Each year Christmas gets more and more fun, as Emmeline is better able to understand what is happening. In addition to the usual Christmas tree, lights, and Santa sightings, we started a Christmas countdown this year which was lots of fun for all of us!
As has become our tradition, we went to Home Depot the day after Thanksgiving to pick out our Christmas tree. Emmeline loved helping decorate and put the start on top this year. Although, the donkey ornament from Qatar did not make her strict guidelines on what is acceptable to put on the tree. Again, she was extremely good about the tree, never pulling ornaments off!
There was also the Lighting of the Doves that weekend at Town Green Park, which kicks off the lights for the season in the Woodlands. Santa also arrived via boat on the waterway. It was a long wait, but Emmeline was in awe of Santa, and when he touched her hand she could hardly believe it, doing a double take and talking about which hand he touched for days afterward!
The Market Street tree lights were a hit again, and this year we drove into one of the popular neighborhoods with big light displays. It was quite impressive, with almost every house participating and lights across the road!
Our Santa visit was at the library again this year. So much better than waiting in a long line and paying $50 for one picture at the mall. She didn't cry like last year, but she was a little bit unsure and was eager to get down and back to me after I took the picture. She did understand a bit about Santa this year though, and from the time she wrote her letter until Christmas itself, she never wavered on what we wanted: a cat puzzle, a bear, and diapers for baby sister. Chick fil A Christmas cow got a similar reaction!
Only one true Christmas party this year, a MOTW party at Kidville. Emmeline's favorite was the trampoline and hanging on the bars. The photo booth was not very successful with 2 years olds full of energy! :)
No Christmas is complete without cookie baking. This year we did cut outs and peanut butter blossoms. Emmeline loved helping me mix everything, roll the balls in sugar, and unwrapping the kisses was probably her favorite. She did so good not sneaking any kisses, either! The same can't be said about her frosting cut outs. She quickly learned how good frosting is, and was always happy to lick any extra that got on her hands. As usual, she was very determined and lasted quite a while helping make these cookies!
The Christmas countdown was one of my favorite activities from childhood, and it was fun to be able to start the tradition with Emmeline this year. She became very good at announcing each morning that we needed to open a new Christmas book and then open a star to see what we would do that day. Some of my favorite activities this year included making play dough, getting out nativity sets, shopping for a kid in need, Christmas science, a picnic around the Christmas tree, hot chocolate and a Christmas movie, and making a birthday cake for Baby Jesus. We also got our first mani and pedi in Christmas colors! She loved it and sat so still!
A fun month, and I'm sure next year will be even more fun!
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