Christmas in a Nutshell!

We had a wonderful Christmas at the Hales household this year. I think it was more fun for me this year now that Brycson was old enough to understand it a little more. We started our Christmas festivities with our ward party where Santa Clause came to visit the children. There's a new family living in the ward, Chris and Becky. They are such an awesome little family and it has been so much fun getting to know them. They have a little girl Brynn who is just a little younger than Brycson. She is adorable, and Brycson just loves her. If you ask him who his girlfriend is he says "Brynn," and gets this shy little look on his face, it's soooo cute. Brycson had been singing "Sanna Clause tummin tooowwwwn." for a few days and was excited to see him at the party. We practiced what he was going to ask for and everything, but both Brynn and Brycson were getting a little nervous the closer we got to actually sitting on Santa's lap, so we decided that we should put them on together, and that might help them be more comfortable. This is what happened.... Brynn went one direction and Brycson went the other....

Candy Canes helped...

But, only for a minute!

Let's just say I'm glad we didn't wait in a two hour line to pay for a picture with this reaction...Maybe next year will be better.

(When you asked if Santa was going to come to our house after that little visit, Brycson would say..."No, I don't like him.")

Christmas Eve was spent with Camron's family having dinner and spending time with Camron's extended family from out of town. We opened a few presents and then went to see my Mom for a bit. We got Brycson home at about 11:30 set out our cookies and milk, and put him to bed. That's when our first night as "Santa" started. We were up until 4:00 AM putting Brycson's kitchen together. Camron is still cursing it!

The Hales Family

Brycson opening his Doctor Kit. He loves to check your blood pressure and listen to your heart, but he will get laughing hard when you put the throw up dish up to your mouth and pretend to be sick.

Brycson's loot from Santa and Mom and Dad.

Christmas day was so much fun! It's so much fun seeing it through Brycson's eyes. It was fun to watch him come around the corner and his eyes light up when he saw everything. He checked to make sure the cookies and milk were gone and then it was on to bigger and better things. The only thing he kept asking for from Santa was a Barney movie. The best reaction of the day was when he picked up the Barney movie and with the biggest smile said..."Santa brought it!" It melted my heart. He LOVES to vacuum, I mean this kid is OBSESSED! So, the vacuum was a big hit. He carried it everywhere! When we were at my Mom and Dad's later he kept saying "I go home now, I dack doom (Vacuum)" We had to keep distracting him so he'd stick around at my parent's house a little longer. He moved on to his other presents on his own time, but has started playing with all of them more and more now that that he's not so overwhelmed. He's making Ice Cream Cones in his microwave, frying up eggs, and pouring us all a Coke. He's quite the little chef!

We had breakfast with Camron's family, opened presents, and then got to talk to Camron's brother Kolby, who's on a mission in New York. We tried to get Brycson to talk, but of course no dice. We then spent the rest of the evening at my parents' having dinner and playing games. We played Dirty Minds...it's hilarious and right up my Dad's ally, which made it even more fun.

Overall, Christmas was pretty laid back this year and was so much fun. I think Brycson will let Santa come again next year.

We have the cleanest steps in the neighborhood!

Cam's new ice fishing hat!

New art desk! Partying like rockstars at the Smith house!