Dear Santa...

Its been a busy weekend! This morning we took the boys to Regency mall to see Santa. Adam had pictures that he cut out of the toy catalog and glued to a piece of paper. He was very excited to show them to Santa... Alex screamed, of course. Adam loved it, but this Santa (clearly one of the real Santa's underpaid helpers) was pretty rough around the edges. He started telling Adam about shooting machine guns in vietnam, and we cut it short. (yes, he actually said that and yes, I have already emailed the mall management about it!). Ho Ho Ho.

Gingerbread House

After the parade, we came back to Omaha and Adam and I went to Fontenelle Forest for an event where we got to make our own gingerbread house. It was a lot of fun. They had the house pre-made for us, all we did was glue on the candy. Adam ate just about as much as he glued on!

Getting ready to decorate our house!

Choosing the candy - so many choices!

Carefully gluing the candy....

Goofing around.....
The finished product. Adam did a great job decorating!

Star City Parade

We made a quick trip to Lincoln (the STAR CITY) this morning to meet Alison and watch the parade. Cheryl and Chip (the sheltie) were walking this year along with Elmo, Mighty Mouse and the East High Spartan marching band. We all had hot chocolate, and Alex and Adam enjoyed the show for the first 1/2 hour or so, then Alex wanted to run free and Adam got upset because the parade entries were not throwing candy. So, we packed up and headed back to Omaha. All in all, it was fun while it lasted!

The parade route, with the State Capitol in the background.

Cheryl and Chip marching along.

Mighty Mouse! Here I Come to Save the Day! (I am dating myself.... apparently, people who were born within the past 25 years do not have a clue who Mighty Mouse is... so sad)

Mom and Adam with Hot Chocolate.

Alison and the Boys.

The Lights

It's Beginning to Look alot Like Christmas....

We are slowing getting ready for Christmas around here - seems like we are behind all the neighbors who already have their lights and trees up. Can't believe its still only November. Adam is VERY VERY excited about Christmas and had so much fun getting all the decorations out. It all seemed very new to him - he didnt remember doing any of it last year.

Here is Dad's little light bulb checker...

What do you mean I can't stomp on the lights?

Dad and Adam hang the lights...
Adam posing in front of our baby-proof Christmas decorations! He has three children's nativity sets under the tree that he plays with non-stop. We got out the little tree this year and Alex hasn't really even noticed that its there. He does like the dancing snowman on the end table, however.

On the table is our new Christmas visitor - Poodle the Elf (affectionately named by Adam). He magically appeared at our house the day after Thanksgiving. We aren't allowed to touch him but we can talk to him. He watches everyone to be sure we are being good. He leaves every night and goes to the North Pole to report to Santa how we are doing. Then, in the morning he's in a different spot in the house. Adam is having fun trying to find him each day and talking to him about all the messages he wants him to take to santa. :o).

This train usually goes under the tree, but we decided it may be more Alex-proof up in Adam's room. We set it up so it goes under his bed. He loves it.