It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

{Madison & Santa at Solomons Tree Lighting}

4 years old, that is the age when the anticipation of Christmas becomes too much. For the first time in her short life, Madison has a Christmas wish list, which consists of a few very insistent and heartfelt items. 1) A kids camera (yes a kids version of a digital camera) 2) Some crazy fairyland play forest complete with fairies and ponies 3) Something to do with mermaids which I still have not figured out.

As the presents have begun to show up under the tree for our small family Christmas which we will have here, before we fly to Oregon for the actual holiday, the girls (yes even Kate) inspect every item. Madison is convinced a particular one is a kids camera - which I will admit in this post, it is not. The actual camera will not make it's debut until Oregon, which makes me wonder if her heart will be crushed when she opens what is here. Kate is still at the great age where she is happy to tear through paper and what is inside is great no matter what. Lucky for us she will not be disappointed when she unwraps a shiny new potty training toilet.... Lucky Kate, guess what happens after New Years?!

{Madison colored this and exclaimed, "Ready to Roll!" She then asked me to write that on top}

The run up to Christmas has been great. We enjoyed the town tree lighting which was complete with open shops serving hot chocolate and cookies, a live nativity seen (which Madison ran into!), and of course Santa. Kate could have cared less about Santa but Madison used this opportunity to smother him with hugs, ho ho ho's and of course telling him all about the, yes you guessed it, kids camera! To which he replied, "You mean like that real one your mom is using right now?" Santa was a bit older and out of the loop that yes, they do make these things functional for kids.

{Madison walks right into the nativity seen to hold baby Jesus}

On a day where we actually had a break from the rain, I took the girls to pick out a Christmas tree. My only requirement was that it had to be kind of small, and not too bushy - Madison holding true to form picked the first Charlie Brown tree she could find and it was ours.


That evening I pulled all non-breakable ornaments from the basement and let the girls decorate the tree. 20 minutes later with all ornaments clumped into only a few spots, the tree looked perfect!


Now just the 9 agonizing days (for Madison) until Christmas! On Monday we are heading to Oregon to spend Christmas with my family... there is nothing like a hot waffle breakfast Christmas morning at Grandma Darla's.... Until then we are crossing our fingers that we actually make the 7.5hour travel day without incident.... There is nothing like holding an independent minded 20 month old restrained in your lap..... Joy to the world.....