Up Close and Personal With Santa

Santa Claus made a detour during his busy month of December to come to our ward Christmas party. The kids all got to see him and tell him what they wanted. Fin was more interested in the candy than in the big man himself.

First Isaac showed Santa his stitches.

Then, and I thought this was the cutest thing ever, he got right up to whisper in Santa's ear what he wanted for Christmas.

And then Sareny. Sareny, Sareny, Sareny. When Santa walked into the room and made his rounds to a few of the tables, Sareny informed our table that it wasn't the real Santa. Not a big problem, since my kids were the only ones sitting at the table. But then, in a Buddy the Elf type of moment, she began announcing loudly to the entire room, "That's not the real Santa!" We quickly shushed her, and I don't think many people noticed. I'm sure she only had the best interest of the other children at heart, and if I hadn't stopped her just in time, she would have begun imploring the children, "Don't tell that man anything!"

For We Need a Little Christmas, Right This Very Minute...

Don't we? Or do you mean Christmas was over and done with a month ago? Well, be that as it may, here we go with a Christmas-y post. And might I add, I was a little disapointed nobody seemed to get my clever Toy Story 2 movie-quote-title from my last post. Anyway, this is a picture of the cute little nativity I got this year--before it was dismantled and darn near destroyed by tiny hands...It was really adorable for the 5 minutes it looked like this.
My kids absolutely love Christmas ornaments, possibly as much as I do. They are always so excited to get them out and find their old friends. Finley tried to put her tiara on.

Sareny doing her best Lisa Marie impression with her Hannah Montana guitar.

Isaac showing off Wall-E and a Cars ornament.

I really love Sareny's Belle ornament. We got it for her at Disneyland when she was two.

Fin loves the musical Hallmark High School ornaments we have, and she was busting out some serious moves!

And in between snapping a bunch of pictures, I pitched in to help get the tree decorated.

Aren't they cute?

And I think this one is just kind of hilarious. Isaac looks pretty chill, but take a look at Fin and Sareny's faces. They both look excited beyond belief.

Who's Behind? Mine...

Long ago, at the beginning of December, we went to the local residents club where some snow had been trucked in. The kids had a great time flinging snow at each other and their friends.

We ran into the Fuls', and Finley and Alora are really good friends (although Alora is Isaac's age.)

Sareny scooped up mounds of snow to toss at people.

She found some boys from her class to chase.

Then we decorated some sugar cookies.

A task that Isaac took very seriously.

He was very proud of his work.

Sareny also worked hard on hers.

Finley worked hard on eating hers. This girl loves treats more than any kid I've seen since her Tia Lexi.

And then the kids got to visit Santa, Mrs. Santa, and an elf. It was a fun, free day!

Requisite "Holiday" Concert

I know schoolkids the country over perform a concert in December, and I'm sure I can't be the only parent who thinks these things are just precious. They only do these for a few short years, and they are adorable.

This year, Sareny's class sang "Paint the Town December," which was a cute, catchy little number.

All the grades sang "Hearts Around the World," and if you were anywhere near our house in the weeks preceding the concert, you would have been able to sing along word for word. Lexi, Grammy, and Bampa, who were only here for a couple of days at Thanksgiving, could certainly have joined in.

Our attentive audience.