These are the days.....

I absolutely love Ava's age. I can't stop smiling at the things that come out of her mouth. We have been looking through catalogues and in stores for things to ask Santa to bring her. Our first conversations about Santa this year have been quite fun. First she asked me if Santa has a car...I explained he has a sleigh that the reinders pull and fly through the sky. In the dark sky? I said yes, but Rudolph has a big red nose that lights the way for them. She now loves teling people that story. Tonight when we were writing our first letter to Santa and I was putting it in an evelope she asked me if Santa lived in the chimney? Daddy told her earlier that he will come down the chimney on Christmas Eve to bring her presents. Before I listed the toys she wanted to ask for, I said is there something else you want to say before I ask for your list - her response was "Yes, tell him I love him because he is bringing me presents! In her list she only asked for three things - i said that it... and she squealed yes! I finished the letter up telling Santa we were leaving some yummy cookies and milk for him and some carrots for the reindeer and Ava promptly said that is Daddy's job. She loves to tap her fingers on the table and say that is the noise Santa will make on the roof before he comes down our chimney. I just smile with pure joy. Now we just have to make sure she learns the difference between Santa and Jesus - she is a little confused with the two right around the same time. I am sure everything will get cleared up when we have her Happy Birthday Jesus party at school. We can't wait for Christmas!!!

Tomorrow morning I am going to give her the book called Elf on a Shelf. My sister in law and told me about the book, it comes with a little elf about 9 inches high and you sit the Elf on a Shelf. The elf is there to watch each day and report any good and bad behavior to Santa each night. When he returns each night he lands in a different place in your house and in the morning your child has to find where the elf landed. I am sure the book is a really cute, I haven't even looked at it yet. You should all get the book for your kiddies before December - it will fly off the shelves.

Friday night, me, Chad, Melissa, Tieg, Karla and John all went to Toys R Us to get the Christmas shopping done for the kids, then to dinner. We all draw names for the adults, but still buy all 6 kids presents. It was so much fun shopping in a toy store again and now everything is done for the kids. This year marked our first annual tradition of doing some Christmas shopping all together.