We Have Seen Santa...

Thanksgiving has come and gone and the house is decorated for Christmas...next on the list...see Santa!  So...this afternoon we headed to Miskelly's to see Santa and let the kids tell him what they wanted him to bring.

Cooper talked and talked about Santa...and then, he saw him and changed his mind about wanting to sit on his lap.

Anna Lauren on the other hand jumped right into his lap...

Santa told her she needed a front tooth, but she told him she needed some paint pens.  That is all she asked him to bring this year.

Santa requested chocolate chip cookies, chocolate milk, and just one carrot for his reindeer...

Santa trying to sneak a kiss...she jumped from him and then realized he was just going to pretend.  She for sure didn't really want him to kiss her!

Cooper warmed up a little, but he was still NOT sitting on Santa's lap...

He was beginning to think about talking to Santa...

And then there were some fist bumps...

And some "blowing up" of fist bumps...and wait, a SMILE!

And some high fives and a quick request for a weed eater...

And you cannot go to Miskelly's without a ride (or two) on the carousel...

And once we left, Cooper talked and talked about Santa. This year he "gets it" a little and it's fun to watch through his little eyes!

The Decorating is DONE...

I'll admit...Christmas is NOT my favorite time of the year.  I think it is so much extra work and stress, and we get so caught up in the craziness that we don't take time to stop and really celebrate the TRUE meaning of the season.

However, I still decorate and do all the normal activities with my little family.  Hopefully I am not so "grumpy" that my kids will not make some Christmas memories growing up that they will always cherish.

Yesterday we spent all day decorating and did the finishing touches this morning...it is DONE and boxes back in the attic.  And...I just happened to get a new camera (post for another day) so I couldn't resist taking a few pictures.

Just plain and simple...

The tree was actually a little more fun to decorate this year because I had so much fun watching Anna Lauren pull out all the ornaments and talk about each of them...when she made them, which ones we gave her each year, etc.

LOVE pulling out my Christmas canvas every year...one of my favorite presents from my mother-in-law...

Nanna gives her grandsons a nutcracker every Christmas...this is just the beginning of Cooper's collection.

While Anna Lauren was at Nanna's last week, they made snowflakes...we hung some of them from the light over our kitchen table.  Probably the only snowflakes we'll see...

My favorite multi-use jars on my dining room table...love changing them out for each season.

Matt's advent calendar made by his mom and grandmother that is just like the one he had as a child...his favorite tradition to share with his children.

I told my co-worker I was doing minimum Christmas decorations this year, and she said...you have the best house to decorate.  You have stairs with a rail, etc.  So...in honor of Regina, I hung ornaments on the rail going up the stairs...

The landing at the top of the stairs...they kids didn't want their trees in their bedrooms so this is where they picked.  

Rail upstairs...tried this for the first time this year...I think it turned out pretty cute!

Anna Lauren wanted to put these two nativity scenes in her room...so thankful she enjoys the Santa fun but knows the true meaning of Christmas!

And in the hustle and bustle of the season, may we not forget the TRUE meaning of Christmas!

Our First Thanksgiving...

This year, Matt and I hosted our first Thanksgiving for my family. The only "stress" was the turkey and dressing but thankfully mom came on Wednesday and cooked that for us.  Not to mention me and my brothers only want our mom's dressing...we just like it! 

It was a cool but beautiful day, and we enjoyed having my family spend the day with us...we were just missing Ashton.

Fall is for sure my favorite time of the year...I just love pumpkins, leaves changing colors, and the cooler weather.

The pumpkin Anna Lauren got from the pumpkin patch and painted...

Cooper's painted pumpkin...

Kid table...

Adult table...

Anna Lauren spent Sunday through Wednesday with Nanna...this was one of their craft projects.  Everyone had a hand at their seat.

Couldn't resist the cute turkey napkins...

My brother, Joey, and his family are going on a cruise the week of Christmas.  So...the kids exchanged their presents with Bently at Thanksgiving.

Cooper really wanted the pirate ship Bently got for her birthday...so...Aunt Barbie knew just what to get him for Christmas...happy boy!

Anna Lauren got a fun shirt, a super cute scarf, and some headbands...

Her fun new headbands...and please, excuse the kids clothes...they took off their clothes and put on old t-shirts so they could paint. They are kind of looking a hot mess.  And...I think Cooper changed outfits no less than 3 times that day.

Hannah, Anna Lauren, and Reid...Hannah's dad was in the hospital so she came with Reid and Jake...much better than sitting at the hospital on Thanksgiving.  We were happy to have her!

Anna Lauren, Barbie, and Joey...

Brad and Paula...

Being super sassy in her new cute scarf!

I mean really...sometimes I wonder why I even try!  At least Hannah was looking cute!