The Goose is Getting Fat

Christmas is almost here!  Preparation and celebrations have been underway at the Rahn house for almost a month.  This is my MOST FAVORITE time of year.  The Christmas tree is up, lights are on the house, Christmas books are read followed by Christmas carols at bedtime, presents are wrapped and under the tree...ahhh.  I feel the adrenaline rushing through my veins as I type.

Munchie has been busy getting ready for Christmas herself...

The fun started at the arena in November with a Christmas tree display...

We could not get enough glitter on that tree!

Isabel's objective during the gingerbread house project was to
eat the materials faster than Mommy could put them on the house.

She's reading the sign.  It's important to get all the information
before you vote on your favorite tree.  It's only fair.

Mommy decorated the house, and then it was Izzie's turn to pick out a tree.  The excursion to Hobby Lobby to buy one was (almost) as magical as I had hoped.  At first, she very decidedly picked out a pink foil tree.  And a white fur tree skirt with silver ornaments.  Wow--but her choice, right?  It was all in the cart, and she went into a full on, overly dramatic, emotional teenage girl meltdown.  "Put it back!" (sobbing)  "Put it all back!  Tree goes there!  I no like it!"  It seems her opinion changed quite suddenly.  After a small hiccup with a silver foil tree (what were we thinking?!?) we were happily finishing our shopping with a normal green tree and a lovely assortment of colored ornaments.  Whew.

It took everything in me not to direct the decoration of her tree when we got home (are you sure you want all of the ornaments "Up there" at the top???) but I succeeded and she has been very pleased with herself.  She was quite jealous of the (ceramic) Rapunzel that Mommy bought for her big tree, so some quick thinking and a Little People Rapunzel now snuggles in Izzie's tree.  Whew again.

The Christmas books take the cake this year.  We love "Spirit of Christmas", "One Night in Bethlehem", and "Song of the Stars".  But this year's ultimate favorite is "How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas?".  I bought it for her after her love of dinosaurs has continued to grow (they are doing a dinosaur unit at school and she can't get enough), and she giggles every time we read the book.  I think we read it three or four times the first night we had it.  We pretty much read every Christmas book once a day.  We only get to enjoy them for such a short time--we have to get our money's worth!

Love at first sight

Some Mickey Mouse Christmas with Grammy

One stop to Trader Joe's this weekend and finally, our house is complete (who are we kidding--I could never have enough Christmas decorations?).  I fell in love with this little baby tree (and the sassafras pushing the cart--doesn't she just think she's the cat's meow?) and had to go get one.  After our Trader Joe's stop, it was off to Scheel's.  Izzie and I spent 15 minutes wandering the hunting section (ew!) looking at all the "reindeer" hanging on the walls.  She was so distraught when we left that we put on a Discovery channel show about reindeer racing in Russia to appease her reindeer appetite--make fun all you want, but she was glued to that thing!

Some of my favorite Christmas conversations...

(While reading a book with a picture of baby Jesus and Mary)

Iz:  "That he Mommy."

Bryan:  "That IS Jesus' mommy.  Her name is Mary."

Iz:  (laughing)  "Mommy's name Allie."

(Here Comes Santa Claus is playing on the radio in the car.)

Iz:  "Santa Claus?"

Me:  "Yeah, baby.  Do you know who Santa Claus is?"

Iz:  "Yeah."

Me:  "Well, Santa Claus loves Jesus so much and wants everyone to know about Him, so he celebrates his birthday by bringing presents to everyone!"

Iz:  (moment of reverent silence)  "I yike presents."

So, the merriest of Christmas wishes to all of you!