Ho Ho Ho Santa - 2011

Merry Christmas To All

The holiday season is officially upon us. I guess it has been for awhile- I heard my first Christmas song right after Halloween. In any case, we are all in the holiday spirit. The kids love waking up and opening the advent calendar each morning, I love seeing the lights on the outside of the house each night and sitting in front of the Christmas tree each evening.  I sing along happily to all of the music on the radio and even heard my favorite, Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". Between that and having the Starbucks red holiday cups I am in heaven. Small pleasures... 

We went back to our old tradition of getting our tree from Home Depot- after the tree we got last year (at a local neighborhood farm) died within days of getting it. Decorating the tree was highly anticipated by the kids. They love the traditional "snacky dinner" (including such healthy items as salami and cheese, mini tacos, pigs in a blanket, and bagel pizzas) plus they love how Brian sits on the couch with the bins of ornaments and takes out each one and hands them to the kids. We talk about where each one came from, which are our favorites, etc... This year we listened to the new Michael Buble Christmas CD while we decorated. The tree looks beautiful! 

Jake was up for angel duty this year. The first year he
 did it on his own without being lifted up.

Yesterday was the annual Hidden Springs Holiday Party at the barn. The kids- especially Faith- were very excited to see Santa. Once we got there, though, Jake told me he was getting too old to sit in Santa's lap and asked if he "had to". I said, no, but Brian made him stand next to him at least for the photo.  Faith didn't cry (first time ever!) and although Tanner wasn't completely at ease, he also didn't burst into tears upon seeing Santa walk into the barn. They all LOVED the gifts that Santa brought. Faith got a Zooble that then came with us everywhere for the rest of the day (and had to be rescued after being left behind at Joe's Crab Shack) and the boys got NFL knit caps. Jake swore he would never take his off- not even to sleep. 

Tuesday we are both taking the day off work to go Christmas shopping. We leave at 830 AM and will be gone most of the day to shop, eat lunch, have a coffee/diet coke break, and just generally take in the festive atmosphere of Boise. We did this the last two years and it really helps make the holiday relaxing and fun and allows us to avoid shopping on any weekends!  The boys are hard to buy for this year. All they have on their list is NFL gear and a trampoline. We'd like to do the trampoline but since we are moving it doesn't make a lot of sense to get one now and then move it in May. Not sure what we will get for them. Faith is easier- she basically wants anything that is an animal- stuffed, plastic, electronic, or other. She wants zoobles and littlest pet shop and build a bear puppy, and Furreal Puppy and... you get the idea! 

No tears for the first time EVER!

Like our Thanksgiving, Christmas will be very low key. My Dad will be here and I will cook and bake but nothing fancy and no extra guests- just the six of us. The boys are signed up to do Y Sports Camp during their time off school, and an indoor football camp the week between Christmas and New Years.