A Visit With Santa...

This season couldn't slip by without a visit with our jolly friend, Santa! 

The boys ask every year how long I will make them take Santa pictures and I always say, until you move out! They act astonished that they will have to do this as seniors in high school, but really that is only 3 more years... and that makes me sad!

In case you wonder what I do with all these Santa pictures, well, I have the cutest little embroidered 'Santa Pictures' photo album that I set out every year. I LOVE looking through it every year and so do their friends (much to their disgruntle)! 

At least, I wrangled some of their friends into this little outing! And please know, Roen was not one bit happy about having to sit on Santa's lap! In fact, when Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas, he told him it was to leave, lol! He then told me making him sit on an old man's lap was creepy, haha!! Remi of course, loved every minute and was thoroughly entertained!

*Please note these were taken in a boutique, located inside a salon, and all those salon ladies thought this was the best thing they had ever seen!

Santa 2023...

This is one tradition I have managed to hang on to!

I didn't give the boys much notice, so the morning I went in to wake them up, Remi said, "Mom, are we seriously wearing matching pajamas for Santa pictures?!!" Hahaha!! I said, "Yep, we sure are!" Remi may be a little stinker, but really, there isn't much he wouldn't do for his momma. And if Remi is doing it well, consider Roen on board too!

These Santa pictures, at ages 12 and 14, just might be my most favorite ones yet...

A Visit From Santa...

Without a doubt, the most exciting morning of the whole year!

This year, Roen asked Santa for graded sports cards and an electric bike just like Remi's! He has watched Remi zoom around on his since his birthday, and he decided he wanted to join the fun! Remi asked for a bike trailer and a dog backpack/goggles for Scout, so that she can ride around with him! I think they would both tell you that Santa did not disappoint! He of course, made sure the puppies had some goodies too!

After going through stocking and Santa gifts, Roen took his bike out on a very cold spin. Shortly after coming in to warm up, all 4 of us ended up on the couch watching Christmas Vacation, where Micah and I ended up catching a little second sleep. After this, we let them open their presents from us and then we had a big after-lunch breakfast, where we also cooked up Remi's first batch of homegrown mushrooms! 

I love our lazy Christmas Day, where we can do as we please, no schedule, just being together, cozied up, watching Christmas movies and playing with all our new gadgets! At one point, I looked over at Roen and realized he had on all kinds of new stuff- hoodie, jersey, hat, crocs, AirPods and phone case.... he loves him some new gear!

It was a blessed day and this momma loved every minute!

Santa...

Oh, how I love Santa pictures! 

Even now that the boys are 11 & 13, Santa pictures are still just as sweet to me as they were when they were tiny little toots! 

Our varsity track team put on a Pancakes with Santa Breakfast fundraiser last weekend. I loved getting to support our Wildcats and snag a Santa picture all at the same time! Remi had several buddies with him who were all troopers and made the outing so much more fun and bearable! Not only did they take a picture with Santa, but they also participated in the crafts! These teenage boys are still so much fun!

Santa Came to Kiowa...

On Sunday, this sweet little Santa paid the boys and puppies a visit! I love me a good Santa picture and it being in our backyard makes it just that much sweeter! Please ignore the lion face Lady is making- Roen decided right before I snapped pictures was a good time to give her a treat!

Merry Christmas....

form our family to yours! 

I hope your holiday is full of your favorite people, yummy holiday treats, sleeping in, matching Christmas pajamas, and even if only for one evening, I hope you throw Covid out the widow and hug the neck of every special person in your life!

We skipped waiting in line to take a picture with a masked Santa, so we took a picture with a Photoshop Santa instead! The boys weren't really thrilled about this version of a Santa picture either, but at least we didn't have to leave the house!

Pancakes With Santa...

For the second year in a row, we took the boys to have a little pancake breakfast and a visit with Santa. Our little lake community hosts this event at The Lodge every year and I just love it. There are no line to hassle with, it is just minutes from our house and it is a quick and easy little outing. This year, they had four different craft stations- 3 for making angel, snowman and glass ornaments and the other for making popsicle stick Santa beards. It was the perfect start to our Saturday!

Two sweet little girls from Roen's class were there and if you can't tell from the pictures, he was not real happy that I wanted a picture of him with these girls!