Okay it's 5:21 a.m. as I write this. I'm busy making cookies and finishing wrapping gifts. I took a short nap last night and haven't gone back to bed. Not because I don't want to, but because I'm motivated and have the energy to get everything ready (without coffee!). Sometimes, it's just nice to have the house to myself. Also because Mr. Gabe fell asleep in the swing and I love hearing his little snores and didn't want to wake him to put him to bed upstairs.
I can't believe Christmas will be here tomorrow! It feels like the Christmas season went really fast this year. I've been especially excited this Christmas- it'll be Gabe's first Christmas and the girls are really understanding everything about Christmas this year (Biblical and the Santa stuff). We've counted down the days with our paper chain, read dozens of Christmas stories and saw Santa more times than ever before!
Last year Lily was still a little afraid of Santa. She talked highly of the guy and said over and over she would sit on his lap but she never really did when it was time to actually sit on his lap. She did sit on the Santa at the mall last year and I ended up buying the picture because I was so proud of her for doing it (and smiling too!). This year she RAN to Santa and climbed right into his lap and told him she wanted a little trampoline and a princess camera. She would talk for Grace saying that Grace wanted a baby doll and that Grace was afraid to sit in his lap. That was true- Grace would just casually say "no" in a sweet way whenever I asked if she wanted to sit on Santa's lap. I respected her decision since Lily was like that at 2 years old also and was happy that Grace would give Santa a hi-five or a quick hug. Eventually though after seeing so many Santas (Lily saw Santa at preschool, at the historical museum, at the zoo, at my college, at two different malls and at the World's Largest Christmas Store-Bronner's. We also tried twice to go to Bass Pro Shops Winter Wonderland but it was too busy to see Santa), Grace got used to him and SAT on his lap AND SMILED. I was so proud of her! Gabe also saw Santa and each time loved him too. I'll admit it- we saw Santa a bit too much this year but Lily wanted to go and I loved seeing how excited she was to see Santa. I only have a short window of time before they won't believe anymore and I want to make the most of it.
You would think it would bring up a lot of questions about Santa- like how they all look a little different and how come Santa is not at the North Pole but rather passing out candy canes at the mall. But Lily figured that one out on her own and said "All the Santas look a little different, but they all talk the same." I'm guessing to her- Santa is Santa and I won't have to explain anything else this year about it.
And now-onto the many Santa pictures!
