Santa Brunch, Snow and More!

We had a really festive week this week.  We kicked off the week with a Santa Brunch.  We've been doing this tradition for years.  It's always a favorite event on our December calendar.  We were thrilled when our club announced they'd still be holding a Santa brunch in spite of COVID and assured us it would be wonderful.  They were right.  Things were a little different, but they were able to capture the Christmas magic like usual.

We were assigned a table like always and then dismissed to do certain activities at certain times.  This ensured that we were distanced and gave everyone their space.  No one felt rushed and we got plenty of quality time with Santa, the elf and reindeer and at our table.

This elf was hilarious.  He told really funny jokes and had the parents & kids cracking up.  His beloved reindeer smelled of cinnamon.  That smell lingered on all of our hands well beyond our time with him.  The kids thought it was the coolest.  They retold his jokes and stories all week - What do you call a selfie with an elf?  An elfie.  He also told the kids that Donner stubs his toe every year on our roof so we need to fix that before Christmas.  They were amazed.

Santa was amazing.  He was by far the most genuine Santa that has ever come to our Santa brunch.  He looked like the real deal from head to toe and I was glad that he opted for a face shield vs a mask so we could hear him more clearly.  He talked to eat of the kids.  They wore masks up close and they were mesmerized by him.  

He asked what they were wishing for this year.  He said he'd see what he could do about those army guys, Nerf guns, dolls and crinkly toys.  He was also really great at guessing their interests based on their initial requests.  They were amazed.  Later Olive told me that Santa could finish her sentences and knew just what she wanted.  He did the perfect job of not promising them all of those gifts, but he said he'd pick out something special just for them as well as a surprise or two.  They left feeling more excited about what Santa might surprise them with more than their wishes.  It was precious.  I don't know how much longer we'll have these kind of magical moments so I'm soaking them in 100% right now!

I was really glad that despite all of the craziness of 2020, that we were able to do something normal.

The reindeer came around to say hello and Leo was not sure what to think of him.

We usually stop at the cookie decorating station, but this year, they made each kid a cookie decorating to go kit.  I think it might have been more fun that the cookie station.  We got to take our time, each kid got to decorate their cookies and we had leftover supplies to decorate more cookies with later.  Leo wasn't interested in the cookies.  But he did look super handsome in his candy cane stripes.

I made this kids some Charcu-TREEs for lunch one day.  They loved them!

Indiana Snow!  We woke up to snow on Wednesday morning.  We don't always get the snow that they predict for us so it was a nice surprise to wake up to.

The kids walked out in their pjs to check it out and then bundled up a little more after breakfast.  We discovered Fletcher had outgrown his snow boots that just fit him a month ago when we checked and it took us a bit to locate all of our other snow gear. 

Fletcher loves to help so it's fun to see him doing all this big brother stuff.  Lately he's been asking for more jobs or asking to do things himself.  He volunteered to feed Leo for me.  What a sweet guy!

My parents came in town for a quick visit.  We had a blast.  I always love having them visit and it was fun for them to see the house decorated for Christmas.

Doing school at home with two little brothers is challenging.  Here's Olive Google Meeting with her class.  Asking to hold Leo.  Fletcher wanting in on the action and me here for tech support.  Luckily they were just doing fun stuff - holiday bingo, snowflake facts, and just chatting.  We can't wait for school to resume in person in January!

We ordered the kitten Christmas collars and they are so cute!  They weren't 100% sure about them, but we couldn't get over how cute they looked for Christmas.  Meowy Christmas!

Need an easy Christmas food for your kids - Pizza Trees!  Mine loved it.

Did you see my post earlier this week for Peanut Butter Swirl Bark??  It was easily the prettiest dessert I've ever made and it was SO GOOD.  I'm going to be making a second batch this weekend.

Do you ever buy supplies for a DIY project and then let them sit for 5+ years!?!  I bought this frame with the intention of adding a new Santa picture to it every year when Olive was a baby.  She's 7 now so it was time to get this done.  I gathered all of my favorite Santa pictures since 2013 and had the best time doing this project.  I just love looking back at all of these moments.  I think this will easily be one of my favorite Christmas decorations.  I ended up with 3 blank spots for a few more memories in the years to come.

I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't tell you about these Nerds Gummy Clusters.  They're poppable and so good.  If you like gummy candies, Nerds or the combo you'll love these.  They are much easier to eat than Nerd ropes. 

We've been making an effort to bundle everyone up and get outside.  We'll go on short walks or long walks depending on what everyone is up for.  The fresh air is good for all of us.

Happy Friday!  I hope you have some fun plans for the weekend.  We're planning to do some Christmasy things and watch Notre Dame win on Saturday :)

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