Ahh, pure joy!

I LOVE this time of year! The smells, sights, sounds - perfect. I have to say that this year has been even more magical than years past, because Addie is REALLY getting into the Christmas season (admittedly, she is excited about the impending gifts, but we're working on the true meaning :)).

We started decorating on Black Friday and got our tree the first weekend of December. It is my year for the tree, and I decided to do something a little different and got a Douglas fir. I am actually trying to convince John Michael that we need to get this same kind every year because it kinda looks like a cross between a Cedar and a Fraser fir. He is not buying it ;)

Addie has had a BLAST decorating the house (and Nana & Papa's house, too!). I have taken her to the Dollar store three times to let her pick out more decorations (for her room - our Dollar store has a limited selection... :)).

Yes. Yes, I did.

We have also started the Elf on a Shelf tradition this year. Our elf is named "Snowman" and he sure does love to hop around from place to place in our house! Addie and Landon both get a kick out of finding where he has moved to each morning. I have heard other parents say that they get a good solid month of outstanding behavior out of their kids due to the elves - we were this lucky for about two days. Ha!

*photo credit: Addie Corn

We went to go visit Santa last weekend. Addie and Landon were so good while waiting in the long line. They were both excited to see Santa and kept peering around the people to see him. It was absolutely adorable. I was a little surprised that Landon was so excited given his age (and remembering how Addie reacted to him at around the same age), but he was thrilled. Until we got to him. As soon as John Michael placed him on Santa's lap, he completely lost it. Addie did great and sweetly told Santa that she wants a doll house and a baby doll. Her meltdown began as we were leaving - turns out she thought she should get her presents right then and didn't quite understand it. Makes sense to me! ;) She also flipped out because the photo package we purchased came with one stuffed animal. Because Landon had been so traumatized (and at this time Addie was still smiling), we let him choose which one they would take home. She had just about the worst tantrum I have ever seen from her. I had to strap her in Landon's stroller to get her out of the mall. She was screaming and crying - I was *that* mom. It was pretty amazing. John Michael and Landon walked behind us, gradually falling more behind so as to not be associated with the crazy lady who couldn't control her kid - HAHAHA!

Well, I have honestly thought about taking them back for a second shot, but this one may just be awesome enough to keep. We'll see...

Today we got the ultimate Christmas-mood-setter-inner in the form of a little over an inch of snow (thus far). The weather forecasters said that it would happen, but I just knew it'd be a bluff. I thought they had said it would begin Saturday night/early Sunday morning, so when we woke up to NO SNOW this morning, I made a little bit of a pouty comment about it and went on with our morning. Then it started really coming down around lunch time, and by 1:00, the ground was covered enough for us to break out an early Christmas present (a sled) and put it to good use. HOORAY!

We went out for Round 2 after Landon woke up from his nap and he was thrilled with sledding. I admit - I hope this is the first of many snows for this season. And I wouldn't hate if the next one came in approximately two weeks. Just a thought :)