SANTA...I Know Him!

We made our annual trip to Bass Pro Shop last night to see the Santa Claus.  The kids have been talking about it for days.  I love this tradition.  I went with my brother and his kids when they were little and now I get to go with my own kids.  Last year we had a bit of a wait but we must have timed it just right this year because we walked right in line and waited maybe 10 minutes.

No tears this year.  I was shocked.  Last year was the first year Barrett didn't cry and AveryAnn didn't cry this year.  She was a little unsure when I sat her up there but Santa started talking to her and she was fine.

Barrett told him he wanted a "toy pet dinosaur".  All he's talked about is an RC car.  So when we asked him why he didn't ask for that he said, "I already told him that at school, I didn't want to tell him the same thing." ha ha!  He looks so old in these pictures.  

AveryAnn wants a Barbie and a pink house.  She saw the dollhouses at Hobby Lobby last week and I didn't think we were going to get to leave without one.  I told her she had to tell Santa so she's been saying all week, "I tell Santa I want pink house!".  It's been so sweet!

These two have been really good this year so hopefully Santa delivers all they're wishing for!

My Favorite Christmas Tradition

One of my favorite traditions that Patrick and I started our first Christmas was a picture of us in front of our tree Christmas morning.  Sleepy faces, pjs and all.  At the time I has no idea how much I would grow to love these pictures.  I think they'll only get better and better as the years pass.

Our first Christmas married in our house.  You can notice our tree was mostly Barbie ornaments.  Poor Patrick. (Although I can't really say that has changed much.)  We had Ally that year, I can't believe she's not in the picture.

We looks so young.

This is the year it snowed.  One of my favorite Christmases before Barrett.

I love this picture.  Those two kids had no idea what the next year would hold for them.  The end of 2011 was exciting and hard all at the same time.  We hoped to start thinking about starting a family but never dreamed that would be the last Christmas just the two of us.  In some ways I feel like we look more mature here like we're finally ready to be adults.

The year I made the nurse stop in front of the tree on the way out of the OR to take a picture in front of the tree.  Still cracks me up.

Our first Christmas morning at home as a family of 3 (4 counting Ally).  I love Patrick's smile in this one and I think Ally's expression sums up how she feels about the new addition.

Celebrating our 2 year old and loving that handprint ornament hanging behind us.  I remember hoping we'd be a family of 4 by the next Christmas. 

This year.  Not quite a family of 4 yet but it won't be too much longer.  I realized Patrick and I are wearing the same thing as last year.  Barrett looks so old it hurts me.  When I look at this picture I think about all the heartache we've endured this year and think about how we never lost faith.  I felt the joy of knowing that while this year wasn't my favorite it definitely made us appreciate life and where we are now. 

Santa! I know him!

Last night we made our 2nd Annual trip to see Santa. (Last years trip is HERE.)  I was pretty confident that Barrett wasn't going to be a fan but he seemed so excited when we got there that I was hopeful.  All the way there we talked about Santa and this was his face when he saw him for the first time.

Priceless.

I had to hold him back from running up to him before it was our turn.  Then it was our turn.. 

He was not happy. 

Santa gave him some candy and he threw it down like a brat. 

I intended to get his outfit monogrammed but I'm glad I didn't waste my time because you wouldn't have seen it anyway.  Santa had the death grip on him because he was trying to escape.

I did manage to get a few not terrible ones.

I can't believe how much he's grown since last year.

Yes, that's my kid playing with the truck in the middle of the floor like he's the only one around.  He didn't like the table they had set up because he wasn't tall enough. So he just put the truck in the floor to play.   

I love his innocence.   

Then we decided to let him ride the carousel.  He liked it last year. 

This year, not so much. 

He cried and cried.  I guess I should have just gotten him off but I thought he would enjoy it once it got moving.

This cracks me up. 

I had no idea it would be torture for him to ride. 

 

He eventually quit crying bu the never loosened his death grip.  Later into the ride he pointed to the reindeer in front of us.  I asked him if he wanted to ride the deer and he said yes.  Of course he says yes to everything so who knows it that was really the problem.

He loved the fish.

He did not love the elevator ride.  He was in the buggy and when the doors closed he started shaking and crying.  It was the saddest thing.  Who is terrified of elevators?  He definitely convinced Patrick that we are still several years off from our first trip to Disney.

