Fa la la la la la la la la!

It's no wonder my dad has insisted all these years for us to ALWAYS come home for Christmas-and why he is ALWAYS so giddy about it. Having a now "big boy" Jack and little Isla has made Christmas the best ever. It was so exciting to decorate cookies for Santa and leave them out along with a love letter-and to read A Pirate's Night Before Christmas the night before Christmas. It was so fun to say things like, "did you hear that?!" and to watch his face light up with excitement! Christmas morning I listened for Jack to get out of bed and discover that Santa had checked on him during the night, leaving behind a candy cane hanging on the doorknob. "OH BOY" was his reaction as he quickly tore into it. He rushed to our room with it hanging from his mouth screaming, "Santa's here!" The only look of disappointment during the day was once we came down the stairs and there was no sign that Santa had stuck around to say "Hi." Instead of dwelling on it, we quickly gave Jack his stocking and the M&Ms, Slinky and Dora toothbrush made him forget all about it. The rest of the day was full of wrapping paper, yummy food (wooden and real), A Christmas Story and napping. What is wasn't full of was studying for the Boards-thanks Adam-It was a GREAT day.

So the Advent Tree has been a great success! We've cut, glued, glittered and baked our way to Christmas-and with less than a week to go all we have left are holiday stories, visits and A LOT of wrapping for mom & dad. I am still planning the Christmas menu and can't decided between ham or prime rib. I am tempted to go completely off tradition and make a special pasta since I have been working my way through Giada's Family Dinners. Jack's vote is for marshmallow snowmen. A tradition from my own childhood that I plan on reinstating, though tweeking a bit, is crab for Christmas Eve dinner. When I was little, we ALWAYS spent Christmas Eve at my Grandma Claire's with TONS of cracked crab. I remember those dinners fondly, and would not mind carrying it over exactly the same, BUT Adam thinks cracking crab is, "too much work for what you get," and since his hands are getting a workout in school-I guess I can cut him a break. We will have crab cakes instead.
I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and if I don't make it back-a wonderful New Year!

PS
Jack DID get a haircut. It was an ugly sight and I fear he will NEVER allow his head to be touched again. He misses his, "tall hair," and I have to say, I think it looked better than what we left the salon with. I am slowly and carefully working on cleaning it up while he sleeps.

Arrrrr! Merry Christmas Matey!

Since we are long done with decorating the house, Jack decided to spread holiday cheer to his pirates. We think their tree house looks great and the, "Pirates are so happy waiting for Santa Claus." -Jack.

Santa's Lap

We have NOT been able to get Jack to sit with Santa since he was a wee one. This is the ONLY time he did it and I'm hoping this is not the trend with my kids-though I know better. I think they look SO MUCH alike in these pictures! I am having a hard time believing that Jack's pic with Santa was taken two years ago and that Isla is already 8 months old (and that it's Christmas again)! We are busy decking the halls, singing carols and sipping hot cocoa. Jack is loving every minute of it (except the attempts at getting him to visit Santa) and I am loving watching my kids develop the same excitement I have for the Holidays. This season is a bit bitter sweet though-I am excited to be spending it in my own home with my own family, but miss the holiday traditions back home. This will be my FIRST Christmas completely on my own-no visits to the parent's house, no trips touring Woodland for the PERFECT tree for the big house and no getting conned into wrapping Christmas presents. I miss you guys and wish you the BEST OF LUCK!

DIY Advent

My first Christmas project of the season-turning an old Hallmark advent calendar into something new and decorative. Years ago my grandma gave me a really neat advent calendar. For everyday it has a fun and festive holiday task to do; learn the names of Santa’s reindeer, make a yummy holiday treat to enjoy, make a snowman out of marshmallows, cut paper snowflakes to hang in windows, etc. It is one of the card style advents, meant to be thrown out at the end of the year. I however, have hung onto to that thing FOR YEARS. I always knew it would be a fun one to have once we had kids. Well, now that Jack is two he is REALLY into Christmas (and is starting to recognize numbers) so we are having fun searching and pulling the numbers from the “tree” and doing whatever fun thing it tells him to do to help get into the Holiday spirit.

I found a tag template online, bought card stock and ribbon from Michael's and "recycled" branches used in my Fall decorations. Easy peasy.