I only got one picture on Thanksgiving, and it wasn't even at dinner. Ryan had to go to his parents early to start smoking the bird, so Ari and I got to chill at home for a bit. They were having a big breakfast at Mark and Dawn's, so I did my own quick version of a fancy pants breakfast.
Happy Thanksgiving Breakfast!
I have a super awesome patient that offered me a pair of their Jazz tickets for the day after Thanksgiving since they were going to be out of town. We weren't able to get a baby sitter, so we just bought an extra ticket and hoped that Ari could sit with us, or we'd find some seats where we could sit together. Luckily, no one came to sit in the seats next to us, so it worked out great. Ari actually paid attention to the game and seemed to enjoy it, although her favorite part was cheering for the opposing team. Little stinker.
We got to see Santa the first week of December at our clubhouse. It's nice that they have him come there and let you take your own pictures, so we don't have to spend half our Christmas budget on pictures from the mall Santa.
Aria asked him for a toy kitchen and sand buckets. Then she demanded a candy cane.
We decided to try to do some decorating of the gingerbread man this year. It was kind of a flop because Ari just wanted to eat the decorations, but I think she still had fun doing it.
"I can't believe this has to be his nose, and they won't let me eat it."
Finished product.
My gingerbread man. I think he's pretty pimpin'.
I had hoped to go to Temple Square to see the lights, but it was either crazy cold, super smoggy, or I didn't feel good. I also wanted to do Festival of Trees, but it always comes and goes so quickly, it was gone before I even had time to consider it. We did have our work parties. Ryan's work always does a white elephant gift exchange that can get pretty raunchy. We didn't come home with anything too crazy, but Ryan did get a "dead" stuffed cat along with a book that describes 100 (or some number) uses for said dead cat. Ryan and I both talked about how we needed to keep it away from Aria.....
As always, we spend Christmas Eve at Mark and Dawns. We had the kids decorate gingerbread houses this year. Then we had dinner, sang carols, and opened gifts. It was a great night filled with great family.
Again, Ari ate more candy then she decorated with.
Singing Christmas carols is very different since there are so many little kids now. It didn't matter what song we were singing, C and Ari were running and dancing around like crazy people. Ari was seriously sweaty from running around so much by the time we started opening presents.
Play dough!! She was very excited for presents.
As we were driving home on Christmas Eve, we were talking to Ari about how Santa was going to come that night. She told us that he wasn't coming because she had been naughty. We told her that she wasn't naughty, and she started yelling at us that she was so naughty. Silly kid. Of course Santa came, and when she walked down the stairs and saw her stuff, she exclaimed, "Oh my goodness!!" She then used the pretend phone from her kitchen set to call Santa and tell him thanks. She seriously melts my heart.
Waiting for Mom and Dad to get their stuff ready so we can go downstairs. When she wakes up, Puppy and her Grandma Sue blanket have to come with her...
This is when she finally started to get excited, I think. At first, she just wanted to go downstairs to get her milk. We had to remind her that Santa came.
"Oh my goodness!!"
I like that she gets excited about her little stocking items, too.
Miss Wendy gave her Snoopy and a book, which she was obviously happy with. :)
You can't tell because she was being difficult smiling for the camera, but she was very excited about her Doc McStuffins doctor kit.
Rockin out on her new Minnie Mouse headphones.
Our little chef, ready to cook!
Ryan was diggn' the Minnie Mouse headphones too
My mom got Ari a box of princess dresses and Aria had to immediately try one on. This is the Tinkerbell outfit. She cracks me up.
Again, I wish I'd been better with the pictures, but oh well. Ryan and I are enjoying a date day today while Ari plays with friends at her sitters house. We love having this time off together at the end of the year. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!
