5 More Days 'til Christmas!!

then 4... then 3... then 2... then 1... then 0!!!

Thanks to these countdown blocks, this is what I've heard every morning since two days after Thanksgiving. I'm happy that my kids can count down from 30-something, but it's gotten old... thankfully, it has also gotten shorter each day. :)

Also, I think the top of the TV stand turned out to be the perfect place for our little nativity set. :) Out of reach of little hands. And speaking of baby/toddler-proofing. Here's our little Christmas tree. Jammed in the corner behind the couch and the "gate" we made out of the waffle blocks.

Our little improv fence has done a fairly decent job keeping the boys out of the tree. They still climb on the couch and pull ornaments off (which is why we didn't get out any breakable ones this year), and J1 did manage to move the gate and unwrap a present a couple days ago. Thankfully, it was one for the kids, and I found it before anyone else did, so I just taped it back up. Only 5 days left until I won't stress about the presents anymore!

And since it's been a while since I posted. Here's a few recent pictures to give you an idea of what we've been up to. :)

Apparently we have our own private, indoor playground. If you can tell in the first couple pictures, I moved the bench under the table so they couldn't climb on it... didn't stop them.

This stuffed dog lives at my parents' house. Sometimes I think J1 thinks it's real.

He's my little animal lover. He LOVES all animals, and has no fear what-so-ever.

I just hope he doesn't try this with a real dog. Like Aunt Stacey's Beanie.

Back to Christmas.

We got to see Santa at my parents' neighborhood Christmas party. Even C ran up to him with no fear. Such an improvement from a couple years ago!!

The boys weren't quite so thrilled. They didn't mind standing close to Santa, but they did not want to turn their backs on him. And there was no way they were going to let him pick them up. J2 did happily accept a candy cane from Santa, but J1 had to be strongly encouraged for even that.

Apparently K is a pretty good story teller. But she couldn't remember what she was going to tell Santa that she wanted, so he said he'd surprise them.