"Ho Ho Ho! Merry Tis-mas!"

Yes, that's what I've heard for the last 2 weeks from my little Bradlee...he's so excited about Christmas, yet I know he has no idea what it's all about! Then he tells anyone who will listen that it's "almost Jesus birthday SOON!" :)

It's been a while since I've posted an update...and so many things have happened, I just don't seem to have the time or energy to write anything! : We had Emma's birthday party with her friends at her gymnastics club...it was SO SO SO much fun! We are considering having Tony's 40th birthday party there next year! LOL

Back at the beginning of December, Santa was at the bank (my work)...and each year I've taken the kids! It's free, you get cookies and punch, and you can take as many pictures as you want! :) Emma hopped right up and started talking...Bradlee clung to me for dear life and pointed to the other side of the room saying, "I go over there..." He was terrified. Wouldn't wave, say hi, give a high-five, yell what he wanted for Christmas, nothing. Ever since then, he tells everyone that Santa is pretend. We finally convinced him that Santa was real...I think the shock of actually seeing a Santa really surprised him. Crazy. He's been talking about Santa ever since. He tells everyone that he wants "M&M's and suckers" for Christmas. EVERYONE. And, it hasn't changed since Thanksgiving! :) SO...you can guess how many M&M's and suckers he's going to be getting tomorrow night! LOL

When we were at the parade for Emma's Daisy Troop, we were in the first trailer of the parade. As we're pulling out of the parking lot to start the parade route, we pass by the Santa float, which ends the parade. All the Daisy's are waving and yelling, "Santa! Santa! Santa!!!!!!" Bradlee WHIPS around to see, and starts yelling with the most serious look on his face, "M&M's AND SUCKERS!!!! M&M'S AND SUCKERS!!!!!" Hilarious is an understatement. :):)

So Bradlee keeps telling us he wants to go see Santa, because Santa is real, and he wants to sit on his lap. So I figured we would take both kids to see Santa again at the mall, just to satisfy his curiosity! :) Emma, on the other hand, has been pretty good...although this week or so she's been rather grouchy, mouthy and not listening so well...the other night, I ended up taking her bedtime movie away from her because she was acting up...she BURST into tears and said, "Mama! I'm just so afraid I'm on the 'naughty list' now! I need to write a 'to-do' list so I can do things that will get me back on the 'nice list'"!!! WHAT?! :) So then I had to convince Emma that she was on the nice list, and that she would have to be pretty bad in order to be on the naughty list. HA!

We took the kids to see Santa tonight. The "elf" helper asked if we were going to be getting pictures, and our response was, "Maybe". I figured that if Bradlee got scared, I wouldn't get a picture of just Emma, or worse, Emma with Bradlee screaming! :) Well, Emma went up to talk to Santa first, then I took Bradlee up and put him on Santa's lap. He was a little hesitant at first, but I said, "Bradlee! Why don't you tell Santa what you want for Christmas?!" Well, that just did it...for the next 5 minutes that he sat on Santa's lap, all he said was "M&M's and suckers, Santa. M&M's and suckers!" LOL What a great experience! :) I asked Emma what she told Santa she wanted. Her response, "I forgot to tell him. I just wanted to make sure I was on the nice list!" :) LOL Here's the proof that we are a "Scared-of-Santa-FREE" family! :)

Where has the time gone?!

Last weekend, my mom and dad took Karyn, Emma and me to see "The Nutcracker" at The Whiting, here in Flint. This is something we used to do for several years when we were younger and now that Emma's older, we've started it up again! She just LOVED it!

Today, Emma turned 6 years old. SIX. Can you believe it!? So amazing to me! Actually, as I write this, it's about 11:15pm...so it's not even officially her birthday, yet! She was born at 11:36pm on December 8th...I do believe I was in quite a bit of pain right about now 6 years ago, though! :)

We had a party for the family on Sunday and I made this butterfly cake for my birthday girl!

Today, Emma took Jell-o jigglers to school for her party in class. Then we went to Red Robin for dinner, just like we did the day before she was born 6 six years ago!!! Before we left, I made sure to get a picture of the birthday girl...and her "I don't understand why it's not my birthday" brother! :)

Happy Birthday, Emma! I love you!

Frankenmuth!

Last Saturday, Emma, Bradlee and I went to Frankenmuth with my parents, sisters and Garrett for our annual trip for chicken and ornament hunting! We had a FABULOUS time!

My mom rode with the kids and me, and on our way, we passed a little Zoo outside of Frankenmuth. There, we saw a man with a reindeer! So, we hopped out and went and got a picture taken with one of Santa's reindeer!! Emma asked the man if it could really fly and he responded, "Only on Christmas Eve!" :)

We ate dinner at the Bavarian Inn and it was delicious, as usual!! Bradlee loved the squash and chicken, and of course the ice cream, and Emma loved the chicken salad and the chicken! We had a great time just talking and laughing, and Boppa had a good time playing with Bradlee! My mom said, "Now I know why Boppa wanted Bradlee to come...he wanted someone to play with!"

After dinner, we went to the "Christmas Store" (Bronner's) and looked around. Bradlee LOVED playing with Aunt Kat, who was in charge of him! :) Here, he's trying to get a ride on her foot...it didn't work too well because Aunt Kat was laughing too hard! :)

Each year, we have a "tacky ornament" contest...this year, Emma even got into it!! When I tried explaining what "tacky" meant, I just said that it was ugly and not very pretty...she immediately said we should try to find a "Go Blue" (U of M) ornament! :) LOL That's my girl!!! The winning ornament was found by my mom...a "lovely" metallic donkey...complete with shoes! :)

Once again, I can always count on Aunt Kat and Uncle Garrett to wear out at LEAST one of my kids whenever we're together! This time, it was both of them...Bradlee just had a place to actually fall asleep!!!

We had a wonderful time together...it's a wonderful tradition we have! This year was the 31st annual trip and I think I've made 30 of them (I missed last year!)!