Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Every year we go out in search of the perfect Christmas tree. We decided to go out Saturday, and I was a little nervous, but it went better than I had anticipated!  Considering Jessalyn's sudden clingyness and the tantrum she threw that last time I took her out to play in the snow, and add to that fact that we went at NAP time, I thought it would be a quick trip.  Since it's about a 30 minute drive to the tree farm, we waited until we got there to bundle the kids up and much to my surprise Jessalyn willingly let me put on her her snow pants, hat and mittens.  In less than 5 minutes we were off!  I carried Jessalyn until my arms started hurting and then asked Aaron to take her.  His response: "No, she'll be fine, just put her down" (Seriously?!  Didn't he remember the horrible fit she threw last time?  Apparently not...)  I can only imagine the look on my face, but since he wasn't going to carry her I had no choice...

...and again I was surprised - she took off running!  "See?  It's just because I'm here," he boasted.  You've got to be kidding me!  She was totally fine!   

While we searched for our tree we played hide-n-seek between the trees, chased each other and even pretended that we were soldier guys trying to get to our tree before "the bad guys" could get us, running as fast as we could.
 

 Walking with Daddy : ) 

 

 Dominic's stick arrow for fighting the bad guys.

 Looking for our tree...

 Jessalyn likes this one!  

 Playing in the snow! 

We waited in the car while Aaron loaded up the tree and snacked on candy canes... 

  

 Jessalyn's face when Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer came on the radio! 

 

 Dominic: Rudolph the red nose reindeer, had a very shiny nose

If you ever saw it, you would say it glows

All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names

They never let Rudolph play in any deer games

: ) 

When we got home we set to work decorating cookies and our tree while watching Rudolph! 

 

While we always put the "kid friendly" ornaments toward the bottom of the tree and the breakable/favorite ornaments go up top we don't usually let the kids play with their ornaments.  However, the tree has been up been for a day and a half and I'm constantly telling Jessalyn to leave the ornaments on the tree...I'm not sure if I can handle another 3 weeks of this!  I can feel my resolve cracking each time her little hand reaches toward an ornament.  Besides, what's the point of putting the kids' ornaments on the bottom if they can't play with them?

Presents are another story - they won't be out until Santa comes.  Putting them out now would be too much temptation...

Santa Claus is Coming to Town...

Since Aaron had the day off yesterday we took the kids to see Santa, but we decided not to tell the kids until we got to the mall and let them find him.  As soon as the kids saw him they were so excited (and much to our surprise there was no line to stand in)!

When it was our turn, we set the kids on Santa's lap and Jessalyn lost it!  Dominic was kind of shy, but he sat there like a big boy.  They took about 7 pictures and Jessalyn was screaming in every one.  The last one was my favorite -  it's super cute!  The whole ordeal took less than 5 minutes and as soon as I picked Jessalyn up she was fine... (a little over dramatic? I think so.)

After our visit with Santa, Dominic asked to ride on one of the cars (we don't usually, but since it was a special day I figured, why not?).  Then we walked around the mall to finish up some Christmas shopping...



Me: "Do you want to go see Santa?"
Jessalyn: "No want to see Santa!"  


Aaron: "Jessalyn, do you want to see Santa?"
Jessalyn: "No, Santa cry."
Aaron: "Did Santa cry when you sat on his lap?"
Jessalyn: "Yup, Santa cry."











  

Dominic: "I didn't sit on Santa's lap.  I sat on his leg and Jessalyn sat on the other.  A lap is two legs, not just one."








My poor baby - she wasn't feeling good and when we got home and checked her temp it was 101*, so we all sat on the couch and watched Rudolph.  I can't wait until we have the tree up and we can sit and watch Christmas movies with the tree lights on!

Hopefully Jessalyn will feel better soon, but until then I see lots of snuggles and kisses in our future!

So far...

We've been busy this last week with Thanksgiving, my birthday and watching baby Fulton! 

The kids are so excited to have Fulton come "play" with us!  They are so good with him and they get along!  It's like they call a truce, until he's sleeping and then all bets are off.  Dominic likes to help with Fulton and play with him, while Jessalyn just likes to try to feed him things, "Here, take a bite baby!"

Dominic: I think we should keep him.  I love him and I think he likes me!






 Dominic: Fulton smells like something really good.  He smells like ketchup!  (I'm not sure which is more weird, the fact that he thinks Fulton smells like ketchup or that he thinks ketchup smells good...)

Dominic has been asking every day for the last month, when Santa is going to come to our house (thanks to the stores that start putting Christmas stuff out right after Halloween).  He always says the same thing when he asks: "Santa will come to our house when it snows and we have our tree and we make cookies!"  So of course as soon as he saw the snow yesterday morning, the first thing out of his mouth was, "We need to get our tree so Santa can come and bring me presents!"

Speaking of Santa, a friend of mine told me about this really cool website where you can send your child a video message from Santa (and the best part, aside from the kids' excitement, is that it's FREE!).  Here are Dominic's videos -  http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/nTwc0_MtXrxxraRYqum1Fw  and http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/P6qddJDEUOS3iH9Jc1rR-A  (for some reason when I made Jessalyn's video they wouldn't say her name, so she wasn't interested)  Dominic was so excited that Santa sent him a message!  After watching the video at least 5 times, I finally caved and took the kids outside...



25 minutes to get dressed + 45 minutes of playing in the snow = Pure excitement for Dom and an hour long temper tantrum for Jessalyn...







Dom kept asking if we could make a snowman that would talk to him (I think he's watched Frosty the Snowman one too many times...)





I guess we'll just wait and see how the rest of winter goes...