Cookies for Santa

Santa is very lucky this year to be getting these cookies! Brody and Luke were in the kitchen helping me every step of the way and we all decided these special cookies were just for them and Santa! Brody had more fun eating the cookies than making them while Luke was trying to decorate them as fast as he could. 

Oh Jolly

Every year I will admit that I do get a little tired with Jolly...trying to figure out what to do and hoping I'll remember each day before the boys get out of bed. However, the look on their faces when they find Jolly each day is priceless.

This year Jolly left a note on Christmas Eve explaining that Santa had lifted his magic just for that day so the boys could give Jolly a proper goodbye. For the first time Luke was able to hold Jolly. The expressions on his face melt my heart. It makes me already dread the day when he will no longer believe in Santa and the magic. Luke would squeeze Jolly close to him and then hold him out to look at him. Brody was too scared to touch Jolly but maybe next year. Luke didn't mind because it was more time for him enjoy Jolly! We can't wait to see Jolly in a year!

To Lucy Love Luke

A few months ago Luke got in the car after school and had the biggest smile on his little face. When I asked him why he was so happy he told me that during school Caroline told him that Lucy thought he was cute and he kinda liked it but it was super awkward. I couldn't believe how happy he was. It was all that he could take about for days. If anyone even mentioned Lucy's name he would instantly blush and couldn't stop from grinning!

One night the boys and I were driving home from Heber after the Polar Express. It was a school night and already 9:00 at night but Luke realized that he needed to get a Christmas present for Lucy. I asked him what he was thinking of getting and said, "Well ya know jewelry!" Tomorrow was the last day of school before the winter break and I tried to talk him out of it but he was determined. 

We pulled over at WalMart of all places and I told him he had to hurry and get a gift. I took him to the toy section but he informed me that he wanted real gold jewelry for her. After I explained that we weren't going to be buying real jewelry he settled for some Disney princess jewelry. 

The next morning he made the cutest card for her and was so excited to give it to her. On the way to school I asked him if he was going to be embarrassed to give Lucy her present in front of his friends and he said, "No...why would I be?!" I love that Luke has a lot of confidence and I hope he never looses the confidence!

After winter break Lucy brought Luke a present to school. She went to Florida for Christmas so she brought him a turtle made out of sea shells. It was so cute! His first love!

Hansen Family Party

Luke was sure he was ready for the ping pong tournament this year at the Hansen Family party. He was so excited to be a part of it and felt like such a big kid. It worked out good for me because he took my spot in the tournament. Brody of course was just happy to sit and drink his sippy on the couch. It was so fun to watch Brody start to play and interact with his cousins. We have been waiting for cousins for a while.

Luke was very concerned about when presents were going to happen and was moving everyone along to get to that point. He was so excited when it was finally present time. Pops and Grandma Suz gave him some cool cowboy boots and two hunting guns. I am in love with the picture of him holding his gun...the excitement in his eyes is priceless! Brody has been begging for the Jake and the Neverland Pirates ship. Every time we go to a store he grabs this pirate ship and drags it around the store. It's never a pretty scene when we have to leave it. He was beyond thrilled when he opened it up and saw the ship. The only problem was Emerson thought it was pretty cool too and wanted to trade presents. Luckily they played happily together!

Decorating the Tree

I thought the boys would both love decorating the tree...Luke loved it of course and Brods not so much. Brods hung his Monsters Inc. ornament on the tree and that was it. He cuddled up on the couch with his sippy and blankie to watch Charlie Brown Christmas. 

Luke was throwing the ornaments on the tree as fast as he could! This year he picked out an army helicopter for his ornament. I have to admit that Luke's ornaments had to be spread out a bit because he was definitely concentrating on one area of the tree and he made sure there were plenty of ornaments hung there. The tree was very full this year with all the ornaments on there and it looked so cute!

North Pole Breakfast with Jolly

We waited a little too long for Jolly to come this year. Luke was beyond thrilled though when he woke up and saw that Jolly had come and brought presents and donuts. Brody on the other hand was very nervous about Jolly. When we would ask him where Jolly was he would very timidly point to him. I hope he warms up by time Christmas comes

Luke was bouncing around and could hardly hold still while Mark read Santa's letter and the book. Santa told the boys how excited he was for this Christmas and hoped they had so much fun this Christmas. Santa asked them each to work on a few things. He asked Luke to work on not screaming, listening to his parents and talking nice. Brody had one job...keeping his toys picked up.

Jolly brought some fun gifts this year. One gift was a coloring book that Brody was very excited about. He also brought a fun dvd that was all about Santa's Elves. Luke was so excited to sit right down and watch the movie!  Luke is very excited about Jolly this year and can't wait to see what he's going to do! 

Letters to Santa

Luke's list for Santa was changing daily this year so I knew we had to get his list in the mail and finalized. He narrowed it down and finally decided on two things to ask Santa for....a Kindle and an army jacket. Brody on the other hand had no idea what he wanted and just had a blast coloring his picture. Whenever we would ask Brods what he wanted for Christmas he would just say "binks!" Like we don't have enough binkies in our lives! 

We went to visit Santa and he made sure to warn the boys that if they weren't good listeners and listened to their mom then they wouldn't get anything for Christmas. Luke took this very serious and it was a nice reminder for the next few weeks. After we talked to Santa the boys dropped their letters in the mailbox. I love that Luke was there as always to help Brods out!