gingerbread houses and breakfast with Santa

We spent this morning with our friends, the Hager's, having breakfast with Santa. The kids decorated gingerbread houses and then got to have their picture taken with Santa. Ty was willing to talk with Santa and didn't mind standing next to him, but Drew wouldn't go near him and screamed when we put him on poor Santa's lap. Oh well. Maybe next year? When Santa asked Ty what he wanted for Christmas, Ty said, "Candy canes." (He just recently discovered that they are more than just tree decorations but that you can actually eat them! It was an exciting discovery for him.) Anyway, three of my favorite moments were 1) looking down at Drew to see his mouth full of the candy he was supposed to be using on his gingerbread house, 2) hearing Lucy exclaim out of nowhere, "YUMMY!" and we looked over to see her squeezing the icing into her mouth (she's too cute!), and 3) Ty's expression after having his first sip of a "kiddie cocktail." I'm so glad he got to have one. I remember my dad making them for us as kids, and we thought we were so cool (and they're delicious!) :)

decorating the houses

seriously concentrating on that icing (he had a little help from daddy)

chipmunk cheeks (where did all the candy go?)

after sip of first "kiddie cocktail" about which he exclaimed, "Ooh, it's spicy!"

I love this picture. I think it's so funny. The original intention was a cute picture of the four kiddos sitting on the bench together. This is the closest thing we could get. (My mom and dad ask me occasionally for a "good" picture of the boys together--this picture is proof that that is a virtually impossible task at this point in time.) :)