christmas build up

ah yes, the whole month of december is one big build up to christmas, right?! helk, most of us start before then. here is a glimpse of our december christmas build up...

we of course prepare for christmas by talking about the big guy...

lots. and i mean, lots. lots and lots of baking cookies. i should have kept track of how many cookies we made over the month. i think we made christmas cookies every weekend in december. :) the girls were actually quite helpful. they loved cutting cookies out...

and loved decorating them even more. ad didn't quite get that she wasn't supposed to eat the sprinkles BEFORE they went on the cookie.

e got it. loud and clear. her cookies had plenty of sprinkles.

i think we have a coupld of naturals...they love to mix.

and aren't too bad at dropping them on!

lots of family game nights during the cold cold winter...

homemade advent calendar...

chocolate advent calendars...

email from santa TO the girls....he even knew what they wanted and how old they were and everything...

everyday visits from 'lotlo.' lotlo was our elf straight from the north pole. santa sent him to keep an eye on the girls. can you see him in the center of the tree (the red guy to the right of e's head)? the girls are telling him what they want for christmas in hopes he'll go relay the message to santa himself!

and lots and lots of christmas stories read!!! some christmas stories read by big sister to little sister...little sister thinks she'd rather have mommy read it.

one last visit to santa and i think we'll be ready!!! "Christmas is the gentlest, loveliest festival of the revolving year - and yet, for all that, when it speaks, its voice has strong authority." ~W.J. Cameron