All I want for Christmas...

All he wants for Christmas is his two front teeth!...

Ok, not really...

He would actually like quite a few things, as Santa found out yesterday at the annual pancake breakfast!

It's a tradition we enjoy every year...

And lucky for us we have lots of friends who enjoy he same tradition...

Standing in line waiting for Santa isn't boring when you are surrounded by friends...

And if you can be surrounded by friends AND wear your pajamas, so much the better!

Some might say that moms who take too many pictures detracts a bit from the fun, but to that I say...

PFFFFT!

Remember, children, Santa listens to moms!!!

Now everyone smile nicely for our annual attempt to take a family picture...

We will stand here all day if necessary...

Ok, not really, we've learned to accept that...

 Sometimes, you get what you get and you don't throw a fit!

I Think I Need a Cookie...

Today we celebrated our annual cookie day...

It's a day that is assembly line sweat shop style labor camouflaged as a festive holiday baking tradition...

 with endless hours of mixing, rolling, cutting, baking, and finally...

decorating!

Don't get me wrong, there is also copious amounts of laughing, chatting, tasting, teasing, and general merriment as well!

I love cookie day, it's exhausting, fun and delicious!

 And it's generally a full day event all by itself, but today was capped off by Gigi's special dance recital performance!

She took part in a two performance show, the first act featuring herself and several other enthusiastic 3 year olds dancing ballet...

And I cannot tell you just how much pride, love, and absolute awe ran through me when the curtains opened and Gigi looked out into the audience and waved enthusiastically at me!

but I think the best moment was backstage when we were about to change costumes for her second number, and she said, "I just wuv to dance!"

The jazzy Rudolph tap number was next...

And again I received a happy wave from the stage...

She's just growing up too fast...

They both are...sniff...

I think I need a cookie!

Yep, moments like this definitely call for sprinkles!

Dear Santa...

I never believed in Santa...it's not a sad thing for me, I was mostly creeped out by the idea of a stranger sneaking into my house in the middle of the night, and no amount of presents dispelled the discomfort of that concept.

So, I never intended to play the Santa card with my kids, I wasn't against it exactly, I just figured I wouldn't make a big deal of it, wouldn't stand in line for him, wouldn't create traditions around him, and I certainly wouldn't give him credit for the excellent gifts that I purchased for my little ones...

My kids have taught me that my "no-santa" attitude was, to sum up in one word...

Lame...

So now, we make our lists...

and mail our letters to the North pole...

And we even sit on Santa's lap...

Sometimes, it's good to be wrong...

And I love that I learn so much from my kids...

That through them everything becomes new again...

But, as much as I appreciate the fun that others seem to have with him, I will never be able to get on board with elf on the shelf!  Santa?  Yes... Sneaky Santa Elf spies that come to life while you're not looking?  Nope!