let the Christmas festivities begin

We kicked off the holiday season, Thursday, with a trip to the mall to have our picture taken with Santa. Brinley had no problems going to sit on the big guys lap and she was sooo anxious to tell him she wanted a Cinderella castle and bike for Christmas. Clayton sat on his lap and let us get one picture before he realized he did not want to be there. I calmed him down several times and tried again, but he would get hysterical. So here is our Santa picture for 2009

Friday was a cold and snowy day. Yes it snowed in Houston and yes it snowed at our house ALL day long, but it did not stick. Other parts of Houston (including a friend who lives 10 miles west of us) got 2-3 inches of snow on the ground. Brinley was very upset that she couldn't build a snowman. We were able to scrape together enough ice off the sheets covering our plants to build two golf ball sized snow balls. Brinley threw her snowball at Daddy and Clayton decided to try and eat his.

Clayton eating his snowball
Brinley holding her snowball
Here is all snow that stuck

If you enlarge this one you can see all the snow falling

We also had Wyatt at our house on Friday, since it was not a fun filled day of playing in the snow, we made a gingerbread house instead. The hardest part was keeping them from eating all the candy before they put it on the house. They were also very rough in putting on the candies so it made the ceiling collapse. We pieced it back together with tooth picks so they could finish decorating it and we could take a picture.

Saturday evening, we bundled up and met some friends at the League City Christmas Parade. They had lots of crafts booths, amusement rides and yummy food before the parade. Brinley loved the parade (especially the dance teams, drill teams from high schools and cheerleaders). We braved the cold all evening but had to call it a night after 2 hours into the parade and still no end in sight. With pockets full of candy, frozen fingers and toes, we headed home for hot chocolate and bed.

Brinley with the blue Santa

Brinley had the best view of the parade

Me and my little man all bundled up

Brinley and Maddy ready to ride some rides

This week will be crazy with Clayton's first birthday party, Jason's company Christmas party and Christmas with Jason's family. I am tired just thinking about it :)