Baking Bonanza

Bennett requested a cookie baking day.  Of course my Mom was first on the invite list.  One because I knew she would eat this activity up with Bennett and two because she came with dough already pre-made.  Winning!  I mean it was dough once again for MY BROTHER'S favorite cookies, but dough nonetheless.  Don't worry, I made my favorite cookies myself because I'm an independent and capable woman. Once again this year we had one main helper (besides my Mom) and then a few others that stopped by long enough to decorate a cookie to eat (Dad included).  All in all we had a very successful day and I was able to show up to all of my Christmas functions with home baked cookies that I sort of made.  

Visit with Santa

Well we couldn't settle with just the encounter with "Creepy Santa" so we decided to do our annual trip to Bass Pro for a discussion with the "Nice Normal Santa".  I mean who doesn't love standing in long lines all dressed up around the holidays?  My kids...that's who.  Anyway, the trip went pretty well.  Miss Everly didn't have an opinion either way about the Jolly Old Man, zero expression to be had.  2018 should be a little different...bring on the screaming kid pictures!!!  The boys both wrote out their very detailed lists...Nolan wanted a BB Gun, Baseball Cards, a video game, a rainbow loom, GoPro and a speaker.  Bennett wanted a BB Gun, Catcher's Gear, an iPod, a magic set and stuff to build a fort.  And poor Everly probably just wanted some shoes. #thirdkidproblems

The Real Polar Express

I don't know if anyone remembers our last disastrous trip on the "Polar Express", but we decided to try again this year because the "Real" Polar Express was in St. Louis this time.  And I'm happy to report it was MUCH better than our 2016 experience!  Except...same creepy Santa!  You win some, you lose some I guess!  This time there was singing, dancing, ticket punching, bells handed out, the reading of the Polar Express, cookies and the promised Hot Chocolate.  Happy Customers right here!

She's a Keeper

Just because I'm almost a year behind in blogging, doesn't mean I have an excuse to skip the everyday pictures that I have taken.  Or do I?  Just look how sweet she is there playing and entertaining herself while I wrapped Christmas presents.  She's a keeper that one, she's a keeper.

Gingerbread House Mania

I made that sound really exciting didn't I?  Well, don't get too excited this is just our annual Gingerbread House decorating activity.  I think this year they REALLY had a gem though, I mean I only had to finish a small portion this year to make it look complete unlike other years where I've finished the majority.  Man they are growing up.  Maybe it was the little cheerleader we had next to the table this year!  The boys each picked a side of the house to decorate, you will know whose is whose because they definitely put their names on their respective roofs.  Phew, wouldn't want anyone getting their masterpieces mixed up!  But for the record...I did the front (sans name).