And just for fun...these two pictures crack me up.  Apparently our kid is a model and we can't keep our eyes open. 

All in all it was a wonderful family night out.  We've always loved Bass Pro Shops to visit Santa, my advice is if you go during the week try to get there before 5:30.  The line was very short when we arrived and was very long when we left.  One thing I noticed though and I'm not sure if it was just because the few kids I watched were young but Santa didn't ask them what they wanted.  If the kids didn't just pipe up with their list he didn't hear it. Other than that though it was a great set up.  I just love my little guy (and big guy) so much.  I love these little memories. I also apparently love that scarf that is on repeat this season, ha!.  I can't believe Barrett will be two in a week.  Time slow down.

5th Annual Gingerbread House Competition

Friday night we kicked off our fun old fashioned family Christmas with our annual gingerbread house competition.  You can read about years past here.  I'm not going to lie, I think we all peaked last year.  We were all excited to build our houses this year but it seemed that no one really prepared like they did last year.  Which resulted in us sitting at the table for what seemed like hours with no real progress.  We laughed a lot though and I guess that's all that really matters.  The kids had a ball and they did a great job this year.

 

This is the winner of the kids division.  Drew did a great job.  I'm not sure how many more years they're going to let him compete in the children's category.  I was excited for him to win! 

Porter built a hunting lodge complete with a duck blind and several dead ducks ( the m&ms).  At one point he did run up to my mom and demand that he needed her help building a garage with a four-wheeler and trailer.  Notice that didn't get built!  Mom said she wasn't a miracle worker.

I loved Ava's redneck house.  She did such a good job both building and decorating hers.  Most people excel at one or the other. 

Harper's princess castle should really have been in the adult category because I'm pretty sure all she did was add the blue sixlets.  Mom did pretty much all the rest of the work. 

Now to the adult category.

My big brother Patrick's interpretation of the economy.  He's so witty!

Leslie went the religious route with her gummy bear nativity.

John, oh John.  He had a great house but did not do one bit of decorating.  I think he could have won it with a strand or two of lights.

This was mine.  Not my best work.  This is what happens when I have no plan. I really have no words.

 

Hope's was the winner and rightfully so.  She did a great job with construction and decoration. 

Elizabeth came with a plan.  This is Denny Chimes.

And Clay's house.  I can' t remember the name of the house but it is a replica of a house close to where they live in Atlanta.  I'll have to ask him and update this later.

The whole neighborhood. 

 

Even though it wasn't our best work we all still had a lot of fun. 

4th Annual Gingerbread House Competition

Saturday night we all met at Mom & Dad's for the 4th annual gingerbread house competition.  This year the boys decided to get in on the action (they quickly realized it's not as easy as it looks).  This has become one of my favorite traditions!

Porter was so excited!

Harper just wanted to eat the candy!

Ava

Porter with his finished house.

We decided to give my parents their present early.  Their tv stopped working about a month ago and they've been watching a 19" all this time.  So we surprised them with a new tv.  They were thrilled. 

John and Hope working hard.

Drew was taking a break.

I think Elizabeth was praying for inspiration. 

The new tv.

Mom's new ornament.  Hallmark was starting a new 12 days of Christmas series this year so my sister got mom the first one.

My parents decided to add a level of difficulty to the competition this year.  We were given a bag with a coffee filter, a wine cork, a plastic spork or fork and and weird paper clip thing that we had to incorporate in our design.  It was tough. 

My design.  I was so excited with how it turned out. 

Ava's house with a pool!

My big brother gave up.

Drew's Christmas Luxury House.

Elizabeth's Christmas Campout.  Somehow she always manages to have an awesome house when she comes with no plan. 

John's 1997 Z17 Stepside.  His was really good!

Kristen's Santa Claus is coming to Town

Leslie's design called Porter's Chicken farm.

Drew and Porter's.  Porter had already started eating the candy off of his.

Clay's President's Mansion.

Hope's White Christmas in Dixie

Harper watching us play Wii

Patrick and Leslie and Hosea were exhausted.

It was such a fun night!  I always enjoy spending time with my family.  It's becoming harder and harder the older we get but I hope that we always make a point to spend this time together each year.