Oh Christmas Tree

Brad LOVES having the Christmas tree up for as long as possible.  So every year after Halloween he starts saying that we should put up the tree.  The tradition in my family has always been to put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving.  This year I gave in and we put up the tree the Monday before Thanksgiving.  I wanted to put it up after the kids went to bed, but Brad wanted to have the kids help.  Brad is such a great dad!  I'm glad that I listened to Brad because the kids had so much fun helping with the tree.  Aleah was so excited after the tree was up.  The next night my parents came over and Aleah had to show them her tree.  She even ran over and gave the tree a hug!

We didn't have time to do the decorations after we put up the tree.  So about a week later we put the ornaments on.  Aleah really did a good job.  She was very careful.  After she got an ornament on the tree she would clap and say, "Oh pretty!"

Cade liked to take the ornaments off the tree.  Which wasn't a problem because Aleah would put them back on.

Our tree is so beautiful!  Every time I look at it I think about the two cute kids that I have been blessed with who help put up the tree and decorate it!

Santa, Ho Ho Ho!

We had our annual Santa party on Sunday Dec. 5th with everyone on my Dad's side of the family.  We met at my Grandma's house and had some dinner.  I brought a very yummy cheese ball and crackers.  Then we all gathered in the great room to sing some songs while we waited for Santa to arrive.  As we were singing the kids started dancing.  It was cute.

 When Santa arrived both of my kids did really well.  Neither of them cried, but they didn't let him out of their sight!  Aleah was fine sitting on Santa's lap and Cade did good for a minute, but then he started crying.  Maybe it was because Aleah got a candy cane and he didn't!

When Santa asked Aleah what she wanted for Christmas she just stared at him.  The next day she couldn't stop talking about Santa.  And she had to keep telling me about the lip gloss that was, "From Santa!"

I have told you in the past that Aleah is not a very huggy girl.  This picture pretty much says it all!

Cade was happy to sit on Mrs. Claws' lap where he could keep an eye on Santa.  Plus she gave him a candy cane.  She was the winner.  I wasn't too worried about him having a candy cane because it was covered in plastic.  Well, this boy is always surprising me.  He gnawed a hole in it with his one tooth!

He had fun sharing his candy cane with his Grandma Great!

He really loved his candy cane!

At the end we took a family picture.  This is most of the family.  There were only a few families that couldn't make it to the party.  I sure love my family!  It is always fun to get together and visit.  I wish that I could see my cousins more often, but I am thankful that my Grandma still has her Santa party so that we can get together once a year!

What's missing?

Can you see what's missing from this nativity scene?

Aleah helped me set up our new nativity scene.  As she took each piece out of the box I told her what or who it was.  After telling her that the baby was Baby Jesus she said, "Oh wow, Baby Jesus!"  Then she had to play with Him and the manger for most of the day.  Baby Jesus had story time, she rocked Him in her rocking chair, she gave Him a nap... He was her favorite toy.

It reminded me of my parents' nativity scene.  Baby Jesus was so cute.  I always wanted to be the one to put Him in the manger!

Her love for Jesus is so sweet.  I hope that it continues throughout  her life!