Tis the Season.....

to be jolly....and entertained.  So fun enjoying the Christmas fun with these boys.

"patiently" awaiting their ornaments

This Christmas season has been a lot of fun.  A lot of sweet memories with the little men in my life.  This year is the first year that Maddox has been able to talk about - and enjoy - so many of the festivities.  He is loving all the Christmas lights around town and gleefully yells "lights, lights" every time he sees them.  He is dancing in his car seat to all the Christmas music.  Although he was very afraid of Santa Claus this year when we went to visit him and have their picture made,

he still loves any picture, yard blow up, statue, decoration, etc. of Santa he sees. Even Santa himself - from a distance.  When he sees him - he says, very excitedly - "Sanna Cause", "Sanna Cause"!  The best part is if you ask Maddox "What does Santa Claus say?"  He says "Ho, ho, ho!"  It is so stinkin' cute!!

sweet Maddox saying "ho, ho, ho" after Zoolight Safari

He has enjoyed looking at, grabbing, and stealing "annie cayes" (candy canes).  This was the first year he really played with the kids' nativity set and he liked standing in front of the fireplace and pointing at each stocking and saying who it belongs to...."Daaah-eee" (Daddy), "Mommy", "Eh-vee" (Evie, one of Evan's nicknames), "Bray-ee" (Brady), and "My-ahn, My-ahn" (Mine).

Brady was awesome when we went to see Santa.  We went really early, I believe it was the Sunday before Thanksgiving, although I usually have a rule preference: "no Christmas until Thanksgiving is over."  With that said, since we went early, apparently Brady had not had the time to think through what he wanted to ask Santa for.  So as we are walking through the not-yet-crowded mall to go stand in the non-existent line to see Santa (benefit of going before Thanksgiving), I notice Brady has a concerned look on his face.  I ask him what is bothering him - and in all seriousness - he says "Nothing, Mom.  I am just thinking about what I am going to ask Santa.  I have not had a chance to think about it yet."  So he continued his focused thought as we walked the rest of the way through the mall to where Santa was waiting.   His focus and mature seriousness was so palpable....is he really only 6 1/2 years old?

The two older ones went and sat with Santa first - wanted to give them a minute to chat with Santa and get them in perfect picture position - before adding Maddox to the mix for the picture (we had a strong feeling this would be the year he would be afraid of Santa - we were right).  They chatted for a bit (again, the benefit of going early - no line) and then we threw Maddox on his lap for the typical crying pic that all three of my boys have at about the same age.

When we walked away from Santa to head to our car, Chris and I asked Brady about his conversation with Santa.  He told us what he asked Santa for and then he looked at Chris and said that he asked Santa the questions they discussed.  I asked what questions he was talking about.  He said - in all seriousness, all business - "I asked him about the abominable snowman and the reindeer."  "He said that he has heard some rumblings...probably the abominable snowman.  He said the reindeer are ready to make the deliveries."  I love his matter-of-fact deliveries and his very serious inquisitiveness - that mixed with a dose of "I am still 6 years old so I am young and innocent enough to believe the sweet joys of things like Santa Claus" make him pretty irresistible.

making a gingerbread house with Brady in his class

Evan has been enjoying singing some of his favorite Christmas songs this Christmas season.  One in particular that he has really gotten into, and proclaimed his favorite - and Chris and I have immensely enjoyed hearing him sing - is the 1984 song "Last Christmas I Gave you my Heart" by Wham!  Whenever it comes on the radio, Evan will quickly say: "this is my song".  He will then proceed to belt out every last word to his Christmas favorite.  The sound of his sweet voice singing is - of course - a "joyful noise".  Also, the seriousness and attention to detail that is put into his performances, is impeccable...remarkably so for a three-year-old.

Evan singing his little heart out, even with all the distractions as we drove around looking at Christmas lights