2018 Visit to Santa

2017 Visit to Santa

2017 Letters to Santa

May they stay this sweet and reasonable. ;)

Operation Ho Ho 2015

Santa once again visited our neighborhood on his trusty fire truck (good thing since today's high was 62!) tonight. 2 very eager girls could barely stand still with excitement as they waited in line. 

This year's asks:

Audrey - a Minnie Mouse Busy Book

Natalie - a little puppy

They've been good this year so I'm sure Santa will be good to them. 

Holley Days 2014

Lolo and Papa Don journeyed north for what one of them hoped would be a white Christmas.  (Papa Don won that one.)  Their trip ended up getting cut short so it went by in a flurry but we packed in some fun!

The days leading up to Christmas were full of games and puzzles and cooking.

Christmas Eve was full of fanciness.

Followed by a lot of Christmas morning excitement!

Christmas afternoon everyone enjoyed the toys.

It was a very happy Holley Day!

Rejoice Weekend

Last weekend was the 3rd Sunday of Advent, known as Rejoice Sunday.  We rejoiced in the joys of Christmastime, childhood, and being together.

Saturday we began our baking.

 

 

And Natalie took Dad to the garage for a short build session.

Sunday we rode the M&H Railroad's Santa Surprise Train.  St. Nick knew we still have some big train lovers and gave us tickets!

 

Rejoice indeed.  What is sweeter than watching the magic of Christmas through your children's eyes?

Operation Ho Ho

Last night was our neighborhood's annual Operation Ho Ho party, complete with a visit from Santa.  Since they've been good this year, the girls told him their requests.  Audrey asked for a Palace Pet Busy Book and explained in detail what it was.  Natalie asked for a pillow pet.  Natalie also made him two perler bead shapes as a gift because, in her words, he gives presents to everyone but no one gives him presents.  Now that's Christmas spirit.

 

Operation Ho Ho

Last Wednesday our homeowners association hosted an Operation Ho Ho party outside one of our neighbor's homes.  Santa must've heard there were cookies and cocoa because he joined the fun, arriving on a fire truck!  The girls waited patiently for their chance to assure him they'd been very good this year and submit a few requests.  OK, more than a few.  This is the first year we didn't have any tears or timidity!

Audrey was especially impressed that the Big Guy knew to give her a pink candy cane!

 

Just In The St. Nick Of Time

We were lucky enough that Santa took a little time away from the toyshop this morning to make a quick stop at every guy's favorite place, the hardware store. (The elves must have sent him on a tool run.) Since Audrey wasn't a fan of the Big Guy in Abilene but gets excited about every picture/image of Santa she sees we wanted to give her one more chance to give him her wish list. Success! She would go near him if Dad promised to protect her and she delivered her message. We're certain Santa will be back to leave lots of goodies for both our good girls in just 2 short days!

Hello, Santa!

Natalie finally overcame her fear of fat men with furry hats this year:

 

 

It must be genetic, though, because Audrey wouldn't get within 5 feet of St. Nick even though she spent all morning saying, "Hehyo, Santa!"

 

We settled for a picture of the girls in their favorite Christmas shirts outside the Santa compound.

 

 

Since it was a balmy 70 degrees, we settled for a visit to the Abilene Zoo and chocolate milk instead of hot cocoa.

 

 

 

We hope everyone is enjoying the season, with or without snow!

Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Frightened Little Girls

Natalie wasn't a fan of Santa last year and in the last 12 months it seems not much has changed. We met the big guy in red at a Breakfast with Santa birthday party this weekend. (Happy 2nd, Amelia!) The kids at the party ushered him in by ringing jingle bells and as soon as he came through the door Natalie ran crying in the other direction. But, as he came bearing gifts for the kids brave enough to sit and chat with him, both girls rallied their courage.

Audrey went first and we figured our smiley girl would make a new friend. She wasn't so sure. Guess Natalie got to her and told her her war stories beforehand.

Then Natalie mustered her strength, as long as Dad would be a safety buffer, to make sure Santa knew just how much she wanted those Rosie and Mavis engines.

They both did fine and we're proud of them for being brave. Congrats to Natalie and Audrey for making this year's Nice List!

Ah-Ho, Oh No!

Us: Natalie, what does Santa say?
Natalie: Ah-ho!

Brian and Emily came to visit this weekend and yesterday we took Natalie and Calvin to see Santa Claus at Home Depot (no line, free pictures!). Surprisingly our little social butterfly was not a fan of the big guy in red this year. (Last year she didn't mind.) She is a big fan of her Santa DVD, pictures of Santa, and pointing out Ah-Ho anywhere we see his image. The real thing must have been a bit too intense though because she cried and wouldn't sit with him. Calvin cried too but he was hungry. :)

We got this picture by sitting with her alone and having Santa sneak in behind us before she noticed. She was still skeptical.


Natalie with Santa last year.


Today we attended our neighbor's 1st birthday party, a breakfast with Santa. Natalie said she didn't want to see Ah-Ho again. However, she was very brave and quietly talked to him while I held her. We were very proud of her and think Santa is going to be good to her this year!

Natalie's First Visit to Santa

We know most kids are scared of Santa but we weren't too surprised that our happy social baby had a blast visiting jolly old Saint Nick. She loved all of it - smiling at all the other kids in line, playing with the animated characters around Santa's workshop, sitting on Santa's lap, and smiling up at him. We told Santa that she'd been a very good girl this year and she's looking forward to what he'll bring tonight!

Merry Christmas!