This Christmas Season, Part 1

This year has definitely been more fun, now that Garrett is starting to understand and enjoy our holiday traditions. He's definitely getting the Santa thing. In clarifying what he wanted from Santa, I ended one conversation by asking if he was sure enough that I could call Santa. His eyes got wide, and he said, "You can call Santa?! What's his number? Is it 911?" Though I told him the number was a secret that only mommies and daddies know, I did make a point to emphasize that the number was not 911 and that that number was only for emergencies (and not toy emergencies). Though Scout doesn't get what's going on, it is really nice that I can buy her gifts right in front of her, and not worry about having to hide them. She's still enjoying the season, though. She loves the tree, which I caught her lying under to watch the lights the other day, and she doesn't miss a beat when it's time to dance to Christmas music.

We got our tree at Home Depot again this year, which I never intended to be a tradition, but we seem to have made it one.

We attended the Living Nativity at Park Hills Baptist Church, in their outdoor theater. It was beautiful and a great performance. They bring in animals for the show and for a little petting zoo for the kids. We got to touch camels, goats, rabbits, and a donkey. We also enjoyed some hot chocolate and cookies after the performance.

One Friday evening we went to the Southpark Meadows laser light show. It was so much fun. They have lasers and Christmas lights that are covering the performance area and all the trees set to great Christmas music. When Frosty the Snowman plays, they drop "snow" on the audience. The kids just ran to the front grassy area and all danced together. Santa was there, as well, though we didn't make it over to see him. We did grab some hot chocolate, though, and shared a couple of cups. We even let Scout slurp the last couple of drops of one. Our friends, the Howards, got there just as the first light show was ending and the live performance started. It was a musical duo called Above Ground Austin, and they sang all of the beautiful Christ-centered Christmas songs.

G, Cohen, and Scout watching the performance through the gate

Scout peeking in

Scout, Daddy and G

Our lights at home, both the outside ones and the ones on the tree gave us troubles this year. I don't think they're ever perfect, but it felt like we spent a lot more time adjusting them and replacing bulbs this year. I even plugged in one strand to check them in the house, and then once they were on the house, they didn't work. I think we all have those stories. Here's a picture of Garrett "helping" Daddy fix some decorations.

Daddy's little helper