Here's a few highlights from all the Christmas shopping, baking, and partying.
1. Tanner prefers to view Santa from afar rather than up close and personal.
2. Plan to take Christmas pics EARLY next year. This year, I just ran out of time, so I used this family pic we took in the fall. The perfectionist inside of me cringes (yes, I'm the only one smiling and Tanner looks possessed). But it grew on me. And hey, sometimes good has to be good enough.
3. I tried to be extra ambitous and take Tanner & Ave w/me to the mom. Let's just say every parent was starring at me like I was the worst mom ever - and probably with good reason. Avery wondered off for a second (she was mad cuz she wanted to ride in the stroller) and I overheard one sales associate ask where her mom was - and she replied that she wasn't here shopping with her. The lady didn't know how to respond. And then another mom gave me total dirty looks. But at least I didn't have my two elementary kids tied to leashes disguised at backpacks. By the time we left the mall, I was pushing a stroller w/Tanner screaming and carrying Avery.
4. I'll find a better spot for the Christmas presents. I've been staching them away in the closet - and it's Tanner's favorite hangout place - so he's stumbled upon many of them. But hey, at least I know he'll like them.
5. Get a new fake Christmas tree. This one has two feet of space between the ground and first branch - giving Tanner ample room to crawl underneath and turn on the Christmas lights at his leisure. It's his favorite activity. And yes, I let him play with electrical plugs.
He looks at me with those sneakly eyes,
fully aware he should NOT be there.
And then proceeds to laugh...
6. We hope little baby Jesus survivies another Christmas. He gets lost multiple times a day. Tanner loves the toy nativity scene he got last year - and plays with all day long - but never returns maybe Baby Jesus. I hope the obsession continues forever.(oh, it's so cute, but Tanner can now say Baby, still working on Jesus though)
7. Tanner isn't so much as a "help" in the kitched as I would like. Maybe next year. For now, Avery is my #1 fan (hence, the new apron for Christmas), but Tanner, not-so-much.
This is Tanner's idea of helping:
When I wasn't looking, he grabbed the baking powder contained and made a sandbox in my kitchen. It did, however, keep him pre-occupied enough i was able to finish baking a million different things for the holiday party.
8. But he does still have a sweet tooth. He loves it all! We made the mistkae of putting leftover box of Andes Mints it in the cupboard, and Tanner helped himself. He didn't mind the wrapper - he bit right through. Anthony was horrified - he can't stand the mints - which meant more for me (at least I hoped)...
8. But he does still have a sweet tooth. He loves it all! We made the mistkae of putting leftover box of Andes Mints it in the cupboard, and Tanner helped himself. He didn't mind the wrapper - he bit right through. Anthony was horrified - he can't stand the mints - which meant more for me (at least I hoped)...
