I guess it really will start AFTER Thanksgiving with all the holiday prep!
We had the quite the experience with small Charlie Brown Christmas trees this year. Yes, you read right, "trees" plural. We cut our 1st Ponderosa pine tree during Derrick's lunch break one day (in a slight hurry and lacking a better time to go). Derrick's words against mine were "Babe, it's meant for the corner." Let's just say, the corner didn't even help this tree. The needles all turned brown and started falling off within the first 6 hours we had it in the house and it had huge gaps!
Out with the old, in with another.
We went on the search again......this time I got the final say. We ended up with a cute little spruce that served its purpose! Here's a few snapshots from both tree cutting excursions!
The family with the ugly Ponderosa Pine tree. Notice Derrick's holding it at an angle (for good reason). I was totally faking my smile! LOL
Addie was a happy little tree hunter in her Elmer Fudd hat.
Kai is my outdoorsmen! There was something to play with or explore in each tree hunting spot.
During the holidays Ponderosa did a few improv dinner shows for the public. Aunt Mimi and Alex (my teenage babysitting saints) volunteered to babysit so I could help with a few of the shows. This was one night after the show when Addie was ALMOST ready for bed and in an excellent mood!
Kai and I decorated a gingerbread house this year. Our first one ever! He really enjoyed it, especially sampling all the candy and licking the frosting off the roof! I'd say I need some improvement as well in years to come. Notice the box picture behind the real thing......we'll shoot for that quality in a few years!
Kai is also understanding pregnancy more this time around. He's witnessed my sickness and frequently checks my tummy and gives the baby kisses. He says "his baby makes him sick too" and "he thinks he needs a cracker to help his baby feel better"......he obviously gets the morning sickness stuff anyway. He really is sympathetic and comforting and he doesn't even know it!
Kai and Addie have become better buddies in the last month. Now that Addie is older, able to sit up, eat at the table with us, and always laughs at her brother they have the strongest bond yet. It's been fun to see that grow. Here's a pic of them laying in Kai's sleeping bag together in their bedroom. Kai practiced sleeping in his sleeping bag quite a bit before Christmas so he would be familiar with the routine when we visited Grandma and Grandpa's house for Christmas. It obviously led to many play opportunities as well.
Kai also likes to play with Addie in her crib. He sticks to the "sit or lay" rule pretty well so he can stay in there with her. This particular night they were just lounging in there and really giggling together....who knows why!?
Papa and MooMoo also took us to the Denver Zoo (along with other camp family) to see the Christmas light display and whatever animals were out in the artic weater. We bundled up and braved the cold. We rode the Merry-Go-Round (which was a highlight), saw rhinos, hippos, elephants, giraffes, sleeping lions, and the indoor animal displays.
By the look of it, Papa and MooMoo had just as much fun on the Merry-Go-Round as Kai did! It was a fun thing to do together....just wish it was warmer! Next year I'm bringing my thermos of hot cocoa!
