Pre-Christmas Festivities #1

Baking Christmas cookies. Lila had an absolute blast with this. I didn't realize how far one batch of sugar cookie dough can go but I think we cut and baked cookies on about 4 or 5 different days. We didn't frost them because I thought that might just get a bit too messy with all the food coloring. Lila loved to pretend to be a monster biting off the little men's heads, arms, and legs. It was quite the power trip for her and had her cracking up in an evil little cackle.

We even had a little impromptu cookie making party with our good friends Julie and Janey (or just Julie Janey as Lila calls them), which was a lot of fun.

I couldn't find my Christmas cookie cutters until the day after we finished up our dough (of course). Notice the ducks and turkeys?

Buying the tree. It never ceases to amaze Byron that we can buy our tree in t-shirts, shorts, and sandals. It was a little bit chillier this year so Lila wore capris : )

Putting up the tree. I was amazed the kids didn't get more into pulling on the tree or ornaments after it was all decorated. I guess it helps that we spend most of our time in the family room in back and pretty much just walk past where the tree was in the front (living) room.

I know they wind up being more expensive and it's less convenient and more messy, but NOTHING beats the smell of a real Christmas tree.

Christmas Card Lane--a family tradition as of last year. Lila LOVES the light displays and all the cartoon characters, but she especially loved the fact that we were looking at the lights with her friends. Every time we saw Christmas lights in the following days she would remind us that she saw the lights with her friends.

I love this guy's smile!

Lila, Janey, and Ella (clearly the stylish one)