Breakfast with Santa

Nora's first meeting with Santa.
What a difference a year makes!

Last year, Dan and I took Nora to the mall to meet Santa.  We stood in line for a very. long. time.  Three and a half hours to be exact and neither of us were jumping at the bit to go again.  So when Grandma and Grandpa offered to take all four of us to Breakfast with Santa at the club, we were thrilled.  Nora and Myles get to meet Santa, we all get fed, and best of all.... no lines!  

So on Saturday, we went back to Wisconsin to start our weekend.  First, we met an old friend of mine, Michelle.  We've been friends since 6th grade and she still hadn't met Myles.  Nora played with her two boys, Niko and Gio.  She was shy at first but loosened up when she saw the train go by out their window.  I'm bummed I didn't think to take any pictures while we were there but let me tell you this -- as a mother of a girl (and yes, of course a little boy... who's still too little for me to know any better) boys are ENERGETIC!! I was laughing the entire time at the amount of energy a 4-year-old little boy can have.  I'm in for the ride of my life with Myles - and I'm looking forward to it.  

After Michelle's we went to Gram's house -- 

where Nora found an entire
bucket of necklaces!

and Myles hung out like the little dude he is.

Sunday morning we got ready to meet Santa --

Just like Mommy!
That's my girl  :)

And Pat stopped in with early Christmas
presents for the kids.

Nora got some gadgets to help me out in the kitchen -
a blender, a mixer, and a toaster (which by the way
is in the cupboard right next to the actual toaster thanks
to Nora)

And finally, we got to the club to meet the man himself.... Santa!

Truth be told, my hopes were not very high for getting Nora to take a picture with Santa.  Or even go near him for that matter.  But as we walked in and Santa was right there sitting in his chair and she didn't give him too much thought (she even waved at him!) I thought - OK, this just might be alright.  

Does it get much cuter than this!?
I don't think so!

Then Santa came around to the tables while we were enjoying an amazing breakfast and then it happened... a very nervous face and the dive into my arms.  But she was still curious.  At this point, I just figured anything was better than the boy behind us cowering under his table.

Myles tested it and yes, Santa's beard is real!

I went over to Santa with Nora and she eyeballed
him for a while.  And then gave him a high five.

and we got his picture.

Then we had dessert.  And more dessert.  And then a little more for good measure.  After all, there was an entire ROOM for just the dessert so what's a girl to do?

Dan helped Nora decorate her own cookie.
Dan frosted.

Nora sprinkled.

They both shared.
Kind of.

Just like her father, she thinks the frosting
is the best part.

and licked every last bit of it off the cookie
(the cookie remained untouched)

my frosting-faced girl enjoyed an Andies Candy 

then got the sillies from all that sugar!

Thanks for taking the cutest kids ever to see
Santa this Christmas!!

"Chee!"
For every single picture Nora kept saying cheese.
Myles is wondering what on earth that means...

And in case you're wondering -- we did get a couple of pictures near Santa's lap.

Two weeks and counting!  Are you done shopping??  

yeah, me either.

Jolly Ol' St. Nick

Our stockings were hung by the {uh...} doorway with care in hopes that St. Nick would soon be there.  

Doorway doesn't have the best ring to it but we do what we can!

The kids' stockings.

She spots the stockings with
goodies inside.

And then the gift carefully placed below the stocking.

LaLa! (that means Elmo in Nora-eese) She finished
unwrapping this new potty seat, stood up, and headed
for the stairs.  She wanted to use it immediately!  Best
reaction you could ask for from an almost 2-year-old.

Starting to dig through the stocking.

"Nandy!" (candy in her language)

"What else is in here?!"

Can't reach.... just dump!

"More nandy!"

No words here.  Only a point to the mouth to ask,
"Can I have this for breakfast?"

And of course on St. Nick, the answer is yes.

Hanging up the ornament St. Nick left her.

Daddy helping Myles look
at his treasures.

PJs for Christmas Eve.

Something bright and new to gnaw on.

His ornament from St. Nick.

And a kiss for Daddy before he goes to work.

Thank you, St. Nick!  

O Christmas Tree

We went to pick out our Christmas tree this weekend.  We found out that Costco was selling trees this year but... they were all pre-wrapped so you just had to blindly pick one and hope you weren't getting a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.  I didn't want to do that.  I more so didn't want to do that because I like going to a lot (or, you know... Home Depot) holding up a tree, turning it and and trying another one until you find that one tree that's just right for you.  So after rearranging the car seats, we were off to pick out our tree.

This one had our name on it! 

We got it home and into the stand that very night so the branches could begin to fall so we could decorate it over the weekend.

You might be able to catch a glimpse of
Dan's trusty helper between his legs.

She's doing her part to help stabilize the tree.

When the tree was up, Nora all of a sudden ran into the kitchen.  You could hear her going into a cupboard and she came back with Clorox wipes.  Dan and I just looked at each other.  He said, "I don't know what she's doing but I kinda want to find out."  I responded by saying, "That's why I haven't taken those away yet."

Apparently she thought the tree stand
was too dirty.

She proceeded to wipe down the entire tree stand and the
floor around it.  She's a neat freak sometimes!

Then Rusty got some much needed cuddle time.

What are you lookin' at?

Every boy has to have a dog growing up.

 The following day, we began decorating.

Our foreman. 

It's my tradition to watch Christmas
Vacation while putting up the tree.
Nora was getting in on the action.

After the lights were on (by the way -- this year we did a combo of white and red lights... I'm liking it) Dan had an idea to take a hot chocolate break.  It was Nora's first time drinking hot warm chocolate.

Waiting is the hardest part.

So she helped me blow.

Kisses!

First sip!

And she went back for more and more and more.

Helping put in the ornaments. 

Brother and sister relaxing in the crib together after decorating.

We also got out all our other Christmas decorations including the advent wreath, a personal favorite of Nora's because of this...

Now our house reflects the spirit we're all feeling!  Only 23 days until Christmas!