Christmas Tree Photos Take 1

One night we were having a quiet night and I thought what a perfect opportunity to take some cute photos of the kids in front of the Christmas tree. What follows is how they turned out. 

Love my sweet babies under the Christmas tree!! 

PooDink- Our Elf & Other Christmas Around The House

Yes. We have an Elf on the Shelf. No. I am not one of the crazies that does extravagant things with it every day. Multiple times thru out the holiday season Ascher would say...Ooo poodinks still there! Then I would say things like, "oh well I bet during your nap this afternoon he is going to go tell Santa what kind of day you've had" and then during nap move him from the picture ledge to the plant on top of the fridge. ; )  I also only did "good" ones if Ascher had a super good day or we had something planned (like gingerbread house).

The day Poodink arrived he brought Ascher a book (the elf book), pjs and hot chocolate. Ascher was so excited when he got home from school and the Christmas tree was up (not decorated) and sitting on the mantle was an elf with wrapped presents just for him.

Ascher also LOVES his Christmas tree in his room. He insists we plug it in every morning.

 The Christmas tree before the decorations were hung

 Ascher playing with his little people nativity. You see who made an appearance? Santa of course!

 Ascher in his new PJS Poodink brought him "holding sister"

 Reading one of his 25 Christmas books- he opens 1 every night. He likes opening them more than reading them. However, some of them- such as this Thomas book caught his attention and he would read and read.

We also have been doing the Advent Story out of the Jesus storybook bible. I love listening to my husband read the word of the Lord to our children. (Granted he is reading Frosty the Snowman in this picture) but that is what our nights looked like. Ascher would open his book. Then we would crawl into our bed. Read his book then read his bible story then bedtime. He loved it. He would say MY WHOLE FAMILY is here. Granted- as the month wore on it was mostly just Justin who did it with him as Brynn was sick and/or going to sleep the same time as the books were happening.

Visiting Santa

The week after Thanksgiving Justin took the whole week off. It was WONDERFUL! We got the majority of Christmas shopping done, we decorated the inside and outside of the house and it was just a pleasant week together. One of the things we did that week was go visit Santa. I apparently was not the only one excited to go see Santa...

We go see the Santa at Bass Pro Shop. He apparently works there so it is the same one every year. He is a great Santa. I also love that at Bass Pro the photo is FREE and you get to use your own camera and take more if you want. So of course, I brought my own camera. 

However, I didnt really get "dressed" or do my makeup because why on earth would I BE IN THE PHOTO!? Other than a frightened 2.5 year old. I even asked Justin before we left, maybe I should change and do my makeup. His response, why its not like your gonna be in the photo!? Lesson learned. 

I also was glad Justin was with us to use our camera since Ascher wouldnt let me put him down. Secondly, Justin was able to zoom in and crop Ascher and myself out of the photo so Brynn has her first picture with Santa- just by herself. Go figure she would be sleeping. Also, she NEVER has that paci- yet when I tried to take it out of her mouth- she was NOT having it and Santa was not happy about me trying to take it. He was happy holding a sleeping baby- not one that would scream if paci was removed. 

After visiting Santa, we wondered around Bass Pro. They have a whole Santas Wonderland set up. Ascher drove the train, raced cars and drove monster trucks. We then walked around the store and looked at the fish, tried out the 4-wheelers and recliners. And of course, as soon as I took Brynn off of Santas lap- she woke up happy as can be. Go figure.

After our visit to Santa, we walked around the mall and picked up some matching Christmas PJs for the kids. And headed home. We ended the night with all 4 of us in our bed watching The Polar Express, As you can see, Justin was thrilled to take a family selfie ; )

Aschers Christmas Program

I have really enjoyed Aschers preschool program up to this point. I love that he inneracts with other kids twice a week other than me. Before school let out for the Christmas holiday they put on a Christmas program for the parents. I was a nervous wreck- Sad. He still cries most days when I drop him off and so I just knew he would NOT perform especially if he saw us.

The day of the program comes and  I drop him off after singing some of the songs he is going to perform in the car on the way to school. He was so cute and so excited about jingle bells and feliz navidad. Justin and I head to Chicfila for breakfast before going back up to the church for his performance. I was so glad Justin was able to take the morning off so he could see Ascher in his first ever Christmas program.

I had the flip camera and my cannon. We were totally THOSE parents. But not to worry- so was every other parent in the sanctuary. He did FABULOUS. He saw us, waved and did what he was supposed to do. I was so proud. 

SO SO proud of my little man! He is getting so big every day. My heart adores him. Every day I love him a little bit more. When I picked him up we stopped by target for a few things and I let him pick out a "treat" for doing such a good job at his program. He was very excited about his ninja turtle fruit snacks.

Presents!

This is more so for me to keep track. I basically use this blog as his baby book. Justin's mom kept a wonderful baby book for Justin and I absolutely love going through it and reading everything. Something she did was write out everything he got for Christmas. It is so neat to look back at what he got- so here goes nothing. I probably will forget stuff but for the most part...

Santa: Lawn Mower, Activity Table, Little People Nativity Set, PJ's

Mom & Dad: Clothes, Floor Puzzles, Shape Sorter, Spin & Say 
Grammy & Grandpa: First Set of Blocks, Little People Dump Truck, Little People Noahs Ark, Melissa & Doug pull toy, Scooby Doo Plate set, Elegant Baby Picnic Set, clothes, recordable storybook, Fisher Price ABC peek-a-blocks, puzzles, pound a peg, ring stacker
Aunt Jessica & Uncle Roy: Green Firetruck
Coker Family: TV that plays when turned and first set of balls (football, soccer ball and basketball)
Natalie & Issac: Scout the Dog
Great Aunts & Uncles: money 

He is one loved little boy. We are so blessed to have such a loving family and supportive friends! My heart overflows with love. 

Christmas Scrapbook

I am so proud of this scrapbook. I am such a nerd especially because it is so easy. A few years ago I bought a red scrapbook and filled every page with Christmas scrapbook paper. It lay empty until Christmas rolled around. I decided I would make it our Christmas scrapbook and fill it up every year.

Every Christmas I get our Christmas card, a picture of us before church on Christmas eve and a picture of us on Christmas morning. How easy is that. Then I put them on the page and done. I have enough pages to do until Justin is 45!! I already love going back through the years and seeing how much we have changed just in 4 short years. I can't imagine how much more I will love it as the years go by.

2009- first year of marriage

2010

2011

This year these photos will go onto the next page...

one of these from Christmas eve (haven't decided yet)

Christmas morning

and of course our Christmas card...(can't figure out how to do it so here is a picture of it)