Holiday Happenings

Man, I am so behind this Christmas season. Our Christmas cards aren't even here yet, a few of our gifts to other people may arrive late, and my house seems to be a constant mess because I haven't had time to tidy it up every day. I feel like I can't keep my head above water! Next year, my goal is to be totally organized and have some sort of plan to get everything done in a timely manner. And no traveling at the beginning of December! I've done that two years in a row and it really puts me behind.

Today was actually a relatively calm day, so I've had time to clean up and even upload some videos. I'm doing this during naptime because I've made an early resolution to stop spending time on the computer while the boys (especially Jackson) are awake. I feel like I've been missing some discipline-related "teachable moments" with Jackson lately because I've been otherwise occupied on the computer. It sure is an addiction that I need to keep under control.

We went to my Mom's Club Christmas party last night and the boys got to see Santa again. This time he arrived in a police car, which J totally loved. Compared to that and an F-15, a boring old sleigh is going to sound really lame to Jackson once he's able to comprehend the whole Santa story! :) Jackson wouldn't get near him... he wouldn't even take the present that Santa had for him. Here he is checking Santa out from a distance.

Emmett, unable to know what he was in for and make his feelings known about it - poor thing, had to endure sitting on Santa's lap. It didn't go well!

I just love a plate of Christmas sugar cookies. Aren't these pretty? I used an icing recipe that my friend, Kristen, recommended from allrecipes.com and it was perfect. I could eat this whole tray. Except that I won't, because I've just started noticing weight loss from going to the gym! It took a while, but is finally happening (albeit very slowly). Hooray! So now I have to try to be extra good these next two weeks to make sure I don't undo everything.

Just look at these precious boys in their matching Christmas pajamas. Ooooh, I could totally eat them up!

Here are four videos from the past two days. The first is Jackson opening his present from Santa at the party last night. I was there by myself because Phil was night flying, otherwise Emmett would not have been rolling all over the floor. Yuck.

Next is Jackson telling me about the present he got from Santa last night. I tried to make out what he was saying as best I could!

This one is Emmett enjoying his bath. My friend, Michelle, lent us this bath seat and it is the best. thing. ever. He can splash away to his little heart's content and we don't have to worry about him falling over backwards (which, unfortunately, has happened before).

And finally, here's Emmett making his first real crawl! He's been trying to do this for days, but always ended up just sliding backwards or collapsing back to his tummy. I think he's got it!