Christmastime

We got our tree the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The whole crew, Gus, Kels, Max, & Oscar did the annual tradition of going to Hann's Tree Farm to cut down our Christmas Tree. Max got to see Santa at the farm, but was still just a little scared sit on his lap. We got the tree home, decorated, and lit it up. Max loved the tree. You could ask him where any of the particular ornaments were at and he'd be able to point them out. He loved the train running around the bottom of tree. Every morning he wanted to have his breakfast by tree.

The Christmas celebrations started early in Indiana. We drove down to Evansville mid December for Wednesday-Sunday. Mimi and Pops really enjoyed the long visit with Max. All the Small family was together for the weekend. We celebrated, ate very well, danced, opened gifts, watched home videos, played games, drank Old Fashioneds & White Russians, and had an all around great time as always. Max was a great little traveler there and back.

Max seems to be loving the season. Out of nowhere he'll start saying "Santa" over and over. He says it in a deep voice sometimes which is really funny. The Madison Zoo had a Christmas light show that Max really enjoyed. We got great news while we were at the light show when Aunt Ellie called to tell us she engaged to soon-to-be Uncle Tyler!

Kelsey had to work during the day on Christmas Eve so we had to do our Christmas Eve tradition a day early. We took Max to the capital to look at the huge tree in the rotunda. After that we went out to lunch down by the capital. Kelsey had to work most the day on Christmas Eve so Max and Gus stayed home and baked cookies. We got a Christmas Eve snowfall which was awesome because we hadn't gotten any snow yet. It was a low key night, we read books, watched Christmas movies, and put Max to bed anxious for Santa to come. Christmas morning we went out to the living room to see if the big man had come. Max didn't know what to think about the play kitchen sitting in the living room on Christmas morning. We hung out for a little bit, then headed down to Janesville. We had a great day in Janesville. We got to see everyone on both sides of the family. We played lots of games and ate lots of food. Max was again showered with love and gifts.

Breakfast by the tree.

We went to skyzone to jump around while down in Evansville. Max (& Kelsey) had a blast.

Uncle Sammy's neighbor do it up real big with the Christmas lights. We took Max to look at them and he started running through their yard.

Story time with Pops.

Couldn't believe Max sat calmly in the Polar Bear's hand. 

Watching the snow fall on Christmas Eve.