Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New year folks! 

We had a fabulous 2011 Christmas with lots of family and friends... 

We did not have a family photo made this year nor did we send out cards :( 

Bad me! 

But we did get yet another cutie pie pic of the kid with Santa. 

He loves that guy! 

After spending almost a week visiting family in both Western PA and NE Tennessee... 

we returned home to see what Santa had left for our boy!

He left a note for Santa, ONE cookie, and a bit of water. 

I suggested milk but nope, water was definitely what Santa wanted according to Abram!

He insisted on wearing his reindeer jam-jams to bed and couldn't wait till morning...

He ensured his manger scene was setup just how he wanted before he tromped off to bed. We've been talking more about the baby Jesus this season and he's having a hard time grasping it.

I took him to a birthday party for Jesus with the mom's church through our church.

He kept asking "Is Jesus coming??" I explained I doubt he would, he was busy in heaven, with God.

"He's not coming to his own birthday party?!"

Well No and I was pondering a deeper explanation when Abram said -

"Well how am I supposed to ask him if I can have some cake?!"
It was really all about the cake ha:) 

Isn't that manger scene just precious? I kept it on the bottom shelf of a cabinet so he could play with it and rearrange it daily - and he did! 

Santa wrapped some of his presents - and some others he had sitting out, ones that appeared to be too much trouble to wrap - 

We ended up taking more video with our flip video camera on christmas morning - so that meant way less pictures! But it was an awesome morning full of excitement and joy and surprise:) 

He adored every little present he got from Santa! Especially Buzz:) 

I even made some homemade sticky buns using canned biscuits - and they were G.O.O.D. I think thats going to be a tradition, those there sticky buns - yumo! 

Sharing & Spitting

Before Nap, we read "What's Fair is Fair" featuring Piggy and Kermit. 

The book ends with some questions I ask the kid: 

Me: Have you ever shared something that was important to you? 

Kid: No! shaking his head... 

Me: How did it make you feel? okay, not applicable. 

Me: Do you like it when your friends share with you? 

Kid: Nodding, Oh yes! 

Me; Why do you think it's important to share? 

Kid: So people can play with stuff!

Kid: But really mommy, you shouldn't spit. 

Me: Um, true. You shouldn't. 

Kid: Yea, you shouldn't spit. on people, or walls, or the floor, or on lights. or even on Christmas trees

Me: Very good point. You haven't been spitting have you? 

Kid: No! No! 

Me; Never?? 

Kid: nope. Never. 

Santa Comes Thru

Each year Santa comes to our neighborhood. 

On a fire truck!

and the fire truck runs its siren as it goes through every street in the township. 

All morning. 

And it just so happens to always be on a morning when I'm trying to sleep in. 

Lovely. 

It happened last year. 

And whadda ya know?

Again this year. 

I'm a lucky gal what can I say? 

But the kid loves it... 

and waits for him in his Jammies each year! 

Santa greets each boy and girl on the street and hands out Candy Cans. 

Not Candy Canes. 

Candy Cans, per Abram:) 

I took him to a parade later that day. 

That was 45 minutes late starting. And it was 22 degrees. 

We left early and I didn't have one bit of guilt over it either!

Honestly, how many times does he need to see Santa! 

Finally - Our Tree!

Last year, we spent the day on a christmas tree farm getting the tree, riding a horse and sleigh, cutting our own tree down, blah blah blah. 

It was fun. And incredibly cold. And long. 

This year - we had our tree on the car in about 20 minutes. 

And in the house another 20 minutes later. 

Sometimes the simple really is better. 

Way better. 

Some special ornaments this year: 

the kid's disney ornament from my mom and dad... 

And the ornament from our first Christmas together as a married couple - 10 years ago:) 

Husband often claims I am not festive - or I am Bah Hum Bug. 

Which is just not true.

I just don't like to put up Christmas decorations. 

That doesn't mean I don't have the Christmas spirit folks! 

I shop. I wrap. I'm happy. I play Christmas Music! 

What more do we need? 

We'll apparently a tree. and lights. Decorations. and a whole slew of other things I just don't know about. 

So for our tree decorating night - I insisted we play Christmas music, drink egg nog, and roast Chestnuts. 

Festive right? Very Christmas-spiritish of me I thought!

The egg nog was awesome. The music good. and the chestnuts Gross. 

Who really bothers roasting those things on an open fire? 

Quick Weekend Trip

We took a quick weekend get away to Western PA this weekend. 

So Husband could watch this: 

For some reason, seeing it in person, live, is just way better than TV. 

And so the Kid could do this: 

Pointing out a few Christmas Wishes to his Memaw!

Now - I'm Hoping to get the tree up very soon! 

And then there were 4!

Picture Made on Oct 1, 2011: 

 Picture Made on Nov 24, 2011: 

Picture Made on Dec 1, 2011: 

The night we told Abram I was pregnant, he was so excited! grinning, clapping, and laughing. 

The next morning: "Well?!?! Where is it??!" he asked. 

He told me yesterday: 

"I will read the baby books. but only one I know because I don't know how to read. And I'll talk to the Baby but the baby will just say "bah bah bah" to me. Cause thats what babies do." 

He's holding strong for a boy but when his teacher asked him at school if it was a boy or girl he said: 

We don't know yet but really - God decides. and gave a big sigh like 'oh great' lol...