Let the Christmas Season Begin!!!

Christmas for almost 3 year olds will be an amazing experience for the family this year. Claire and Chloe have been working on a song with motions that we intend to surprise Mommy and Daddy with on Christmas. They are both very much into the song (hint: about where baby Jesus was born) and getting it all correct. We do it multiple times a day, each day that Papa and I are with them. I'm not sure what they remember about last Christmas because each small thing seems to thrill them like it is brand new.

Mommy (Paula) had the great idea of purchasing a gingerbread house kit to put together on a day that Papa and I were there. We had such fun. Papa and I put the walls and roof together while they napped because it had to dry between applications and patience is not quite a virtue of two year olds. When they got up we got their aprons on and the project began. As Papa unwrapped some of the candy, Claire began to lick the peppermint. She told us, "I am licking it so that it will stick to the gingerbread house better." Yeah, right! Both of the girls licked and tasted most of the candy and frosting that went on the house. Claire, not liking sticky hands too much, begins to show her need to get that stickiness off her hands.

and face....... She told me her mouth felt all funny.....I am not surprised.

Somehow Chloe's face isn't showing any indication that she had been eating candy and frosting...
but trust me, she had her share.

The finished project....pretty good for two year olds, I would say.

Later in the week, Chloe enjoys their dollhouse.



And the new toy flute....

Claire gets her turn with the flute....


Sisters....we love how they sometimes call each other "sis".


Saturday, Claire, Chloe, Mike and Paula came to enjoy our little town's "Hometown Christmas". They arrived just in time to help me finish decorating our little tree.

They were very careful and precise about placement of the ornaments.

We walked downtown to check out the craft vendors and to visit with Santa. Below Claire and Chloe meet a little girl ahead of them in line to talk to Santa. They chatted as if they were long lost friends.

Initially, before coming, Mike reported that neither of the girls wanted to see Santa. But when they got on the phone with Papa their story had changed. There was just a bit of hesitation when they were in line but when their turn came they both went up willingly.

Claire asked Santa if he would like to come for dinner.... He said he would really enjoy that.

After visiting Santa, the girls, wearing their new princess crowns, each had a pony ride.

The pony wrangler told us that she asked Chloe her name and Chloe said, "Diego". We had a good laugh, that is definitely one of Chloe's aliases. Hope by the time she is in school she will accept that her name is Chloe or at the very least Coco.

Firetrucks are always part of a small town's celebrations. Here the girls check out one of the trucks.

We walked back home and the girls made their own pizza slices and had apples and bananas before we headed for the parade. This was the first parade for them and they took it all in...especially the floats that were throwing candy. That was the highlight for them and of course seeing Santa, who seemed to now be their personal friend.

Below Daddy and our good friend "Mr. Wayne" hold the girls high so they can see.

The end of the parade, a beautifully decorated fire truck. Claire and Chloe had a day full of excitement and there is more to come. Check back next week for an update.