I'm not sure how to tackle this post(s) because I know there will be lots and lots of pictures. So, I guess I'll just start:
I think this Christmas tree may be the best one we've had yet. It was sitting in a corner of the lot (I know, not on a snowy hillside in the mountains, but you work with what you've got!) all by itself, leaning against a fence, branches all turned upwards. We brought it home, thawed it out and it opened up into the most beautiful tree. I'm usually ready to get the tree down and out of the house after the holidays, I think I'll be sad when it's time to take this one out the door (if it fits out the door, that is!).
Aren't these the cutest little elves you've ever seen?!
"And what to my wondering eyes should appear, but......" Grandma and Grandpa! A little persuasion and we were able to get mom and dad to come 'home for the holidays'. The countdown with Emalie began a week out: "Bama and Bama come home?"....."Yes, in 7 (6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...) days!" Once they arrived, "Bama and Bama come home!!" It's so fun to see them interact with the grandkids. It also makes it evident how quickly time passes because it seems like it was not all that long ago when we were all making those googly, giddy, adoring eyes at little Nikolas.
Our only planned outdoor excursion was to Old Town Parker for a carriage ride and visit to Santa. Mom didn't completely freak out (not completely...) at the idea of hanging out in 20 degree weather. Even better-- it started to snow...just a dusting, but snow nonetheless. LOL.... Nik was too cool to be seen being hauled around town by horses, but Emalie couldn't take her eyes off the draft horses. (What's cuter than a toddler waving at a horse?!)
The only picture we have of Nikolas and Santa....we don't have. When he was 10 months old we had his picture taken with Santa in Missoula. We were quite dismayed that the photographer lost the prints. (And me, observing photographer etiquette, didn't snap any pictures over his shoulders.) That was the closest Nikolas ever got to Santa again. The jolly old fellow scared the heck out of him for the remainder of his 'little years'. It filled a place in my parent heart to see Emalie walk right up to Santa and climb on his lap. I'm pretty sure Santa had no clue what she was saying (or she what he was asking), but I'm also pretty sure that's part of the job description! Yes, Emalie loved Santa and talked the rest of the night about sitting on Santa's lap. My, how much she's changed in a year!
On our way home from town we took a detour through the neighborhood to take in some of the light displays. Sven loves this one-- a pilot lives here and lights up his yard like runways at the airport!
This house is just a few streets over from us. They decorate like this every year. They even park a car up at the beginning of the driveway and 'Santa' sits in the driver seat. Now that's the spirit!
