I hear the sleigh bells ringing

Ya, on to Christmas! Going to Disney set us back by 2 weeks on our Christmas prep, so as soon as we got back we got a tree, decorated it, and got our pictures done for our Christmas cards. I got some pretty cute ones of Tanner and Hattie, but Peter was not so accommodating. However, we did get some with him in it. The kids loved it. Okay, me too. We had tonnes of fun making faces and choosing what we wanted to wear in the next pictures.

Larry got home from work and we had him right in with the rest of us.

Tanner and Hattie had been asked to play Mary and Joseph in a nativity, but because of scheduling problems they didn't get to do it. They were really upset since we had talked it over a lot and had costumes for them. However, their disappointment wasn't so deep that we couldn't do a little makeshift nativity in our house with the classic tea towel headpieces to make them excited again. Even Peter was excited to play the part of the shepherd/wiseman/inkeeper.

The next big Christmas event was Tanner's class Christmas party. Again, Peter and Hattie got to take part while I helped out.

And you'll never believe who showed up. SANTA! This was an extra special Santa, so it was probably a good thing his hair fell in his face at Tanner's turn. Santa was extra sweet to the Besters, and the kids were over the top excited to see him!

Well, Peter wasn't excited. Probably terrified is a better word. But he was really cute. Santa handed him his goody bag, and he managed to say an unprompted "Dank you Ho Ho"

Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma and Grandpa Bester's. The 23rd we had all the Bester's together to have a big party at the school gym. It was as fun as Ever! Then, as luck would have it, Santa visits the kids in Hill Spring every Christmas Eve and leaves a tonne of candy. Hattie missed this Santa though cause she was pretty sick and went to bed really early.

Yay for Christmas morning!!!

Gift highlights for the kids: Tanner got the clone trooper and darth vader masks he wanted from Santa, and a bunch of Star Wars action figures from Hattie, Peter, and dad. Hattie got a princess castle from Santa and Pinkalicious books and doll from Tanner and mom. (Tanner was SO excited for her to get these from him. It was really cute to watch his excitement as she was opening them and then gushing over them with her) Peter got train stuff from everyone.

After Christmas we went with the Wendorff's up to Edmonton to go swimming and to the Science Center. We stayed in the same hotel and had a blast playing and visiting with everyone!

Christmas is the Best!