Christmas: A Photo Essay

We got almost no clear photos of Christmas this year (fail). Here are the few that came out. Happy New Year!

Emma makes a new friend at Brookfield Zoo's Holiday Magic.

The carousel is ALWAYS a hit.

Hitching a ride.

Christmas morning at Grandma's house.

Santa was very good to the girls this year. Sophie kept exclaiming, "I'm so glad he didn't bring me coal!"

Santa is real and lives in Chicago Ridge Mall

We took the kids to see Santa yesterday. This was the first year they were both actually excited to see him, which was fun. However, the "elf" who was taking the picture was so annoying. Her idea of getting a sobbing, terrified child to calm down was to scream the child's name at the top of her lungs while making ridiculous faces that made her look like she was having a seizure. (Yeah...that's gonna make the children less scared. Good strategy.) There was a baby that went before us that was so incredibly chill. She had the most beautiful eyes...eyes that had seen a lot and had stories to tell, you know what I mean? The eyes of an old soul. And the moment the baby was placed on Santa's lap, she just kept staring up at him with the most serene look of complete recognition. She and Santa gazed at each other for at least 10 seconds, and it was the Cutest Thing EVER. I was like, "That's the shot! That's IT! Take the damn picture, elf!" But all the stupid woman cared about was getting the baby to look at the camera, so she just kept screaming and waving and contorting and totally missed the boat. Chris couldn't believe how worked up I got about the damn photographer, but she was a deeply annoying woman and obvious amateur with no artistic instincts whatsoever (not that I'm judgmental or anything) who didn't deserve the privilege of working with this amazing Santa.

Because amazing he was. This dude was the realest-looking Santa Claus that Chris or I had ever seen. His beard was real! No age makeup! Clearly, he was a pro. He was soft-spoken and gentle, but also authoritative and grave. The girls ate up his every word. He listened very carefully to their requests and looked each of them in the eye when they spoke. Then he told the girls that they had been mostly good this year, but that they needed to stop fighting and help out Mommy more. (Santa almost got a lap dance of gratitude from me on that one. I wonder if the damn elf would have photographed THAT.)

Emma is absolutely, 100% convinced that he was the real Santa. (I think it was the beard that got her.) Real or not, he was one hell of a step up from the mall Santa we had a few years ago that was about 25 years old and looked like a serial killer. So thank you, Mr. Claus, for a job well done. (And no one will think less of you if you ship that annoying elf off to Easter Island or something, Santa. She seriously needs to go.)

The logical mind

I overheard this exchange while the girls were in the kitchen making snacks:

Emma: "Now remember...you get what you get and you don't get upset."
Sophie: "Yes. And YOU get what YOU get and you don't get upset."
Emma: "Well, no. I mean...I'm the one making the snacks, so I get what I want. You just get what you get."

Copy My Copy

Soph: "Emma can make copies of us, you know."
Me: "Copies of us? You mean like...another Sophie?"
Sophie: "Yep. Or another Mommy or another Emma. She really can. I'm serious."
Me: "How does she do that? Did she tell you?"
Soph: "Yes. It's cause she's a vampire."
Me: "Hmmm. That's pretty cool. I had no idea she could do something like that. I can't believe she didn't tell me!"
Soph: "Well, I think she is gonna tell you on your birthday or for Christmas or something."
Me: "Gotcha. But why does being a vampire help her make copies of people?"
Soph: "Because she grows her teeth really long and then they glow into a color and then poof! You are copied. Kinda like the printer."
Me: "I'm not sure I really want a copy of me. Would you like another Sophie hanging around?"
Soph: "Kinda. Like...so I can copy her and stuff."
Me: "So you would copy your copy?"
Soph: [sigh] "Yes, Mommy. That's how it works."
Me: "Oh. I see."
Soph: "And plus she could play with me when Emma has a sleepover. And if I get eaten by a monster she can give you hugs so you won't be sad."
Me: "Oh, honey..."
Soph: "So you need to get a copy, so that if you die, I will still have a Mommy."
Me: ... ... ...
Soph: "Mommy? Did you hear me?"
Me: "Yeah honey, I heard you. Okay then. I'll have Emma make a copy of me, too."
Soph: "Thanks, Mommy."

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...IN OUR NEW HOME!

I've always loved the holiday season, and it's been so much fun preparing for the first Christmas in our new home. I realize I'm completely and utterly slightly biased, but seriously...is this the best damn tree you've ever seen in your life or WHAT?

Yes, I love our Christmas tree...but she's not exactly new. (Although this was the first year we had ceilings high enough to fit all 9 feet of her, which was pretty cool.) Outdoor decorations though? Now that's a whole new thing. We've never had our own place on which to display anything before, so I've been excited for months at the prospect of seeing our front porch all lit up.

My awesome husband took advantage of the freakishly warm weather and spent hours today setting up outside lights. (Since we're newbies, it took some time - and a few unexpected shopping trips - to figure out exactly what equipment and supplies were needed.) I would have given up after the first roadblock, but Chris persevered and was just finishing up when I left for a concert in the city. (See how I said "in the city"? I don't feel like a suburbanite, but I can play that role.)

Tonight, I came home to find this waiting for me.

I actually teared up when I saw it.

Best. Christmas. Present. EVER.

Thanks, baby.