A Christmas Story... If you will.

Christmas this year has been a lot more fun. Not that Christmas hasn't been fun in the past, but Lucas is totally into it and understands the idea behind Santa and presents. Don't worry, we still know the true meaning of Christmas... But the excitement of the holiday has grown. Plus, add in Little Miss Macie and it is even better. She doesn't truly get it, obviously, but she did love all of the decorations and some of the holiday treats!

Anyway... Here is our Christmas Story through pictures. 

It all started with decorating the tree. We always put it up the weekend of Thanksgiving. It just puts us in the holiday mood and I love how my house looks all lit up with the wonders of the lights. Lucas was especially into decorating the tree. He loved pulling out each ornament and asking about it. "What's that?" His little helper enjoyed being right by his side... As always! Lucas enjoyed redecorating the tree the whole time it was up. He would take an ornament off and put it in a different place almost every day. Macie was not a fan of the tree. Since it is fake and a little more prickly it poked her once and then she stayed clear of it. 

I love their concentration about decorating the tree.
They are two peas in a pod.

Every December, my school has a Pancake Breakfast and Santa comes. So we always have taken Lucas to see Santa. Plus, it only costs $1 for each picture taken. Super cheap. And when you know the photographer (Mikelle and Ashley, teachers) I get a lot more pictures. We knew this year Lucas would be more into Santa since we have been talking about him. Lucas couldn't wait to go and tell him what he wanted. We weren't too sure how Macie was going to react. I thought for sure she was going to cry. Surprisingly she didn't. Also, since the pictures are cheap and Santa is a volunteer, you get what you get. So he isn't the best looking of Santas, but he will do.

Lucas asked for a big football. Surprise, surprise.

Macie asked to get out of his lap!

One of my favorite traditions that we have adopted during the holiday season is going to Winterhaven. It is a Tucson neighborhood that it decorated in Christmas lights. I just loving looking at each house and admiring the work that goes into each decoration. The people who live there must love Christmas. I always joke with Matt that we should buy a house in the neighborhood. This place just creates such great memories.

One of  Lucas' favorite attractions that night.

His other favorite... Cars! It was so cute!

How cute is she with her little stocking cap on?

My favorite!

Lucas catching fake snow!

Another tradition is making cookies. Usually I am able to make these without a little helper. This year, he so wanted to help. How could I turn him down? So I let him help make Matt's favorite cookies. Lucas' favorite part was decorating the cookies with sprinkles. Let's just say, some cookies had more sprinkles than others. 

That's what I am talking about.
Decorated by the one and only Lucas.

A couple of days before Christmas, Matt's Uncle Steve, Aunt Kathy and cousin Alison came down from Scottsdale to celebrate. Of course they brought Christmas presents for the kids. Lucas loved the tool bench they got him. He has been playing with it every day. Macie is also a huge fan of playing with it. I think it is because Lucas plays with it. She so wants to do what ever he is doing.

Matt and Lucas had a great time putting it together.
They were little Bob the Builders.
So cute.

On Christmas Eve day, we did another little mini present exchange. Morgan and Makenzie came down to celebrate with Lucas and Macie. The best part of the celebration was a snowball fight. Lucas got stuffed snowballs from Uncle Wayne for Mikowash and has been attacking me every day with them. So he decided to get Morgan in on the action. They had a blast!

 

The night of Christmas Eve, we went to Matt's parents' house to have dinner. It is such a nice night and the kids have fun playing with Grandpa, Grandma and Great Grandma. 

Again, how cute is this picture? Love them.

Christmas Eve night, a special visitor delivers presents for the kids. This has been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember. This year's visitor had more special meaning because it was the night that Elfie would be heading back to the North Pole to help Santa deliver presents and start building new ones for next Christmas. 

Meet Elfie. He has been Santa's little helper through out the holiday season. Not to mention he has been Mommy and Daddy's little helper as well. He keeps an eye on things and then reports to Santa each night. Lucas has enjoyed having Elfie in the household. He especially loves to see where Elfie has been hiding every morning. Here are some of the places/things that Elfie did while in our home.

Enjoying some popcorn.

Sneaking a little candy.

Lucas thought this was funny. Elfie was playing on Star.fall which is one of Lucas' favorite websites.

Elfie and Woody playing Sequence.

Here are the presents that Elfie left on the doorstep. One for Macie and one for Lucas. You can see that each one has an ornament with their beginning initial on the front. 

Lucas looking out the window for Elfie.

See how excited he is?
I just love that face!

Opening his present from Elfie. New pj's to wear on Christmas Eve.

Macie modeling her new pj's from Elfie.
Such a cheesy smile.

Too cute!

Christmas morning was so exciting that my two kids who usually sleep until 7 am were wide awake at 6:15. Well, just Lucas. Macie followed the rules and didn't wake up until 6:45. Normally we would have rushed down stairs to open presents, but we told Grandpa and Grandma to be at the house around 7 for presents and breakfast. So we had to stall. Since it was still dark outside, I convinced Lucas that we had to hang out in his room until we saw the sun. So we watched Frosty on his t.v. Once Grandpa and Grandma arrived, luckily a little early we took the kids downstairs. Lucas was so excited that he did what I would like to call, the "Home Alone" scream. He ran down the stairs and into the living room and fell on the floor screaming with excitement. Too funny!

This is what Santa delivered for the kids.
A Big Wheel and Cars couch for Lucas and an Elmo and Minnie chair for Macie.

Poor Santa didn't realize how tall Lucas is and may have gotten the wrong size.
It didn't faze Lucas at all. He enjoys riding it.

He also loves his fold out couch.

Lucas was spoiled.
He got an i.Pad mini from Grandma and Grandpa Fildes.
This came in handy for our trip to San Diego.

Macie enjoyed playing with Elmo.

Gotta love her bedhead in the morning. 

She really enjoyed the bows!

Lucas also got spoiled by his Grandma and Grandpa Johnson. He got a scooter.
He loves riding it around their house.

Another favorite has been the McDonald's cash register.
We have been playing this every day.

Lucas is really into games and he got two more for Christmas!

That is our Christmas story. We have been very blessed this year. 

We enjoyed this season, especially spending it with the ones we love. 

Lucas and Macie have brought so much joy to this family! 

Hope you had a great holiday season and Christmas!