'Tis the Season to Be Jolly

**Remember 28 days ago when I said I was back....well, I lied.  Hopefully now I'm back for good.  The good news is that since I have been making an effort to be more present in my own life and spend more time with my husband before January 4th when school starts again, I have spent less time on the computer.  Good for my family, bad for my faithful readers.  In the spirit of the season, please forgive me.**

 It's two days before Christmas and we have done a lot of fun things to get ready for the big day.  For Family Home Evening a week ago we had another family over to make Gingerbread houses.  The dads helped the boys and the moms got to make their own.  By the end, I think Trevor had more candy in his belly than he did on his house,  and the smile on his face tells me that FHE was a huge hit.

We also visited Santa Claus for a quick picture and the traditional telling Santa that you've been a good boy and asking for what you want most in the whole world under your tree on Christmas morning.

For Trevor is was "a HUGE Fire Engine!!"  And Austin, well staring that that jolly guy in a red suit seemed present enough for him.

After church on Sunday the boys looked so cute all dressed up so a snapped a quick picture of them.  **sigh**  I love these little boys.














On Tuesday we took a drive up to Bellevue for Snowflake Lane.  There were drummers and characters to take pictures with, free suckers and a million people.  Before leaving for home Darren and I grabbed a slice of Adams Peanut Butter Cheesecake to-go.

Then, yesterday we trekked into downtown Seattle to the Sheraton hotel to see the Gingerbread house display.  When you ask Trevor what we did yesterday he'll tell you, "We drove in my big truck with Grandpa Hales and Grandma Cheri and Daddy and Mommy and me and Austin to see the Gingerbread houses and I wanted to eat them all gone because I like treats and trucks and I was sooo hungry."  And he'll say it just like that.  One big long run-on sentence with no pause for a breath.  And then when I get that dazed look in my eye and a slight smile on my face he'll say, "I talk a lot huh Mommy??"  And I'll reply with a big smile, "Yes Trevor, you do."

Santa fishing from atop a candy boathouse.

The backside of the boathouse had a mosaic of the Space Needle and a sea plane and the Fremont troll carved into the side of the mountain.

This tree house was sculpted from krispy treats and was Darren's favorite.

Go Huskies!!

This was by far my favorite Gingerbread house.  It was perfectly done and made me wish that I had some connection that would allow me to help build one next year.

It's been a fun month and we are all ready and excited for Christmas.

 Best wishes to you all and have a Merry Christmas.