Christmas 2012 Phase II

When we arrived at Grand & Ottar's house there was plenty to keep us busy as we prepared for Santa's arrival!

Grand had a couple mini-trees, lit up and ready for ornaments. After helping Mommy at home, Malynn and Jack knew what to do. Of course, the decorating got derailed a couple times when the kids stumbled upon ornaments that they preferred to use as toys rather than decorations. :)

We ventured out to the near by children's museum, along with every other family with toddlers from a 20-30 mile radius! It was an adventure. It had a lot to offer, but those places lose something when they are packed to the gills! Malynn had to walk down to the nearby CVS with Daddy because we were worried she had spiked a fever -turns out she probably just over-heated running around in the masses. Jack found the cars and ramps and could have stayed there all morning. It prepared us all for a long winter's nap!

That evening it was time to make the cookies for Santa!!

I don't know what Malynn was saying here, but I love when she adds hand gestures when she's talking. She loves a little extra flare!

 

Right now, if you cook with Jack and Malynn, it's important to know that BOTH kids need a chance to help pop the egg yokes. (A skill they proudly learned from their cousin, Teigen.)

Before going in the oven, the cookies got chocolate chips on top! The kids took their job very seriously and did a fantastic job. They picked select cookies from their sheets for everyone in the family and did a remarkable job remembering which ones they had picked for each person!

Before bedtime a few important things had to happen:

1) "Reindeer food" was sprinkled out on the lawn to make sure Santa would find us.

2) Cookies were set out for Santa.

 

3) "The Night Before Christmas" was read one more time.

Then the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

In the morning, the first thing the kids asked was, "Did Santa come?" And Jack was the first to confirm his visit by pulling down his stocking to find what Santa had brought him. Several weeks ago, Jack decided he wanted Santa to bring him a lollipop and Malynn wanted Santa to bring chocolate. Santa did not disappoint.

 

 

Both kids got a lollipop and a chocolate! And Santa brought a couple other special presents, too!

Santa must have known that Jack and Malynn are in love with Towmater and Lighting McQueen right now, and they got their very own! This was along with a couple other very needed items: tongs for play (not for food) and new Crocs. How did Santa know? He's so good!

Later it was time to open gifts to each other. Again we were so fortunate to have so many thoughtful, special items gifted to each of us. A couple favorites for the kids were the new Playdough tools,

and new books!

We won't have to keep checking Mini-Racer out of the library now that we have our own!

That afternoon it was time for the special project for Grand. Her own stepping stone!

Gotta love a project that gets you a little messy!!!

And we capped it all off with a fantastic Christmas feast.

Thanks for serving the salad Jack!

I can't believe how incredible experiencing Christmas with two 2 and 1/2 year old has been!

I'm sure we will continue singing Frosty the Snowman and Must be Santa at bath time for a while yet, and I'm sure I will have a hard time taking down the decorations.

What my head forgets about this Christmas, I hope my heart always holds tight.

It was magical.