A different Christmas

I mentioned before that the kids did not believe in Santa Claus this year so that made for a very different Christmas for us this year.   There was no putting out the cookies and mike, not wrapping presents in different paper and gift tags, no having to make sure I wrote from SANTA in capital letters because Banana though Santas handwriting was so much like mine a few years ago, and no wait up for them to fall asleep to get all the presents out.  In some ways all of this was a nice change but there is this part of me inside that is sad it all ended.  They are growing up so fast and this small change makes you recognize it so much.  I am feeling very thankful that we will be able to experience this once more when our new one comes.

One thing that was so special this year and I want to remember forever is that Carrot most definitely was in the spirit of giving this year.   I am sure there were at least an additional 20 or more presents under the tree all wrapped from Carrot.  It started early before Thanksgiving.  I even had to end up getting her wrapping paper of her own because she used to much of it.  I bought gift wrap tape this year and made sure I bought the four pack knowing she was going to go through so much and I still ran out.   I had to dig into her stocking and unwrap the package of tape I put in there that was just for her to use to finish off my presents.  There were times when I had just finished vacuuming the dinning room and I went in and there were small pieces of wrapping all over the floor.  At first I would look at the mess and sign and then I counted my blessings.  I have my kids here with me they are healthy and I am so blessed.

This is a picture of just some of the drawings we got from Carrot

Even sweeter than the drawings were the "gifts" we got.  Many were prizes she was abel to choose at school for bing good all week and she would choose things she thought we would like and bring them home and wrap them up.  I got some bubbles in a ring which she thought I could use for my daycare and daddy got mostly pencils because he has to write a lot (notice one was event used LOL)

This next gift that I got she must have started back in October because there is a clear halloween theme running throughout the book.

I love how she still spells phonetically

There were tons of more that I didn't even post from more coloring pictures down to little torn pieces of paper with sweet little messages on them.   This sweet memory you want to hold onto as much as Santa Clause.