{Believe} it or Not

It's December!  I don't believe it...but it's well into a week of it already.
It didn't start out that great either...I got maybe the worst call a parent could ever recieve from the school nurse on Thursday... any guesses?

...I don't even want to say it... {lice}  Aaack!  I didn't believe it...but I saw it...and I'm still shuddering.  Poor Emily... We scrubbed and washed and vacuumed and washed and vacuumed...and washed and vacuumed...etc...
She was able to return to school on Friday, but we will be itching for a long time to come...  I would be happy to forget that it ever happened...but this is part of our memories...so there you go!  She was so worried that she may have passed it to her friends, but we assured her there is nothing you can do about it...it's just one of those things that happens...and that's how it happened to her.  She is also missing her favorite stuffed bear Barry who is currently living inside a garbage bag along with his friends for the next two weeks!  ...sigh...

Saturday we had great weather for December...it was mild and partly sunny...so we finally put out a few Christmas lights at Alex's persistent request.  Our lights have dwindled over the last few years...and honestly I would've been okay to have even less this year...but Alex loves them so much...so we made him {a little} happy with what we had! 

{Elizabeth is checking them out from the front door!}

I still need to put all the glowing candles in the windows...eventually!

We watched The Polar Express and if that doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit and make you want to drink hot chocolate...then...well, then I don't know what!  But it does me!

The kids talk about riding on the Polar Express a few years ago every single year and I love that they still get so excited talking about how they went to the North Pole and saw Santa's village and ask when they get to go back!  I want them to always believe in that!

{mesmerized by the Polar Express going around and around the tree!}

Peppermint Oreos might be a new holiday tradition too!  No one can resist them around here!

I believe they're almost gone!

Sunday was Emily's turn to escort her Daddy to the IU basketball game...which left our dinner plans up to Alex!  Chili's, of course!  And it's our very own special after-dinner date to have ice-cream at Cold Stone Creamery...but don't tell Emily...he wants it to just be our special place...I love it! 

He also wanted to see Santa in the worst way, so I took him and Ellie to visit him.  Alex discussed his list in great detail...Legos, Xbox 360 kinect, a computer, Nintendo 3DS, an iPad 2...and a couple of surprises!  He asks for these things every single year...I wonder when/if Santa will decide to bring some of them! 

I think Elizabeth was getting a little upset that Alex was asking for all the good stuff... ha!

Emily is already making plans for our next date...plans to have her nails done...I love how she pampers herself, ha!  And of course another visit to Santa...I'm sure Elizabeth can prepare her list next time!

I love this time of year as much as I love the Fall!  The magic in the air and the excitement of surprise and anticipation waiting for Santa!  I love that Alex and Emily still believe in all of that and make their lists and still want to visit Santa...even though they ask a million questions like Is Santa real?  How can Santa be in two places at once?  Why does he look different sometimes?  Where does he park his sleigh?  There may be an ounce of doubt about Santa...but they truly believe in his magic and it makes me want to believe right along with them...it's hard not to!

And even though our indoor decorations seem to dwindle a little bit more each year on the inside too...I always like to remember how it all looks every year!  The kids are happy with the tree placement this year because it's much closer to the chimney in the family room so Santa has no trouble getting to it!

Christmas will be here before we know it...that I believe!  And I believe Santa still has lots of work to do!