Cookies for Santa

Today the boys and I made cookies for Santa. They are all great cooks and enjoyed rolling out the dough, using the cookie cutters, and making the frosting. They loved every part of baking and decorating the cookies. Their favorite part was...

Being the taste testers. I had to send each of them several times to rewash their hands because I caught them with their fingers in their mouths again and again (Santa is one lucky guy).

Good job boys the cookies turned out great. Now, maybe Santa will leave something under the tree for you.

The Grinch

Every year at Christmas time we get a visit from the Grinch. When it first started happening the boys would get scared and cry, now they look forward to it and talk about it all year long. The Grinch is great! He does things like take the boys' gifts from under the tree and pretends to steal them, drops candy on the floor and waits for one of them to pick it up then kicks them while they are bent over, and then gives them a great treat bag complete with stink bombs for the boys to use at their discretion (thanks Grinch).

This has become a great tradition that will make some wonderful memories.

Justin's friend, Joe, is the Grinch. Thanks Joe for being so willing to come every year, we love it.

Trevor and Danny's Christmas Program

It doesn't matter how many Christmas programs I have been to, I love to watch them all. I love listen to the songs and watch them sing them. I get tears in my eyes every year for some crazy reason. This year they did great, we were so proud of them!

Christmas Tag

Rachel tagged me...so here goes.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for sure, I think it looks better under the tree and snooping eyes can't see what is inside.
2. Real or artificial tree? Artificial all the way. It took me 8 years to finally convince Justin, and I am never going back.
3. When do you put up the tree? As soon after Thanksgiving as I can convince Justin. This year the day after, he is getting easier to sweet talk every year.
4. When do you take the tree down? I am usually ready for it to be put away by the day after Christmas, but it is definitely done by New Years Eve.
5. Do you like eggnog? Heck yes, and I am with Rachel -give it to me straight.
6. Your favorite Christmas gift as a child? I think I was 14 and I got the Robin Hood Prince of Thieves video, I loved that movie and it was my first movie of which I am an avid collector. I currently have the movie on DVD and still have the video I got when I was 14.
7. The hardest person to buy for? Anybody in Justin's family, I always feel like they are going to hate what I get and I am nervous about giving it to them all of Christmas.
8. The easiest person to buy for? Danny, I love to watch him open anything because he gets so excited and he appreciates everything.
9. Do you have a Nativity Scene? Yes, the Willow Tree one, it is beautiful, I would display it all year if I could.
10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? What?
11. What is the worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of anything.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? The Christmas Story.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I always have good intentions, I start thinking about it in August but I never start until much after that. This year I started last Week. Every year for our anniversary on the 18th we do the bulk of it. What a romantic way to spend our anniversary!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can remember.
15. Favorite thing to drink at Christmas? Eggnog.
16. Lights on the Tree? Yes, white.
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night by just about anybody.
18. Travel Christmas or stay home? I would rather stay home, be cozy, and watch the boys enjoy their new toys.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I tried tonight while singing Rudolf with Preston but I think I said Donnor twice.
20. Angel or star on the tree? Angel.
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas? I have been trying for our entire marriage to get Justin to let us open one gift on Christmas Eve, even if it is just the pajamas, but he will not budge so we open gifts on Christmas.
22. The most annoying thing about this time of year? The tacky blow-up Christmas decorations people insist on putting on their lawn every year.
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? All I want is this semester to be over and to have time to just be a wife and mother even if it is for 3 short weeks. I can hardly wait.
We would like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas!

Take My Picture

This morning after Preston was finished getting ready for school, he must have thought that he looked pretty good because he asked if I would take his picture. I set him up next to the Christmas tree, he smiled his handsomest smile, and I took the picture. When I was finished he said, "Now put that on the computer." I assumed he meant that I should blog the picture. So, with out further ado, here is Preston!

Festival of Trees

The boys visiting with the Talking Tree

Danny is showing off the tree his class decorated

Trevor (the Punk) thinks he is to old and cool

to talk to Santa

Preston wants a Handy Manny

Danny wants an X-Box 360. (That is a dream, you

keep on asking Santa and say a few prayers and it might happen.

NOT! )

Working at the hospital does have some perks. Every year the hospital sponsors the Festival of Trees and hosts a reception for the employees and their families. We love to go. The kids get to see Santa, we get to see some beautiful trees and of course the food (our favorite). The festival is a fun way to start the Christmas season.