Merry Christmas.

These were the treats that were left for Santa, Annie and Elfie (our two elfs that came to visit through the month of December). 

You can barely see it, but there is also a key there.  See, we have no fireplace, but we have an ornament that has this little poem attached:

Our stockings hang upon a wall. 

We have no fireplace at all!

You see the problem is quite clear.

Santa, how will you get in here?

We heard a legend.  Is it true?

Of magic only you can do.

We'll leave out this special key,

and mark it "Santa" so you can see. 

Your magic makes the key fit right,

so you can get inside that night.

Thank you Santa, here's our key.

The milk and cookies are on me!

Well, they must have been Nice!  Santa came and left quite the stash of loot!  This is the scene when the kidlets arose!

Here's Allie's

  and Max's

They were pretty happy with all their loot.  It took Momma at least 30 minutes to get all the packaging off, but it was worth it!

Visiting the man in the red suit

Well with Birthday and Christmas celebrations in abundance we nearly missed going to see Santa. Allie probably would have been happier if we did. She did not like Santa at all. Max has always loved Santa so he was excited. The mall here has a great display for kids. There is a giant mailbox and when you put your letter in snow puffs out, there is a naughty/ nice meter to let you know what Santa thinks, and it snows every few minutes. So neat!

Max could have sat and talked with Santa forever.  Momma was anxious because of the long line waiting and watching, but Santa didn't seem to mind.  I asked Max what he told Santa he wanted and he said he wanted "all the toys in the book".  Santa asked, "Even the girl toys?"  "No, Silly Santa"

This was a much happier Allie after she pouted through getting her picture taken!  She kept taking her hand off the candy cane and it looked like she was smoking it.  It was hilarious, everytime I tried to get her picture, she would put her hand back up.

Celebrating with the Chicagoans

Well, once Grammie and Pop and Auntie and Ella got here we of course had more celebrating to do. This is where it gets a little crazy because there are birthday and Christmas celebrations happening all at once.  We tried to keep the birthday special by doing that one day and Christmas a different day, but at this age, I'm not sure it really even mattered.

Somehow I missed getting a picture of the adorable kitchen set Grammie and Pop got, but all the kids had fun playing with it and digging through the bucket of food. 
It was so fun seeing the three grandkids play together.  Especially the little girls.  They just love each other so much and it was so fun to see the "girlfriends" get excited to see each other.  Every time one of them got up from their nap or up in the morning they wanted to go see where the other was.  It was so funny.

There was never a dull moment!  Grammie and Max even managed to make a gingerbread house!



More Birthday Celebration

Isn't it fun how when you're 4 your birthday doesn't seem to end.  For Max it was like a month of Birthdays.  Except, when it's over, it's over and then we have a 4 year old that wants toys every day until next December. 

On his birthday we went to dinner at Brooms Blooms.  For friends and family that aren't local, this is a farm that makes and sells their own ice cream and they also have a lunch and dinner menu.  We love everything there.  They also have a train display at Christmas time so it was just the perfect spot for the birthday boy's dinner. 

Everytime anyone asked Max what he was doing for his birthday he would tell them he was going bowling.  We aren't quite sure where he got this idea from, but Grammie and Pop felt they couldn't deny the kid bowling.  So that's just what we did.  A couple of his friends came with us and we had a great time.

Four Year Old!

I can't believe it!  We have a 4 year old!  For the past couple weeks he has really been focused on being a "big boy".  As excited as I am to see him growing up and experiencing new things, I really just want him to stop.  I want him to stay little and always be my best bud! 

He is such a great big brother and loves Allie so much and she loves him. She gets so excited when she hears him coming.  I think sometimes she will jump off the changing table while I'm changing her because she's so excited he's coming.  She also gets really upset if he doesn't come, sometimes I have to call him in to come talk to her just so she'll stop crying.  She loves being around him.  I hope that lasts, although I'm not that naive.  I just want them to be friends and watch out for each other. 

We are going out to dinner tonight to Brooms Blooms.  Max loves their icecream and they have a train display set up right now for Christmas, so perfect for a 4 year olds birthday!  Tomorrow we are going bowling and his friend Landon is coming.  He is so excited he can hardly stand it!  He has told everyone he is going tomorrow for his birthday! 

He did get to open a few small things this morning before preschool.  He was really very excited.  OH!  And this 4 year old loves Mater!  (Check out the slippers)

Happy Birthday Buddy!  We love you!