Getting ready for Santa

Violet made some delicious sugar cookies, then had Jake help put the sprinkles on them to get ready for Santa's snack.

Puttin' on the sprinkles



Finger lickin' good



Checking out the NORAD Santa Tracker. Hey look, he's flying over the Great Wall of China!



First the cookies ...




... then the milk



After three trips to the bathroom ... Jake was nestled, all snug in his bed




Merry Christmas everyone! May you enjoy the true blessings of the season.

Deck the halls ...

Today we tackled the tree and had a lot of fun in the process. Jake was pretty bored with constructing the tree, though he did help, and with hanging the lights, but he got more involved when hanging decorations. Last year, he didn't know about Christmas. This year he understands a little more about what's happening, and he wants to be more involved.
Every year is different, and that makes them all special.
We took a break to eat supper and watch "Frosty," and he was riveted to the screen as a snowman came to life.
Afterward we finished the tree, as Jake was determined to "help" with it all. He did, too.

Here is the traditional reindeer antlers shot



We call this our zombie reindeer



The whole family



Daddy and Jake hanging the ornaments Jake made this year













Then Jake hung the regular ornaments



He likes his ornaments on one branch, it seems



Our favorite ornament



Admiring our efforts

Breakfast with Santa

Despite the title, we did not have breakfast with Santa, we were too late for breakfast and were having so much fun we waited to have lunch, too.
Every year there is a local Breakfast with Santa event to raise money for March of Dimes. There are photos with Santa, lots of games and fun craft booths and food. It was a good time, but boy was it packed.
Here are a few things Jake did today:

With all the holiday hustle and bustle of last year, Jake's first year home, he never got a picture with Santa. So, without further ado, here is Jake's first picture with Santa Claus.



We did it at the first and we don't think he quite knew what to think about it all (it was really packed). He didn't cry, though, even if he didn't smile. We call this the "I'm only sitting on this man's knee because Mommy and Daddy are really smiling goofy" look.
:)

Next was the Moonwalk, an inflatable game he has been watching for quite some time. It's always been a little crowded, so we've told him, "Next time." Well, next time finally came today, and he had a ball.



Look at that kicking form in the soccer ball game. The object was to knock down a little player and win a prize. While Jake's form is perfect, he needs a little work on his aim. He eventually got it and got his prize.



Jake's fascinated. What could it be?



A tall cowboy making a reindeer antler hat out of balloons ...



for Jake!



Here's the proper way to wear the hat ...



Here's Jake's way






Then he made some ornaments, a snowman and a tree ornament:





The last thing Jake did was get his picture with some pilots from the nearby Air Force base.



It was a good day and a nice holiday outing for our family.