carolers?

Twas the night before christmas and all through the hood
Not a creature was stirring except for this brood


Late night carolers- We love these guys!

Polar Express

Tonight we all took a ride on the Polar Express. We loved it (the best part...the fact that we didn't have to pay for it-thanks dad!)

It will be a sweet memory for the kids as well as the adults. We ate cookies and sipped hot cocoa.

We sang songs and each kiddie got a bell from Santa.

But I have to say, my favorite part was when the Host of our box car began telling jokes while stalling for Santa. However, it wasn't his jokes I liked but the audience participation part because the next thing I know Kirsten is walking up to him, grabbing the microphone and rattling off this one:

What do you call a pig who knows karate? A pork chop!

And then she walked back to her seat with a huge smile on her face. She killed it- everyone loved her joke and we loved that she did it without being coerced or bribed! That was AWESOME!

1 2 3 4

Ok, so maybe I fell asleep while nursing Sophia and Lilly was watching Sesame Street, and just maybe I was awakened by this FABULOUS piece.
I LOVE SESAME STREET! It makes me giggle every time like I am 4 again.

traditions

When I was single I dreamt of the holiday traditions I would instill in the hearts and lives of my beloved children.

Little did I know that I would marry a man with 2 children who already had a few traditions of their own . . . and not necessarily ones I had ever thought of having

But as luck (their way) would have it, we have held on to their traditions while trying to work in a few of my own

The blending has gone well..very well but I will say, there is one tradition that up until I married Jim, I had never even considered let alone ever known a single living soul within my social circle or familial realm who participated in:



Yup, pictures with Santa at the mall. Don't get me wrong, as a kid I always envied the other kids who's kind and loving parents would let them get pictures with Santa or the Easter Bunny. I was convinced that they loved their kids more than my parents loved me. (uh the verdicts still out on that one) My dad would say "I'm no sucker. If you think I am going to stand in that long line and pay those ridiculous prices, You've got another think comin. Besides, those things are for suckers and they aren't even real!" (It's actually the same line he used for everything- like at the county fair when we begged to play a game so we could win a stuffed animal. )

At first I was ashamed to tell anyone of it- but this year I realized something: I love this tradition.

We get somewhat dressed up and stand in a ridiculously long line with all of the other suckers and kids in tow only to have a 45 second sitting with a Santa who's demeanor makes Keith Oberman look like a saint (he's not very Jolly for a fat guy!) and then we're shuffled off to buffalo as they hand the kiddies a mini candy cane and a crappy 8 page cartoon paper booked titled: Arlee's Christmas Wish. (what the?!) and then they let the suckers (parents) chose the best of 3 photos for a 5x7 print and a 4 wallets all for the meager price of $20.00. (pretty sure a kick in the crotch would cost less and there would be no long lines huh?!)

This tradition has been around since Anna was a baby and we now have 12 frames with photos of the girls and Santa. It's really cool to look back and see pics of them and how they have grown. I look forward to more years of santa pics and watching my little family grow.


Tonight I was reminded again of just how great God is and how my prayers were heard and answered. I am finally a mom, I love my life and I love wacky Christmas pictures.

My Dad

My dad's the smartest guy
and my dad's the bravest guy,
my dad's the neatest guy it's positively so...

Maybe I'll introduce ya-
cuz then you'll know that it's the truth

Cuz my dad, my dad's the greatest guy you'll know!

Thanks for your help today dad! I love you four and a half and a piggy!