It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Ummm, well, it WAS beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Now, not so much. The snow that had been missing Abbotsford for about a week finally hit us last Wednesday night. I was thrilled when I woke up on Thursday morning to see a nice layer of that beautiful white stuff. For a moment it made me feel like a kid again. There is nothing like the first snow fall. It just gives you that 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' feeling. I could not wait WAIT for the kids to get up and see it! And when they did, I was thrilled to see that they were just as excited about it as I was. Granted, we didn't leave the house all day, didn't even go out to play in it due to lack of winter gear. (I know, I know, bad mommy) BUT we did enjoy it , through the window all day. And... it was beautiful! (Was being the key word) Unfortunately, it did not last. In true Lower Mainland fashion, the rain came and washed most of it away. 

So now the kids, especially Josiah, are panicking. What does this mean for Christmas?! Are we going to have to wait longer?! How will Santa get here if there is no snow?! And unfortunately for them, inside the house, is just as bleak, as the outside. Now I myself, am a Christmas Hardcore, a total junky. I love, love, LOVE Christmas and everything about it. If I could I would listen to Christmas music ALL year. And I would put up my decorations the day after Halloween.    My husband, on the other hand does not feel quite so strongly about 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year'. He hates the cold, so the fact that it lands during winter doesn't really work in it's benefit. He enjoys the whole gift giving thing (and he is totally awesome at that. Spoils me every year!!), but could definitely do without the shopping part. He doesn't even really like turkey dinner!! Although, between my mashed potatos and my mom's candied yams, he is definitely warming up to it. And to top it all off... this is hard for me to even write, but oh man, here I go...he HATES Christmas music! I know, right?! How can you not love it?!

But don't get me wrong. He is by no means a Scrooge. He is actually a very good sport about the whole thing. He puts up with my overspending, overdecorating, generally just overdoing Christmas, every year. But at some point, he has to draw the line, and for him that means Christmas doesn't really start 'happening' in our house until December. (Although he will start indulging in Christmas drinks the minute Starbucks starts serving them up) So until then, I will patiently wait. Only 2 more days and then it's on!!

All that being said, we did do something totally out of character for us this year, we got Santa pictures done already!! And I have to say, it was an absolutely wonderful (and hilarious) experience. Never been able to say that before about our last minute, standing in line in the mall for hours, paying upwards of 20.00 for one crappy picture of my kids screaming their heads off . So this year, we did things a little differently. My friends Jen and Sonja have been doing this for the last 3 years and we decided to try it out this year too. There is a local photographer who does an annual Santa Photo weekend at his house. For 30.00 you get your own (prearranged) 15 minute time slot with just Santa and the photographer. The photographer takes pictures the whole time and then you get them all on a disc at the end. It is awesome!! There is no standing in line. No rushing the kids through. It gives them plenty of time to warm up to Santa, and you can do as many poses as you want. Seriously a brilliant idea. I only wish I had thought of it first. Lol.

So to get the kids extra pumped up for the whole thing, we had done the Sympatico Magic Santa message for them. (If you haven't done it for your kids, or dont even know what it is check it out. It is very cool! http://magicsanta.ca The morning of their pictures, I called them over to the computer to show them the email that I had received for each of them from Santa himself! Inside the email was a personalized video message from Santa, complete with a picture of them and some personal info. Josiah's jaw literally dropped. I wish I had taken a video of it. It was a priceless moment. After watching the videos we got them dressed in their Christmasy outfits and continued the 'buzz' while discussing in great detail what they would be asking Santa for. Josiah took a little gentle persuasion, as his Santa list was a little 'extravagant'. And Madisyn just wanted to ask Santa for pink. Nothing specific, just the colour pink. (She evidently doesn't quite get the whole Santa list thing yet) But with help she did finally settle on pink colouring markers. (Which is probably all Santa will be able to afford after fulfilling her brothers wishlist)

So off we went with the kids looking as cute as ever. We were all pretty stoked. (I think even Colin may have been excited) We walked up to the house with little Madisyn chanting that she was going to sit on Santa's lap and Josiah was fretting about the wind ruining his hair. Once we got inside Josiah's excitement grew, as did the grin on his face and Madisyn stayed pretty happy. That is until we came around the corner and were suddenly face to face with Santa. Josiah ran right over to him and started chatting non-stop to him. Madisyn however wanted nothing to do with him. She wouldn't even look at him. Now, my little girly is many things, but a wimp she is not. She was scared, oh man she was scared. But she was not gonna let it show. She didn't cry or even wimper and she didn't run out of the room. She just stood there back to Santa and wouldn't budge. Nothing we could do or say was going to get her any closer then she already was, that is until the photographer mentioned a possible 'goody bag'. Then it was game on for her, she would do what it took to get a goody bag. She slowly walked over to Santa and stood in front of him. Without making a fuss a just picked her up and put her on his lap. She sat looking straight ahead biting her top lip, and didn't move an inch. She was 'Stone Cold Madisyn'. Poor Santa. Josiah was getting such a kick out of it all. (I guess he doesn't remember screaming his head off every other year he has visited Santa) Then Santa asked her what she would like for Christmas. Without any hesitation she responded in a totally monotone and emotionless voice, "A goody bag." We all burst out laughing, well all of us except for Madisyn, who continued to look straight ahead and didn't even crack a smile. Then just to be sure, Santa asked, "A goody bag?" To which she replied in the exact same completely monotone voice, "Yeah, right now." Again, more laughter. I may have even peed my pants a little. (Hey, I am 7 month pregnant, you just never know) It was absolutely hilarious. In the end we managed to get 29 pictures. None of which were bad, as they all told the story of our 2010 Santa experience. Madisyn even braved it out for some solo photos with Santa, and then of course was rewarded with a goody bag. Then all was good in the world she was back to her happy little self. Even said good bye to Santa as she walked out of the room.

So here are a few of the pictures we got: 

Here is Josiah telling Santa how old he is.

Just chatting

He is one handsome little dude!

And again.

Hi 5 for Santa! Josiah just loved him.

We finally got her on his lap!

Stone Cold Madisyn

Not gonna answer a single question and most definitely not gonna look at Santa!

As I said, Josiah found the whole thing hilarious. Madisyn... not so much.

Even managed a solo photo!

Almost looks like a smile, but I believe she is saying, "A goody bag"

Not impressed that we all found it so funny. 

Finally, the goody bag!!!

Aaand, we're done. (FYI that glare is for me. If looks could kill hey?!)

So one Christmas thing crossed off our list before December 1st! Big step for the Mundy's! Who knows, maybe next year we could listen to Christmas music on the way to our November Santa photos?!