But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry

One of Harry's favorite games to play lately is "Raise your hand if you love ____" Here they are, raising their hands if they're excited to see Santa! We picked them up as a surprise from school today and headed to see the Jolly One.

Jack's awe was a beautiful thing

Jack taking it seriously - his first solo sit

I always like the ones we snap from the side best - the pros never catch the conversation ;-)

I could cry that I didn't catch a better shot of this - Santa showing Harry a few hat tricks

Like most years, they were so excited before and after with none of it showing in the pix :-(

I guess it's stage fright? Jack even practiced what he wanted to say: "I have two things to tell him: Thank you for all the gifts you got me last year. I love you, Santa!" Do you think he told him either thing? Nope. Guess we'll be writing those letters soon!

We Need A Little Christmas

Yet in my dreams of sugar and spice

The boys were watching Sid The Science Kid this morning and decided they wanted to do their own estimation experiment...sure, it was really just a ruse to get at the spice drops, but we went with it - we're nothing if not supportive of the educational experience ;-)

Jack would NOT allow counting or any other shenanigans
He took his job as reporter very seriously....if you couldn't tell by the Jumbo Pencil (thank you, Aunt Jackie!)

Not the most flattering picture, but I thought it was cute

After getting everyone else's estimates, he carefully weighed his own guess

then they both reconsidered (this was my favorite picture - if you ever try to get two kids to do something cute at the same time, you can imagine my joy at this coordinated spontaneous moment)

The votes were all in...

And Daddy wins! There were 40 spice drops in the glass

Barbara Streisand's The Best Gift

Meet Me Under The Mistletoe

Please excuse the work-in-progress mess. This little guy is one of my favorite decorations....

...he even looks a little flirty ;-) Hope your holidays are sweet and filled with love (and kisses!)

Randy Travis

Like The Ones In My Memory

Sure, they are toy catalogues, but it's still reading, right?? The boys working their grandparents over the Thanksgiving weekend ;-)

It was great to see everyone, and the boys were really excited to get mail from Poppa Bob after we got home :-)

Randy Travis' Old-Time Christmas

I Want To See Snowflakes Fall To The Ground

And here's last year's version of Harry

Christmas Like A Child

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Bring on the snow! What a great day - I got to spend some time with the girlies, then I had a date with my favorite boys for a Christmas parade and dinner. And the big bonus was - it snowed! Can you beat that? I am one lucky mommy :wub:

Jack all bundled up before the parade

Their first view of the parade

Can you have a country parade without Big Green Tractors??

It was like Mardi Gras (without the flashing)

The big man arrives.....

...on a fire truck, of course!

After the parade, the boys had a impromptu little snow ball fight

Jack: Will this work, Daddy?

OK, I'll make it smaller

OOOH, no fair!

OK, well, I'll just get Mommy instead!

Hey, watch the electronics, mister!

Jack loving the snow and melting my heart

We went to a favorite pizza and game joint, where Daddy gave Harry a lift,

and the boys went old school with Pac Man.

And this is what home looked like tonite - about 1/4 inch of snow can be a great way to start the holidays

May your days be merry and bright,

and may all your Christmases be white!

It's the happhappiest time of the year!

What looks happier than a gum drop tree? It always makes me smile and hum that song...if all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops, oh what a rain that would be!

Streeetch! Jack was so proud that he could actually reach Santa's beard this year - and he's crazy about my slippers....thankfully no stilleto's here ;-)

Practicing the drive the sleigh one day?? Yet another use for those dump trucks - they still try to wedge themselves in for a ride, so maybe this is his alternative....legs only!

And Dean is Harry's hero for fixing the gingerbread house!

Welcome home, Daddy

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

And Santa please a box piled high with love

The boys were sent home with these forms to fill out - their classes will be posting their letters to Santa after Show and Tell tomorrow. These are SO them :wub:

And for comparison's sake, here is last year's Santa Letters post that I dictated and they signed. Mrs. Sharon, we'll be bringing the real deal by your awesome Santa Express Mailbox soonest!

Hank Snow's A Letter To Santa Claus (which was really sad, but made me think about the important things)

Santa BabIES

This is the first visit (SIX years ago, eek!)....
...and now they've established their own beliefs and relationship with the holly old elf (writing their letters for their class - will share when they finish...so sweet!)

And here's my indulgent splurge for the season (a whopping $5 can bring SO much joy, right!?) - it's upside down at the moment, but how cool is that? An egg tray wreath - I hadn't seen one before and love to make deviled eggs...yes, I was too lazy to dig thru the box for the paprika and couldn't find the PChef icer that I usually use to make them pretty, but Nicole and I made do ;-)

Santa Baby (not sure which is my favorite version, possibly Madonna :blush:)

Deck The Halls

This is the second load of Christmas decorations...I am one tub away from finished - yay!

The picture is awful, but these three deer stayed right outside our front door while I walked right up to them....so sweet

Follow me in merry measure, indeed - they get on and off the bus with equal glee!
Lined up to load the batteries into the many, loud and rather annoying, Christmas toys they have

They were thrilled to find these hats from last year (thank you, Ms. Carol!), they are learning the words to Low Rider for that ridiculous car, and Jack told me about 8 times that Harry bought him that Telephone Santa, the greatest gift EVER! They are a little bit excited ;-)

Oh, and Jack also said this may be a good year not to ask for any toys since they have too many to get into their playroom door! We'll be purging and sharing with Goodwill next week

They're also loving the carols this year - they were both trying to figure out the DTH lyrics today, and it was all I could do not to bust out laughing as I thought of that final scene in A Christmas Story where the Chinese restaurant workers serenade the family...sounded a lot like that

Happy December!