaker thing to get off all of the excess needles-- this terrified the boys.  I loved having both of them snuggle on me while watching their tree.  They make me so happy.

After the Grinch, Eddie and I put the tree up-- this is when Eddie started saying (over and over and over again) "this tree is too big. this is in sane.  this tree is ridiculous.  i can't believe we got a tree this size.  this is in sane."

Now.  Scroll on up just a smidge to see who picked out the tree.  I rest my case.  

We trimmed off some of the bottom branches and got to decorating...

I love our tree and think it's pretty perfect!

 Now it feels-- and smells!-- like Christmas in our house!!!

 

Family Christmas Card Pictures

Every year, my family works their schedules around each other to find a spare 10 minutes to take our family Christmas Card picture! It isn't easy finding these 10 minutes with everyone traveling, working, having extra activities, etc, but I am so so glad we do.  I love these family pictures!

Trying to get everyone still, looking at the camera AND smiling....it's darn near impossible! 

In between the group shots, we did individual family shots, just for fun... my guys were FULL of energy!

And the winning family shot!

All of the kids climbed in the back of my mom's car and were having the best time back there- haha!

That night when we got home, Andy said "take-a me pick-cha in mah big boy bed!" So I did.  He was so happy! haha!

Merry Merry!

 

Santa Visit #1

We have had the chance to visit Santa multiple times this season!

The first visit was the day after we got home from Texas. The SECU Family House held a gingerbread house building party for the kids with a special visit from Santa.  This Santa was awesome!

The boys started off making their houses.  I looked away to get more candy and when I looked back, people were laughing and pointing my direction.  Turns out Andy would rather eat the house....

My boys were quick to finish their houses (Cal decorating, Andy eating) and they were ready when Santa arrived.  I love Cal's wonderment here.   He wouldn't take his eyes off of the big guy.

He happily sat on Santa's lap and talked to him for a while.  He was SO excited it was really Santa...

Andy was a bit more apprehensive.  He wouldn't leave my lap or let go of my hand.  He was staring and intrigued by Santa, but he wanted nothing to do with him. 

The Santa was a good one though, and didn't give up-- he soon got Andy to give him a high 5:

...and then a hand shake...

And then Santa told Andy to look at me and Santa squatted down behind him! It was perfect!

We got Cal in the picture and we were set:

 Minus the juice box!

It was such a fun way to start the holiday season!!!

Cal wasn't sure what to ask for so he copied the big kid in front of him asking for a skate board (grrrrr) and Andy asked for a pink car.  Seriously?


 

Subbing in the 2 year old room

What feels like forever ago, I got a text at 4am from Andy's teacher asking me to sub for her the following day.  Her son was sick and she wouldn't be able to come in.  Andy had had a REALLY rough week-- like, I was counting down the seconds until he got to go to school because momma needed a break from his little terrible two self.... BUT, I really love this teacher and I remember the panic of being a teacher and needing to find a sub-- I couldn't imagine needing to find a sub so I could be with a sick baby....!

So, I subbed.  And I loved it.  I loved every minute of being in the classroom with these little people. 

It was fun getting to see Andy in this environment with his little classmates.  These kiddos were great!!