Getting In The Christmas Spirit!

This weekend the Johnston household dove head first into the Christmas season. Saturday we took our annual trip to Snickers Gap Farm to get our Christmas tree. Kaija envisioned a happy family frolicking amongst the trees - searching for the perfect one. What reality brought was a 1 1/2 year old that didn't want to walk or keep her mittens on in the freezing temperatures...maybe she'll appreciate it next year! Anyway, we did get a lovely tree which we spent the evening decorating. Natalie loved looking at all the different ornaments as Kaija explained the significance of each one. Her favorite ornament is the one that Grandma J gave her last year that has a picture of her on it - she just walks around with it saying "baby", "baby". Hopefully one day she will understand that it's her! Natalie particularly favored the "ball" shaped ornaments, which she proceeded to try and throw like her regular balls. We ended up with only one casualty and the tree has been toddler proofed...breakable ornaments on top and playable ornaments on the bottom.

Sunday morning we went to the Santa Breakfast at the firehouse. After Natalie devoured 4 pancakes (yes, 4!), we decided it was time to introduce her to Santa and Mrs. Claus. No sooner did we get up there than the clinging began, I didn't push it too much, little does she know we'll be headed to the mall later this week for the official Christmas picture! Later in the afternoon we had our good friends, John, Lauren and Emma Duffy over for football and chili. Natalie was very interested in Emma since she is a "baby" (10 months old). We are trying to teach sharing though, which she isn't very into yet - I guess it will come!