Christmas 2013: (More Than) Slightly Belated

Even though things were crazy this holiday season with a wee Wesley, lots of stuff going on at work for Tim and I and the regular hectic day-to-day stuff, we made sure to get in plenty of holiday events, observances and traditions. I felt like the whole month of December was a blur (we even celebrated Tim's 45th birthday during the holiday craziness!), but we definitely created memories and had a lot of fun.

It was Wesley's first Christmas, so that was fun, but it was also the first year that Elle really "got" what was going on. This was good in that she started to ask questions about Jesus' birthday and got excited about all of the stuff going on, but bad in that she decided that Santa was bringing her pretty much every toy ever for Christmas. Wesley didn't know what was going on at all, but both he and Elle got some awesome gifts and spent a large part of the day opening presents from family members and friends across the country. Not a bad holiday at all :)

And now for a recap in mostly photographic form:

Making salt dough ornaments:

Decorating/eating our gingerbread house!

Elle admires/eats her work.

Visiting a spectacular light display at a church in Sarasota - they have an amazing light show timed to Christmas music as well as hot chocolate, wagon rides and other attractions. A friend from church invited us to go with her family, and it was awesome and intense.

We decorated the tree! Elle was a bit obsessed with the placement of our fake candy canes.

Elle developed an intense love for hot chocolate.

Santa and Mrs. Claus came in via helicopter and landed at a local park. Elle wasn't interested in meeting Santa, but we did participate in some of the other activities.

Watching Santa's helicopter land.

Florida girl, playing in the snow!

Face painting made Elle a sweaty little Rudolph.

We couldn't let Christmas pass without the chance to meet Santa, though. We figured Elle might be more comfortable meeting the big guy in a smaller setting, and when we heard about the Gulf Coast Animal League hosting a "Meet Santa" for kids and pets, we took advantage of the opportunity. We got to support a great cause, check out some cool holiday decorations and meet Santa! Elle was a little shy but did better than the last few years, and Wesley just went with it, outfit and all.

If you can't do this for your first Christmas, when can you?!

Elle mostly just told Santa what Wesley wanted.

We attended my company's holiday party - Tim is usually not able to attend because of high school football playoffs, but this year the stars aligned and he was able to come for the whole thing :)

We're silly, but fun!

Photobombed by our 16-year-old coworker.

Yay!

There were sibling photos ops by the tree, of course.

   

And Santa came and left lots of presents for a certain little girl and boy. Elle kept asking for a flashlight puppy, a doll stroller and a camera. She insisted that Wesley wanted a "Skit" - aka "Scout," the companion to her "Violet" stuffed animal.

Hopefully I'm not missing any big events or details, but there you have it - four months late, but our 2013 Christmas recap! Stay tuned for another trip in the way-back machine, when I recap our Halloween trip to Disney and explain how I made Wesley's super easy, carpet-ruining unique costume :)