last blogger on the block: Countdown to Christmas

Christmas is tomorrow. I can't believe it. It came so fast. Here are some of the things we've been doing throughout the month as we've been counting down the days to the biggest holiday of the year.

The dreaded Christmas card picture, although it seem quite painless this year. Imagine that. Kendall, who is usually our most cooperative and smily, was our difficult one this year. One day they will all be "in the mood" for picture taking (as Ella said she was this year.)

Christmas tree shopping - which we did quite early this year since the weather was so nice. We went to our usual tree farm called, Jugg Hill, where the girls picked out the best tree and then helped Ryan cut it down. Up it went with lights, ornaments and the star just the day after Thanksgiving. We thought it would be dead by now, but it's still alive and kicking and ready to finally be useful tomorrow morning (rather than taking up our whole living room and making a mess all over the rug - yes, I know, bah humbug! =-)

Kendall wanted this one.

It was Kendall's year to put the star on the tree.

The annual Yardley Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa Visit. We love small town traditions like this one, where the whole town gathers to visit with each other, see the town Christmas tree lit, and to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you want for Christmas. Ella asked Santa for a new bicycle (blue, hot pink, white, and maybe a little black... to be specific); Brooklyn, who sat on Santa's lap for the very first time EVER, asked for a doll house; and Kendall - who thinks every random stranger dressed in red fur with white fuzz all over his face is her best friend - just enjoyed being in the picture this year.

I love this picture of all three kids, smiling, with Santa. That NEVER happens. Ella thought Santa would love a copy of this picture when she saw how cute they all looked in it. Of course he would!

The Yardley Christmas Parade - another local tradition we love included several interesting, random, musical "floats" and a final showing from Santa himself. This year Ella, Brooklyn and I became overnight celebrities when the Bucks County Courier Times took our picture while we were sitting on our front yard watching the parade and put the picture in their Sunday paper. Unfortunately, Kendall was napping and Ryan was working, so they didn't make the picture.

Our cute neighbors.

Shady Brook Farm Christmas Light Show. This was our first year going to one of our local farms (yes, mom, the one that has the ice cream you love) to see their annual light show. It was good, the best part wasn't the light show. After we drove our car through their light display, we parked and headed to "Santa's Village" to get some hot chocolate. This was awesome! They had an enormous tree all lit up, fake snow (Ella said they were bubbles) falling, Christmas music playing and several fire pits where we picked one, sat down, drank hot cocoa, ate funnel cake and enjoyed the festive atmosphere. Can't wait to do this again next year.

St. Andrew's Pre-school Christmas program. Brooklyn and her classmates sang songs, rang bells, and tired to dance all while the three year olds' parents video taped, snapped pictures and ooooed and ahhhhhed over their adorable little kids - of course, Ryan and I were no different.

Ella's Kindergarten gingerbread Christmas party. Since Ryan took the day off of work, I was able to go in to Ella's classroom to help out with the party. The kids made crafts, played with gingerbread playdoh, made baby gingerbread houses and played games. Then they got to pig out on lots of junk food like cupcakes, hot chocolate, cookies, and candy. Good times! No pictures of the party.

Sugar cookie baking and decorating. Total mess times three, but oh so much fun! ...

Christmas PJs - check (although they're not on yet); cookies and egg nog for Santa - check; eight carrot sticks for reindeer - check; note to Santa - check; children nestled in bed - check!