The Holiday Season

I love that we have been able to have such a good time getting ready for Christmas. We have spent time reading Christmas stories, baking, watching Christmas movies together, and really enjoying Christmas music. We've watched several versions of the Christmas Story. Natalie was excited to watch the movie about "the old man who learned the true meaning of Chrsitmas." She thought it would be funny since it was animated, but the ghoasts were a little intense for her and we had to pause it often to break the mood- otherwise she would just hide her face. It gave us a good chance to explain the english dialogue and hear what she thought of what was happening. It turned out to be a great experience. I think they enjoyed watching the Fraggle Rock version of it the best though, not so scary:) I guess that movie will be one of the things I remember a lot from this Christmas.

This is Natalie & Stephen baking a special surprise to leave for Daddy on one of the nights he worked late. They were yummy coconut macaroons and were fun and easy to make. Natalie also discovered or remembered that she LOVES coconut like her Daddy.
I love their cooperation.
Such a Natalie picture.

We also enjoyed cracking some real Christmas nuts. I knew Natalie and Stephen would enjoy that.
Yum!
A snowman garland.
Showing off their hardwork.

We have passed up on a few parties and events this year and it has been kind of nice, a slower pace. This was one party we did go to. It was for David's work and was at the American Airlines Flight museum. They loved touring this little plane, they are both into planes because of David.
Of course a Christmas party isn't complete without Santa.
Later Natalie told us this wasn't even Santa's helper, this was just a person in a Santa costume. She knew that because he had brown shoes covered by little flaps just like a costume has. Oh and his face did not look like Santa. Cracked us up. That's why she didn't tell him what she wanted to Christmas, "a pretend Santa can't bring you presents" afterall.


So the next day we went to find one of Santa's 'real helpers.'


He was a little concerened about this racoon, one cute thing he did is bend down and shake his little paw.
A reindeer carousel.
Haha, I love this boy of mine. He is the best.




More Baking--we didn't get enough gingerbread so we made more. We had fun breaking out our sparkly frosting too. I think these are some pretty unique looking gingerbread men:)


My Arizona Wildcat version of a gingerbread man.





Kissing the reindeer. This boy loves to kiss EVERYTHING!!

TA DA!!! Look at all our projects!!

Natalie & Daddy's special nutcracker.

I love this shot of her painting shirt, this is an accumulation of paint since she was two.

Even Daddy painted with us. We all made a sleds this year, and they turned out so cute.

Gingerbread Houses with Make A Wish and Pappa Bros Steakhouse-

this was one of the most fun things we have done this year. My kids LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this!!

They looked so cute together in their little chef outfits. The Colonel would not keep his on after he took this picture, but Natalie loved wearing hers.

Stephen was SO into making his gingerbread house, it kept his attention for a LONG time and he kept adding to it.

Natalie could've kept working on her house all day I think. She was just about the last person to stop working. She was so enthralled in building that she never even noticed several of her friends that were there.

She was so precise and had a complete plan of what she wanted to do. She really enjoyed working with this volunteer that was there to help. He seemed to really enjoy working with Natalie and loved that she was SO into it. He is the one who lifted her up on the bar where she watched the entire gingerbread presentation from.

Her face when she saw Santa.