A Month of Christmas Festivities

So the month of December was pretty full of getting ready for Christmas.  Jack was a lot more fun to watch this year experience everything.

Jack playing basketball in the house

Yogurt time!

Reindeer outfit with his Santa and reindeer placemat

Ready to go somewhere

Maybe out to ride his tricycle

Jack's preschool had a Santa and cookies night.  So we knew this was going to be our one time, for only $4, to get Jack's picture with Santa.  We knew he wouldn't be happy so we thought spending $4 was better than the $25 it costs at the mall.  We got there right as the "older" kids were finishing their program so we were second in line to see Santa.  This was good because Jack also doesn't like to wait.  

Here is Jack's picture with Santa...hilarious!

After his picture, he got to decorate cookies.

His favorite part was eating the sprinkles.  Mommy and Daddy iced the cookies, then ate them later.

Decorating the cookies with sprinkles

One day Jack got a hold of Mimi's Scarf and loved playing with it.  It was furry like his bear that he loves so he liked the way it felt.

Posing

One night we went to church to hear Dr. Wiles tell the Christmas story to all of the preschoolers.  We decided that we would go a little early and take some pictures of Jack in front of some of the decorations at the church, hoping that we would use them for our Christmas card.  

* That, in the end, did not happen.  I was in my early first trimester and did not feel good the whole month of December so I had no desire to get a Christmas card out.  So, don't feel like you weren't special this year, no one was  :)

Before we went to church Jack had some dinner.

Yummm

Gicken (chicken)

Jack by the BIG tree

Bear

Gircle (circle)

A runaway elf

heheheheheh

Stairs!

Jack had his first Christmas party at school this year.  I tried to get a picture of him in his cute outfit to send to Ben but this was as best as I could do.  He was ready to GO, GO, GO!

Another night, our church had a Family Night.  A Christmas concert for families.  We decided to arrive about 30 minutes early.  Mostly so we could get a good seat and so that Jack could "run" around the church, get some energy out and be ready to sit and watch the show.  

The background for the show

One of the cool things was they had a goody bag for the kids. In each bag they had this glow stick, crayons, a coloring book and a few other things.  This was great for times when there was more dialogue than Jack preferred.  He'd turn around facing the seat and color.

There were a few songs that caught his attention.  This was one of the times when Jack was into the Fresh Beat Band so it was like he was watching them live.

After the concert Jack explored the stained glass windows.

Cheese

One of the things I was most worried about this Christmas season was Jack messing with the Christmas tree.  Surprisingly, he never really messed with it.  There were maybe 5 times total where we would have to say "Uh oh, just look, no touch" otherwise it seems like he totally ignored it.  I posted this video below because about a few days before it was taken Jack had randomly gone up to the Aggie ornament and said "Aggie".  Ben and I were totally shocked. 

 One of the things that I wanted to make sure I did with Jack was to bake Christmas cookies so he could decorate them.  So one day I made some and wanted to see what he would do.  I also thought this would get him used to using spoons more.

So... it looks like Jack has iced some cookies....

...but really ALL he did was eat the icing...pure sugar

Here are the finished products

I thought I'd include this...his teachers made this as a Christmas present to us.

I don't really know what this hat is, a Santa hat? elf hat?  I don't know but it was cute.

Good Times with Family and Friends

So December was full of family and friend fun!  It actually started off Thanksgiving weekend...that's close enough to December.  My brother and his new wife came to stay with us.  Unfortunately I don't have any pictures with them.  It was a crazy weekend but fun.

First stop Grandpa and Sissy's house.

Jack with Sissy resting after running around and exploring the house

Jack was introduced to the Grinch.  Danny and I had gotten this for my dad a long time ago and Jack loved it.  At first he didn't know what to think (The Grinch sings and shakes his hips back and forth) but then kept saying "again".  

The Grinch was showing his age, his hips started not wanting to move back and forth.  I guess he had arthritis.  

Then off to Papa and KK's house.

3 Goodyear men

Jack giving a hug

Later on in the month my mom (Mimi) and I took Jack to the mall for some Chick fil A (his favorite) and a carousel ride.  

This next event was just a Mommy and Daddy event...no Jack...sorry!  One of our friends was turning 30 so they had an 80's themed party.  Everyone was to come dressed in their best 80's outfit.  I think Ben and I did a pretty good job given that we picked our outfit about 2 hours before the party.

Ben and Me

The girls

Jennifer, the birthday girl...donning her Michael Jackson outfit

Ben and Jerimiah, Jennifers husband

Right before Christmas Ben and I traveled to Long Beach, California for his company's Christmas party.  So while he worked on Friday, I drove up to Venice Beach and met my brother at his work, Google.  He took me around and gave me a tour of their newest offices.  It was crazy amazing.  I couldn't take any pictures to show how awesome it was because, well you know, they have very important stuff they work on.  But we ate at their cafeteria for free.  Yummy food, crazy food.  Looked at their gym and saw the smoothie bar that is also free.  Then I got to stop by Danny and Jacquelynn's condo for a bit before heading back to Long Beach.

This is Danny, my brother on the rooftop eating area.  

Here are the big binoculars outside of their building

Danny and his wife Jacquelynn...blurry picture but still wanted to post it.

My brother and me.

Jack's First Haircut

Jack was 18 months when he got his first haircut.  His hair had been driving me crazy for the past month and I couldn't take it any longer.   Plus it was getting close to Christmas so I thought that was another good excuse.  So we decided to take him to a haircut place just for kids.  It is called Cool Kuts for Kids.  We knew a few people who had taken their little ones there and thought it was perfect for Jack.

I called and made an appointment for a little bit after nap time.  Only when we arrived we had to wait 20 minutes or more.  There were only two people working on a Saturday afternoon!  And they were working on people who were walk ins.  Needless to say, I was not a happy momma.  What is the point in making an appointment if it didn't really matter.  Plus Jack is not the best at waiting.

Finally, it was Jack's turn.  He got to sit in a yellow car and choose any show/movie he wanted to watch while she cut his hair.  There was no question what Jack would want to watch...Dora!  This was also right after he had hit his face on something and it looks like he has a black eye in all of his pictures.

Not sure what to think of what is about to occur.

Getting comfortable...he's in his car, watching Dora, Sucking his thumb and eating Goldfish.

Driving....very focused

Not a fan when she cut around his ear...but who is?

Eating a fish

Wonder what was happening to Dora?

Look at me drive the car!

Big Boy Haircut!!