Annslee: “I know what I’m gonna wish for for Christmas this year!!!”
Me: “What??”
Annslee: “My lucky day!!!!!!!!”
Go for it, Sugar Plum.
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This year, Annslee is 5 years old. And I’ve decided that 5 years old is my favorite age to watch celebrate Christmas. She’s all in. Everything is amazing to her. She bounces everywhere she goes and her eyes are wider and her laugh is…laughier.
She has conversations with her elf…whom she has re-named “Elsa” but whom she calls “Elizabeth” sometimes too. The elf’s name used to be Elmo…so you can see that there is a pattern to her naming tendancies.
And she sings. She sings all the time. Her favorite is Jingle Bells. And she is serious about it.
“Jingle bells…jingle bells…jingle all the waaaaayyyyy! Oh what fun…we wish we were…in a one horse open sleigh…HEY!”
It’s awesome…really.
I have always wanted to try making homemade Christmas cookies. And when I say “always” what I really mean is “ever since I started watching, on average, 2.2 Hallmark Christmas movies every day.” It seems that they are always making homemade Christmas cookies. I’m not gonna say that they tasted the greatest. But I will say that I handled the mess way better than I anticipated. So I’ll consider that a win.
Outdoor decorations are up. And someone is very happy about that.
She couldn’t get her arms around him for a hug fast enough.
We took our Christmas pictures…although I think we may skip sending Christmas cards this year…as much as I hate it…and try to save money where we can.
This is the behavior that I deal with during family pictures. And that’s from Chad. So you can imagine what it’s like when you add all the kids and (this year) the dog in the mix.
I honestly didn’t feel him put that up there! Unbelievable.
The elves came. As much as I love all things Christmas…I’m not a huge fan of the whole elf thing. So…we do it a little differently. UK comes and helps them “arrive” while we are all out somewhere. He does it up good for their seasonal debut and then we peter out pretty fast. I do over hear the kids saying things like, “Our elves really don’t move around very much” or “I wonder if they will move tonight?” And I’m fine with it. I don’t try to sell all that ridiculousness about not being able to touch them, etc. I figure…sleep with them…cuddle them…let them watch movies with you…and take them in the car. That gives me a good excuse as to why I don’t have to jump up at night right as I’m about to fall asleep because I forgot to move the elves! They are always under their arms…asleep. And that’s why they don’t move! That seems to be a sufficient answer. To them…and me.
However…I will also tell you that Annslee… my biggest “believer” …asked me the other day when I was going to get them out.
I shockingly answered, “Don’t be silly! I don’t get them out! They come from the North Pole!”
She flatly replied, “But they are stuffed animals.”
I decided to avert the question by shining a light on the fact that I didn’t think her elf would appreciate being referred to as an animal.
So…I may not have the best plan concerning the elves.
It didn’t diminish her excitement when they finally showed up, though.
I figure what UK did there buys me about a week of elf loserness. They are bound to still be too tired and sugar hung-over to do anything else for a while.
I’ll leave y’all with another intellectual conversation that I had with Annslee concerning her Christmas wish list.
Annslee: “I know what I wish for for Christmas!”
Me (thinking…I know! Your lucky day!): “What????”
Annslee: “A toilet in the car.”
I can’t argue with her logic. And it could happen. Aiden and Colton are asking Santa for an RV. Those things have toilets.
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I’m hoping that your Season is looking bright tonight.