Santa Claus is coming to town...

I made a wreath for the holidays. Hung it above our fireplace. It's lovely now because our fireplace is slowly getting covered with holiday cards and art from Edison, and the stockings are hung, one for each of the kids. Last week Edison asked me before bed, "mom can you make sure to put my name on my stocking so Santa knows which one is mine?" I thought that was just "precious" and I cut out felt letters and attached each of the kids' names to their given stocking.

OTHER HOLIDAY GOINGS ON: We will hopefully go to a Solstice Party, Jim has taken a few weeks off of work so he is supposed to string popcorn with the kids for my lil' holiday area and well that's about it. All that and hot cocoa with marshmallows! Taking it easy is what I've had in mind. I even have a few days off too! Christmas Eve and Christmas day will be full of family time, can't wait!

A few weeks ago we went to visit our favorite Santa downtown.

Audrey wasn't too happy to sit on Santa's lap this year, although she can say Santa (nan-ta) and was waving at him as we were walking up to him. She was fine once she was sitting on my lap.

...Santa said its common that for babies' second Christmas they're pretty startled by him but next year they'll be fine. Thinking back to Edison's second Christmas, he was the same and he sat on my lap for our Santa photos that year.

Edison was in to Santa this year. He told him that he wants a "man and lady doll" for Christmas. This comes from the dolls he misplaced from Jim's cousins April and Howard that they gave to him when he was a baby. They were bought in Central American while they were living there. While Santa never promises certain gifts, he does tell the kids that he will get something very special for Christmas and to remember to eat his vegetables, brush his teeth and be nice to his sister. Cute thing is, our friend Steph who lives in Arizona bought Edison a "man and lady doll" and sent it to him this year, he doesn't know yet!

This was our fourth year visiting Santa. We went again this year with Peter, Kirsten and Isabel. Before we went, I had Kirsten try and get a good family photo of us. It was semi-successful... this was right before the screaming started from Edison. Someday we'll get a real good one!