The week after Thanksgiving we decided to throw a Santa Party. The idea was for Santa to come visit our house and to invite your friends also so everyone could have time to warm up to him and then have their photos taken. It was really fun! First I sat with you because you were afraid to sit on his lap by yourself.
When you did sit on his lap by yourself you were not very happy about it!
But after a little while you warmed up to him because he was interested in your book.
And then we finally got this cute picture of you and Santa!
Here is the whole group: The Narudskys (Miss Katrina, Alex, Eva, and Samuel), Miss Jade & Cole, us, Aunt Jess & Jase, Miss Hailey & Bentley, Miss Ai and Kayla
December 1st - We went to Silver Dollar City and it was CRAZY! There were a million people there (that's how it seemed anyway) but you loved it anyway. Daddy was at drill that weekend at the base so he couldn't come. We rode with Uncle Jacob, Aunt Jessica, and Jase and met Nana and Grandpa there. You loved the lights!
December 3 - We took you to see the lights at Rhema. The weather was unusually warm for December so it seems kind of funny to have photos of us looking at Christmas lights in T-shirts, but that's exactly what we did! It was really fun.
December 8 - Today I came out of the bathroom after my shower to find that you were already awake and eating Daddy's gum. You had already eaten (and swallowed) four pieces and were working on the fifth. Yuck! Later in the day you were singing your own version of Jingle Bells - "Tinker Bell, Tinker Bell..." Cute!
December 10 - We made little Christmas trees together - you, Daddy, and me. We used ice cream cones and icing and candy. You thought it was yummy!
One of our fun new Christmas traditions was "Elf On The Shelf." We adopted an elf that came to stay with us during the month of December. She only came alive at night when we were sleeping and every morning you would find her somewhere new. It was pretty cute!
December 11 - Today you were all about Christmas. You sang "glory to the news barn king" over and over and at one point you brought me one of your dolls and said, "Here's my baby. I swaddling clothesded her."
December 12 - Zuri came over to play and you two decided to pretend you were napping. It wasn't very convincing because you kept giggling!
December 13 - You and Jenna made gingerbread houses at Nana's house! What fun! Then you decorated some cookies. When we got home you sang me "Frosting the Snowman." :)
December 14 - Today you said, "When my mittens grow up, mommy can have them!" You also helped Daddy tell the Christmas story.
December 17 - Painting cookies is so much fun!
December 19 - It was parents day at your gymnastics class. Usually we only get to watch you on a little screen but on this day we got to go to your class with you and see what you've been learning. There were so many parents snapping pictures it was like the paparazzi! You did a great job. You LOVE jumping on the little trampoline, which I think is hilarious.
Stretching
Jumping
Your teacher, Miss Michelle, helps you do a "back flip."
December 21 - When we pass out church tracts Daddy likes to take along sunflower seeds. You love to imitate him and I think it's funny how you "eat" your sunflower seeds.
December 22 - We had the "Starr Family Christmas" get-together. That means Grams, Pops, Uncle Caleb, Aunt Jenn, Jordan, Alex, and Tatum all came over to have dinner and exchange Christmas gifts. As usual, you stayed right by Jordan's side almost the entire night - which she didn't seem to mind one bit.
December 24 - We knew we would have a busy Christmas morning, so on Christmas Eve morning we let you open the presents from us and one that Zuri had given you. You were very serious about how carefully you opened your gifts. You wanted every inch of paper off before you could enjoy the gift. It was funny to watch you and it took you a very long time to get everything opened!
Then in the evening we went to the hotel that Uncle Drew was working at. Since he couldn't come hang out at Nana's house we took the party to him. We hadn't planned to let you swim in the hotel pool, so we didn't bring your bathing suit. I guess we should have known you'd end up swimming!
Nana always gives you a special Christmas Eve present. A new pillowcase (which she made herself) and new pajamas. This year your pillowcase was Fancy Nancy (which I don't have a photo of) and the pillowcase for your tiny pillow was Hello Kitty. You loved your new monkey pajamas!
Once we got home you put out snacks for Santa and his reindeer before going to bed. You were very excited about Santa coming to your house. I was afraid you might not be able to go to sleep, but thank goodness, you were worn out from the excitement of the day and you slept great!
December 25 - We woke you up Christmas morning and this is how excited you were as soon as you opened your eyes.
Of course, we opened the stockings and other gifts that Santa Claus brought. And you found the pickle ornament on the tree, which mean you got another special gift! While you were opening presents you opened a box that Daddy's car parts had come in. Your umbrella was wrapped inside the box but before you even opened it to see what was inside you looked at the box and said, "This is niiiiiice. This is very beautiful!" in the most sincere voice. It was funny to see you so excited when you had no idea what you were even holding!
The two things you asked for over and over were an umbrella and a piggy bank and Santa delivered both!
December 26 - We went shopping and you called Old Navy "Old Maybe" over and over.
Another funny thing you say a lot is "in betwins" - as in, "Mommy, I want to sit in betwins you and Daddy."
Here you are waiting for Daddy to be ready to leave so we could go eat pizza. You all acted like you were dying and couldn't wait another moment to eat!
When we got home you played Candy Land, watched Monsters Inc. and then slept on the floor in your bedroom in the fort that Daddy made for you. What a blast!
