Merry Christmas Part 1 (Breakfast with Santa and Decorating the House)

We were that family this year. You know the one. The family who put their Christmas decorations up before we left for Thanksgiving. I know, I can't believe it either. But, this year it seems like we were going to be in such a rush once we got back that there wouldn't be enough time to get it all done. And we were right, there wasn't enough time. Once we got back, the month of December was here and we've been busy doing the holiday rush since.

The boys really got into the decorating this year. In fact, they've really been into all of it this year. I thought they were really into it last year. But, no. This year's enthusiasm is putting last year's to shame, and it is so much fun. They know all the words [read: think they know all the words] to all the songs, are all caught up in our Elf on the Shelf (whose name is Blitzen, by the way), love to read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" at least two times a day every day, and - most importantly - love telling the story of the birth of Jesus. Here are a few of the pictures I took one morning while we were decorating the house...

We also had our annual Family Christmas Breakfast at church and the boys got to have their picture made with the big guy. For the record, this was the first year that Ben didn't cry when he got to see him. And we didn't even have to bribe him to sit on his lap and talk. That's progress, people. ;)

The ladies who put the breakfast with Santa do such an amazing job with it. This year they had a live nativity scene, which was a hit with the kiddos. They each got to make an ornament to put on their tree upstairs, and as always, we ate some really good food. It was such a fun morning and a tradition that I just love.Later that afternoon BeBe came over to pick up the boys for a spend the night party. She invited them over to make a gingerbread choo-choo, painted stockings and loaded up on all the candy and McDonalds they could stand. She was so sweet to have them over so that Michael and I could have some of our friends over for a little grown up Christmas party, and they had such a good time. Here are my precious little elves before they headed out. More to come soon. Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night.