Christmas (late)

It might be two weeks late but here it is. We had a fun and busy Christmas holiday. We had Michael's birthday, The Polar Express, Christmas Eve at my Mom and Dad's house, Christmas morning at our house and Christmas afternoon with Michael's Mom. The entire week of Christmas was go go go. No wonder all of us are sick.

My parents and brother spoiled Mason to pieces. The amount of large presents this kid got and loved was unbelievable. He was sooooo excited about presents and Christmas this year, that it was funny to listen to him. When we got to my Mom's house, they weren't there and he ran to the tree and would say that one is for Mason and that one is for Mommy...etc. It was cute. At least they all weren't Mason's presents.

Excitement for presents!

All those behind him are his.

Michael and I got helmets for our ski trip and a GoPro!

Christmas morning was exciting. Mason understood Santa this year and he really wanted a bike and sprinkle donut from Santa. Well, Santa thought Mason was good enough to get them. The day the kids starts asking for iPads instead of food Santa will be in trouble.

BATMAN!!!

Ski Bib!

His Snow boots, helmet, and ski socks or as Mason called them bike socks. 

Santa's gift. Mason is on this thing all of the time now. He asks us to get our bikes too. 

When we got home he played in the mud and rode his bike. He also got a fun present from our wonderful neighbors.

The Polar Express

Mason loves the book and movie the Polar Express. He loved it last year and I found this train ride in Branson, but it was completely sold out last year. So, this year, I marked my calendar way in advance to get us tickets. Mason's best friend wanted to come too, so I finally found a day that we could all go that was not already sold out. We were on the last train ride of the season.

We told Mason all day that we had a surprise for him and when he found out he was SO excited. He couldn't even sit down on the train. His excitement was fun to see. Addison on the other hand, was out cold before we ever got on the train. I was worried she was going to sleep the night away and not see Santa. Luckily it was only a cat nap and she was ready to go.

The ride starts with the reading of the book. After the reading, they bring out hot chocolate, unlimited sugar cookies and then SANTA shows up. Because Mason loves the book so much, he immediately stood up with his hand in the air saying, pick me pick me pick me Santa. HAHA. Every kid on the train gets a bell. It was fun since Mason asked Santa for a jingle bell for Christmas and Santa gave him one. It was wonderful.

 

 

 

Yummy Hot Chocolate!

 

He is here!!!

Addison wants to try the cookie. 

Pick Me Pick Me Pick Me

Christmas Cookies for Santa

One day last week we had our good friends over to make cookies for Santa. Our kids love each other and we were all off work, so we thought lets make a huge mess and lots of fun memories. I thought this was so much fun to do and something we will continue to do in the years to come. I can't image next year with 5 kids or more if others join in. 

We gave the kids flour and aprons. Pretty much let them have at it. I had flour all over my floors and I can still feel it when I walk into my kitchen, despite the number of times I have vacuumed and wiped. I am glad my cleaning lady come this week. 

Sweet Stella, it getting so old to me. She could do everything herself without any help. 

We were even brave enough to give them icing and sprinkles and let them decorate 3 cookies each. Rachel and I spent nap time decorating the rest of the cookies. The kids were less messy with the icing than I thought they would be. 

4 Days...Gingerbread house

A new tradition I started last year with Mason, was making a Gingerbread house. Last year he ate most of the icing and since it was our first time we learned lots of lessons. So, this is I was way better prepared to make a house.


First thing I did differently this year, I put the house together and let the icing dry during lunch so that when Mason got home from school we could decorate it with the candy. I recommend giving the gingerbread house time to dry or it will be falling apart the entire time. I also used icing to stick the house on the plate I used.

The best part this year was watching Mason lick every piece of candy. I didn't care. Not like we are going to eat the house. It is decoration. I asked Mason, "why are you licking all the candy." His answer, "I am licking all the bugs off." I couldn't really argue with that answer. I said "Thank Bud, No one wants bugs on their Gingerbread house."

Finished Project

6 days...Wall of Cards

This is where we keep all of the Christmas cards we receive. I love getting Christmas cards, especially with pictures of everyone's children. It is wonderful to see how they have changed and grown. These usually stay up well past the new year. This year, Gabby even received 2 cards from her vet and her puppy friends. I love this too! It is just fun and seeing these daily makes me happy. Mason calls them his cards and some are a little more loved than others. When he would open the mail before me he typically ran off with one or two calling them his cards. He is so sweet.

7 days Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards. I love getting family photos done each year. I love seeing the changes every year of my kids or how Gabby has changed. I also enjoy receiving Christmas Cards. We put them on the door to our laundry room in the kitchen and Mason calls them his cards. Sweet boy. If you come over and notice some have been quite loved on by Mason, you can just smile and know he got a hold of them before I did.

8 Days...Lights

Christmas LIGHTS!!! On the 8th day before Christmas we love lights! We went to the Fayetteville Square last weekend for the Lights of the Ozarks. It is awesome. Mason loves the lights as much as I do. He ran. Flat out ran around and around and around. 

WOW Dad look at the Lights!!! It is so COOL!!!