Visit With Santa

We braved the mall one week before Christmas to take Sadie and Braden to see Santa. We had a surprisingly short wait for the week before Christmas. While we were waiting in line, I took a few pictures. Sadie is really into making silly faces these days. Braden is just chillin' in the stroller while sissy is silly! Enjoy!

The picture I took with my camera. For his first time visiting the "Jolly Guy", Braden did very well! No screaming baby! Sadie told Santa she wanted a Buzz Lightyear and Woody. She also told him that Braden wanted socks.

The official 2010 picture with Santa.

The Building of the Gingerbread House

About a week before Christmas, we had family fun night at the Moore house! It started with homemade pizza and then we built a gingerbread house. Sadie was so excited to do this (note her face in the picture below). We had a blast, but in the end it looked like what I imagine a "Charlie Brown Gingerbread House" would look like if he ever built one. Enjoy the pics.

Ready to get started!!

"Whoa, the roof is going on!!"

Carefully placing the star candies on the roof.

Now for the gumdrop lined roof.

Braden couldn't help us build the house because he was too little this year, but surprisingly enough, he was able to eat the gingerbread - no milk or eggs in it!!! Here he is deciding on his plan of attack...

I wasn't surprised by his choice - head first!!

"Ta da!!" Finished product!

These gumdrops slowly disappeared in the days after the house was built. Not sure who could have eaten them ;)

Our humble abode!!

"Oh Christmas Tree" 2010

We (by we I mean Sadie and I) set up and decorated the Christmas tree this evening. This has never been one of Brian's favorite things to do (although he LOVES the finished product) and that is okay with me because I'm a little particular. Brian has always helped by bringing in all the stuff, but when it comes to the decorating, it has always been me. Until this year that is. Mersadie really got into putting the ornaments on the tree. She was thrilled to help and I was thrilled to have a helper. Even if it did mean that I had to let go of the "symmetricalness" of the ornament placing.

Here is the finished product. Mersadie wanted to know where the presents were.

Mersadie's placement of many of the ornaments. All in one place, all in front, all about the height of her shoulder.

Another shot of how close Sadie liked to place her ornaments together.

The "old" me would have moved those to different spots on the tree once Sadie went to bed. The "new" me is letting them be because they were placed there by my VERY excited daughter and I do not want to squelch that spirit!!

Although I love the tree, my favorite part of this evening was when I was cleaning up and overheard Brian reading to Sadie in the living room. It was "Piper's Night Before Christmas" by Mark Lowry.

So, so sweet!!