Christmas is such a fun time of year, and now that we have a fun loving little boy, its even better. Thomas got really into the holiday cheer this year. He caught right onto the idea of Santa and presents and surprises. He loved it! He learned the words Santa and Christmas Tree pretty fast. Here we are at our annual trip to the Zoo Lights. Thomas was a little more relaxed than last year.
All bundled up looking at the lights.
While Thomas LOVED talking about Santa and reading books about him, he wasn't all that keen on actually meeting him.
He loved helping put up the Christmas Tree. He looked at the box and said, "Christmas Tree!" He is a smart little cookie!
Thomas and his Papa both love admiring the magic of the Christmas Tree. I love the look on Thomas' face.
I made some little animal ornaments to put on the tree this year, and they seemed to wind up taking rides in the dump truck nearly every day. Silly little critters! Stay in your tree!
Our good friends, the Glenn's invited us to go see the Nutcracker with them. It was so much fun, and nice to go out and get all dressed up and go on a fancy date. That rarely ever happens around here! While we were out on the town, the little boys partied hard at home with the babysitter. When we came home they were passed out on the couch. So sweet!
We love our tradition of going to the German bakery to get cookies. I think Thomas especially loved it this year. This boy sure loves his sweets!
Mmmm. Coookie! It is funny because Thomas usually gobbles up his sweets, but he took a looong time to eat these christmas cookies. He would look at every little detail and slowly nibble away at them. I would think, maybe he doesn't like it, and then proceed to ask him if he wanted me to take it for him. Then he would cry and scream! Some cookies took him a good 30 minutes or more to eat!
Another Allred tradition- decorating gingerbread houses. We had fun having our good friends over. Thomas really liked helping decorate. Mama got a little burnt out and let Thomas and papa take over, which explains why our house looked a little more, um, creative this year.
That's our house in the middle! Clint said he was trying to make it look like Mater.
One of my favorite things we did this year was have a little advent calendar with Thomas. Clint picked up one of those really simple ones at the grocery store, and Thomas LOVED it. Clint would ask Thomas every night if he wanted a prize and to go close his eyes. It didn't take Thomas long to start asking for it, "Prize? Prize? PRIZE!!!" He also figured out pretty quickly where it was hidden also. I joked that Thomas would have been pretty content to just get a years worth of advent calendars for Christmas.
It took him a while to stop and look at the chocolates before he ate them!
We were so lucky that Clint had a few days off for Christmas this year. We took advantage of it and played hard! Here is Thomas and mama buiding a parking garage. Papa said, "Say Cheese!" And Thomas gave this cute little smile! Mama gave a real cheesy expression.
Thomas and papa have so much fun playing together!
Look what Santa brought us! Thomas got spoiled! He got so many fun toys. When he first came out of bed he was a little grumpy, but cheered up pretty quickly when he saw all these fun things just for him. We had to take 2 shifts to open presents though, its just too much for a little guy!
Santa brought him a fun train set
And a training potty! On Christmas Thomas LOVED his potty so much that it was the cause of a major melt down later in the day. He wanted to take the potty to bed with him and when Mom said no he was seriously NOT HAPPY!
He also got a little art easel which he has used quite frequently. Thomas really seems to enjoy creative activities like coloring, play dough and painting. Who knows, maybe he does have a tiny bit of his mom in him.
Look at all that bounty! We were so blessed by our gracious family who gave thomas so many wonderful things. Above all, we really just enjoyed spending time with each other, thinking about the birth of the Savior and feeling very lucky for the life that has blessed ours so deeply and richly. What a wonderful time of the year!
