December fun!

This month FLEW by.  Hard to believe Christmas has already come and gone!!!  December is definitely one of my favorite months of the year, and this year was no different.  We do lots of fun holiday things, lots of holiday traditions.  We hung all the ornaments on the trees, with "help" from the little ones.  Riley was really into it this year, and Jackson just wanted to eat the ornaments and pull them OFF the tree.

December is the season for holiday cards, and I wasn't organized enough to book family portraits for ourselves this fall, so I attempted to do them myself.  I swear it must be the photographer's curse, to have children that just do not want to cooperate for family photos.  And of course, despite finally getting a photo and ordering my cards on time... I still haven't sent them out.  So you may get one in January or so.

But hey, at least my kids looked cute, right?  Riley put that headband on herself and refused to take it off, which is why it's practically backwards, but that's alright.  Gives her outfit a little character.

We made sugar cookies and decorated gingerbread houses, which really mean Riley ate all the sprinkles and candies while I tried to make things look pretty.  But it was still fun, and very very messy!!

We had Christmas-themed movie nights and read stories in front of the Christmas tree. We read all kinds of Christmas books and talked about Santa and reindeer and elves, and all things Christmas-related.

Christmas trees are magical things to babies.  The lights, the texture, the ornaments... and Christmas trees with trains around them?  Even better.

I really really wanted ONE picture of my two little ones sitting next to each other in front of the tree.  Oh man I had to work so hard for it, now that Jackson doesn't sit still for a minute, and Riley is just a wild woman!  This might have been the best one I got!!

Since Riley loved Christmas lights so much, we decided to take her and Jackson to this special street in Alameda with tons and tons of amazing Christmas lights.  I thought it would be better to get out and walk so we could see them all up close and personal, but it was a little cold and I think Riley probably would have liked it better being in the car.  But it was still pretty awesome!

A few other highlights leading up to Christmas (actual Christmas photos have yet to be uploaded and edited...)
Jackson trying to attack the trains around the Christmas tree... kid can move at lightning speeds!

Riley's very first present she got to open from her Aunt Jennie.  Her very own Minnie Mouse power wheels.

And?  Her very first haircut.  She didn't even flinch, probably because Elmo was on and she got to sit in a cool car chair.  Mark practically forced me to take her to get her haircut, but I must say it looks pretty darn cute, and it's even MORE curly now!

We had a fabulous Christmas, full of lots of family, presents, food, and pictures!!! Coming soon, I hope!  Happy Holidays, friends and family!!!