The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The Freihaut household has been in full "holiday mode" since coming back from Indiana for Thanksgiving.  I put up our main tree the following week, although it didn't get decorated right away.  As soon as the tree went up, the fun began.  I thought Christmas with a one year old was a blast, but seeing Addy experience the Christmas season this year has been amazing.  She has been adding things to her Christmas lists daily and will willingly admit when asked that she wants everything (mainly because she's heard us say that about her).  Those darn toy commercials have been a royal pain.  I remember my parents complaining about the mass of toy commercials at Christmas and now I understand their frustrations!  We have also been trying to help Addy understand the true meaning of Christmas and have tried to involve her in shopping for and giving to others. We have read several children's books about the birth of Jesus and Addy has really been interested in understanding the story. 
 


Getting ready to go out in our first big snow. 

 

It was Addy's first "real" time playing in the snow.  She loved it!



Warming up from all that playing with some hot chocolate.  She loved that too!

Tonight Addy and I finished Christmas shopping.  We were zipping around Wal-Mart to grab a few final gifts and cookie necessities when Addy started belting out Christmas carols from the shopping cart.  Needless to say, she drew many smiles, chuckles and even some applause.  I wasn't sure what to do, but didn't want to be the Scrooge mom telling her kid to stop singing, especially when it seemed to be making people smile.  I was glad that our little girl could spread her version of Christmas cheer!

St. Nick paid a visit to our house...a day early so that he came on the weekend:)

Adalyn has really enjoyed seeing all of the outdoor Christmas light displays.  She loves to drive around and look at Christmas lights.  Derek found an editorial in the local newspaper in which the reporter periodically gives addresses of homes that are on the crazy side of decorating.  So, we write down the addresses and put them in our Garmin.  We have seen some pretty crazy houses.  Anything from light shows that blink on and off to music that's broadcast on their own radio station frequency to a lawn filled with hundreds of plastic statues and figures.  It has been a ton of fun and we have laughed a lot.  Despite all of our enthusiasm for seeing other's lights, we haven't put any up ourselves, which really bothers Addy. She tells us that next Christmas we need to have lights on our house too.  I guess we'll see about that...

One of the Christmas Crazy houses we found in our city.  (You'll have to enlarge the picture to get the full experience:)

A Special Visitor
Over the month of December we have had a very special visitor at our house.  His name is Barney and he is our very own ELF on a Shelf.  He was sent to our house by Santa on December 1st and was nameless.  Adalyn decided his name should be Barney, which was the best option out of the names she suggested :) Each night when we go to bed Barney flies (with magic, of course) to Santa to give him a daily report about Adalyn and carter's behavior and then places himself in a new place each morning.  Each morning Addy wakes up and is very excited to find Barney's new hiding spot.  He came with a story book that explains his assignment and we have read it several times.  I have been very surprised at Barney's effectiveness.  If an Addy tantrum seems to be brewing, all I need to do is glance in Barney's direction or mutter his name and she stops in her tracks!  Now if only Barney can be sent back in January by the Easter Bunny, I would have it made.  The other day carter was fussing in his high chair and Addy looked at Barney and said "Barney, are you seeing this?"  Nothing like a big sister ratting on her baby brother!  Needless to say, we had a discussion about the fact that babies are allowed to cry!

Our holiday house guest--Barney

Decorating the tree

 Christmas Card Photos



The picture that didn't make the card :)

Hopefully after this post I am somewhat caught up on our blog.  I plan to add more holiday posts as we hopefully get a visit from the big guy in a red suit and celebrate the holidays with our families.  Until then, we wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season!