Saint Nicholas

Today is Saint Nicholas Day.  One of my favorite traditions growing up was setting our shoes out the night before, in hopes that St. Nick would leave us treats in our shoes.  Don't know that story?  Google it :)  My mom continued on with this tradition even when we went away to college, and married.  She would send us packages in the mail.

Last night we told Sally all about Saint Nicholas and she remembered to set her shoes out before she went to bed.  She was very excited to find this morning, that St. Nick had visited her house!

If only it could always stay this easy to please, a Santa PEZ dispenser

Saint Nick even surprised Daddy!

Keeping with the Saint Nick theme, Sally sat on Santa's lap this weekend.  We weren't quite sure how she would respond.  Her first visit she was all smiles, last year we had the classic screaming her head off, this year, well, she surprised us!

Don't mind the "bowl full of Jelly" in the background.  Focus on the cute little girl who can't wait to sit on Santa's lap!  Thank you to our neighbors for the adorable hand-me-down Santa dress!

Mommy was going to ease her in and Daddy was in charge of the camera.  Except, Sally didn't need anyone to "ease" her in.  When it was her turn, she let go of my hand, walked up to Santa all by herself and gently got on his lap.  She told him she had been a good girl, asked if he would please bring her a Big Belle Doll and if she may touch his beard.  She said Thank you Very Much, Merry Christmas, and that was that!

Love her sweet innocent face in this picture

Reid and I still can't believe that's what happened.  She wouldn't even so much as touch Cat In The Hat when we went to see him.  Just when we think we've got her all figured out, she goes and throws us a curve ball.  Our little sensitive Sally is becoming a little more brave.  She's getting ready to take on the roll as the protective Big Sister!

Proud of herself for talking with Santa

Here's the Cheesy Grin again

"Show me your teeth"

Pretty sure she was the cutest little girl there!

Here's the picture our volunteer at the church took.  Sally decorated her frame!

So fun celebrating Christmas through a sweet innocent child's eyes!

Holidazzle 2011

We had a really great family weekend! 

Friday after nap, Sally and I headed downtown to meet Daddy! 

Daddy and Sally checking out the big tree outside of Daddy's work.  As well as a ride on the "alligator" {escalator}.

We went to Macy's 8th Floor Display, "A Day in the Life of An Elf." {I remember this being so much bigger and longer, or was that just because I was younger and it was more magical??}  It was great not having to wait in any lines and walk right through.  We opted out of seeing Santa as we knew we were going to visit with the Big Guy on Saturday at our Church.

shhhh Elves are sleeping

**Love**

Santa's Workshop

We then went to dinner.  I can't believe how grown up Sally is becoming.  Able to sit in a regular chair at a restaurant and use her manners.  She even uses public restrooms now...HUGE success!  After dinner we bundled up and waited in our usual spot for the parade to start!

Do you think her thumb made it in the correct spot of her mitten? :)

"Enough pictures, already, can we see the parade?"

Sally's cheesy smile of "showing her teeth"

The train with the zoo animals was a big hit

Too much to look at to smile AND look at the camera

Snuggle Bunnies

Silly faces in between floats

Craigmile, family of three, for a few more days

Can you guess who she spotted? Ho Ho Ho!

Since it is a tradition for us to go to the parade each Christmas Season, I wanted to compare back to last year's visit, check out the pictures HERE 

Pictures from Sally's first Holidazzle, click HERE

More to come this week on meeting Santa, getting our Christmas Tree and playing in the snow!

**Baby C-Mile, we're ready when you're ready! xo

Play Date with Cousins

Sally got to spend some time with her cousins Lucy and Katherine this morning.  We may have a problem when baby arrives...Sally and I will be arguing over her gets to hold the baby :) She insisted that I don't help her hold the baby and she refused to give up her turn.  We'll see if after a few days she gets bored with it!

"Hi Kafrin, I'm going to be a big sister, okay?"

Girlfriends

So fun that they actually play with one another now.  Christmas together should be pretty entertaining!

 Happy Happy Weekend! We're off to the Holidazzle tonight, wish it was a little more "white" out there!

Our Very Own Shirley Temple

I tested out the curlers again the other day. Sally loved them!  We'll have to see if I have time to do her hair like this for Christmas Mass!

It's December, It's December, the month the Baby is Due!!!

Tea Party wih Friends

One of Sally's Christmas presents last year was a winter tea set.  She has spent a lot of time up in her room serving tea to her friends!  Mommy loves the occasional independent play!

Patiently Waiting

It's much easier to wait for the arrival of baby #2 since we are constantly busy with his or her sister.  Although, I feel like I always have to have everything in it's place at home, just in case we were to go into labor.

I've been busy checking things off of my to-do list and I think we're pretty much good to go.  I am happy to say that I have all of my Christmas shopping done and all of the presents are wrapped.  All that's left is to add the boy or girl name to a few of the presents.

It would be nice to for sure make it through this weekend as we have some fun family activities planned and it would be nice to have one last weekend of only having one child. 

Here's a fun picture idea I found on Pinterest {if you don't have an account, I'd highly recommend checking it out!}

Lots of lovin'

Lastly, I will keep the Baby Pool open through Sunday evening {over on the sidebar}.  After that, all guesses will be locked in.  The gift card total is up to $34, the more guesses {only one guess/person} the higher the worth!  Good Luck!

Basilica

Reid had a busy weekend of work, so we ended up going to Mass Sunday night.  Each time we pass the Basilica in the car we've said how fun it would be to take Sally there for Mass.

If you know how much Sally loves Church and Jesus and Mary then you'll understand when I say: taking Sally to the Basilica was basically like bringing her to Disney World.

She was in love! Throughout Mass she'd look up at the ceiling and all around at the statues and whisper "Look at the beautiful Church Mommy, wow!" She was in prime form throughout the Mass as well.  She held her song sheet out in front and sang nice and loud for all those near us, and not so near, to hear.  During the readings she would listen carefully and echo almost every verse that was read.  She gave Peace to those around her for at least five minutes.  When Mass was over we brought her to the special Mary statue, and I'm pretty sure she would have stayed the night if we would have let her.

Checking out Mary

Love how Sally knelt down because Daddy did

Next up, Rome...I wish!