Tis the Season to be Jolly!

*** look out for another post this week- Brooks turned 18 months old on Friday and we have monkey pics and such, but it was too much to put together all at once***


Tis the Season to be Jolly!!! The Christmas Season is in full swing and we have been having a blast. Last week we went up to NJ to spend the night with my family- it is going to be a yearly tradition to go see Santa & bake cookies with my mom (and my sister if she is available!)

Here is last years Santa picture for comparison:




This year he was not quite so happy to see Santa. Brooks has been having some major mommy attachment, and being placed on the big guy's lap and watching me walk away was a bit shocking to him I think.


The picture actually came out pretty well since he just looks shell shocked. Aunt Ali tried to sneak in some pictures from the second floor and you can see he was not a happy camper.


Brooks has been back to himself, seems to be fully recovered and back to making mischief and making me laugh. He also runs around the house fake laughing now and it is hysterical- I am working on getting it on video, however once he sees that camera he will not forget it because he loves to watch videos of himself on the little digital screen. It is a catch 22- can't get more videos of him because he wants to watch them LOL.
We stayed inside much of last week because it was COLD- like seriously cold. Thankfully it has since warmed up a bit, but getting out of the house in that freezing wind was icky.

So cold, we actually had our first snow that 'stuck', although not much. I went out to my car in the morning to find this: (random & hysterical)

Watching for Daddy out the window with Mingers

(he is in pants, he just plays with them and pulls them up)


I'm talking to YOU!


Climbing... his new favorite experiment that scares me. Note, his feet are up on the table here. He also tries climbing over the back of the couch and on whatever he can... Hopefully he doesn't make it out of the crib soon!



And tonight we finally decorated our Christmas Tree!!!

Brooks did suprisingly well. He helped out with the cranberries (Eric loves the stupid cranberries). We also had a couple cheapie ball ornaments that he could throw around. That was enough for him- he basically ignored everything else. The only thing that interests him and we will have to watch him for is the ball shaped ornaments. Hopefully his nonbreakable cheapies will keep his mind off the other ones.


All ready for tree decorating in his cutie Christmas shirt!!!



First access to the tree- it has been gated off (and will continue to be!)


'

Putting on the cranberries! and may I say he was VERY serious about it LOL

Somehow, all the cranberry sprigs ended up in the same spot.


He wouldn't let us sweep up the needles without his help :)


Helping Daddy with the 'balls'.




And a turn with Mommy & Squeaks




The finished product! Our tree looks so tiny. We tried to be conservative with size and I think we were a little too conservative. It is over 6 ft, but it just looks so teeny.