Christmas 2016

As you age Christmas loses its excitement that it once had. This year seeing everything through Candor's eyes it felt magical again! Thinking back on it I would not have changed anything. We did everything that we could possibly do as well as just sit back and enjoy the time with each other.

To kick off the season we had our annual visit with Santa Claus. Last year Candor cried when he sat on his lap. Driving to see Santa this year we decided we would all sit with him. If Candor smiled we all smiled. If Candor cried we all cry.

Well..........

WE CRIED! Even Santa! We decided once again to make it our Christmas card.

A few days after visiting Santa, Cire the elf came. He brought a long a pair of Christmas pajamas for Candor to wear.

Each night Cire would hide in a different spot in the living room for Candor to find the next morning. I was a bit unsure whether Candor would be interested in this but he LOVED finding him. Every morning he would run to the living room. First we would turn on the Christmas tree lights. Then we would hunt for Cire! Every single morning he would find him, point, and yell CIRE!!!!! Below are a few of Cire's hiding spots.

Todd had the last 2 1/2 weeks of December off work. We took full advantage.

We went to Mozarts for their light show. This was the first time I have ever went and it so fun.

We went to the Triangle Annual Tree Lighting where we played in snow (ice), jumped in bouncy houses and we also got to get in a snow globe!

Todd got to go with us on one of Candor's toddler led hikes. Candor was so proud to show Todd how he could hike.

We went to the Trail of Lights....and road the bus to get there!

We went to a Christmas cookie decorating party. Candor did less decorating and more eating.

We watched lots of Christmas movies. Candor actually sat through all of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation!

We shopped.

Candor had his Christmas pageant for his preschool. The toddlers job was to walk down the aisle (accompanied by a parent) and place hay in the manger. Candor did awesome. Afterwards we had a pizza supper. Candor ate at the table with Jake and took lots of pictures with Ms. April.

Candor also had a smaller pageant at church. He got to dress up like a shepherd. He was so cute!

On Christmas Eve we tracked Santa all day long on the Santa tracker.

When it was time for bed we said our goodbyes to Cire, laid out cookies and milk for Santa, and then we went to bed.

Well we tried to go to bed. Candor was so excited and decided he needed a snack after we read him his bedtime books!

On Christmas morning I woke up super early, got ready, made coffee, and waited...waited...waited...waited.

The two boys at my house would not get up! I mean who sleeps in on Christmas morning?!?!?! When Candor finally woke he was so excited to look at all the presents Santa left him as well as open up all his presents!

We also got to spend time with lots of family! PaPa, G, Uncle T, and Aunt Molly came the weekend before Christmas. We all went to the Armadillo Bazaar. We then came home, played scrabble, ate dinner, and had our Christmas.

Pop Pop, Nana, AJ, AK, AB all came over the weekend of Christmas. We opened presents, decorated gingerbread cookies, made a gingerbread house, Todd made fried chicken, and we played Pie Face. Pie Face was the highlight. I haven't laughed that much in a very long time!