Gratitude Friday...

For those keeping score at home, this makes five posts this month. 

 

FIVE.

 

Not that I'm expecting a standing ovation or anything.  That would be both weird and difficult to accomplish via the internet. 

 

And because I've basically been hiding behind a broken laptop as a reason to post once a month...since September...all six of the people who regularly checked in on the blog have since stopped. 

 

Meaning I have written five posts this month for myself to read. 

 

Okay.  And Chris. 

 

He does actually read them.  And correct my grammatical errors. 

 

Because he's just that type of caring guy.

 

So since this is just for me and my far more grammatically perfect other half, I will confess to feeling quite a lot of BAH HUMBUG today.

 

Not exactly what you want to be feeling 12 days before Christmas. 

 

Lots of reasons.  Could be the gloomy weather.  Or the fact that we've never unpacked our Thanksgiving suitcases.  Which at this point, why bother?  Or my bad run this morning?  Or my cold feet?  Or the boring dinner I have planned?  (It's sad when even the cook is not looking forward to the food.)

 

Regardless, just feeling blah. 

 

But I've got this little picture to make me smile.

Yes, we do Santa.  Somewhere, another Christian believes this makes me a bad Jesus-follower. 

 

Oh well.

 

Last year, AK was too scared to speak much less actually sit in Santa's lap.  I was a little worried she might be the same way this year.  As we walked up to him, she was acting all sheepish.  Head bowed, hands covering her mouth.  But then about half-way down the aisle to him, she stood straight up, raised her head and marched right up to him.

 

I.GOT.THIS.

 

Clearly, the desire to get "Ariel" for Christmas was more overwhelming than her fear of the stranger in the red suit. 

 

Rhys was totally indifferent. 

 

As you can see from his expression.

 

But how much does Aubrey Kate's sweet smile bless you?

 

And her red cheeks flush with the excitement of it all? 

 

We spent another hour or so just playing in Bass Pro.  There's a little snack shack there so we sat down to enjoy some popcorn and water.  Rhys had never eaten popcorn before.  He INHALED it.  AK mostly ate her candy cane. 

 

Then we wandered around looking at all the fancy dead animals on display.  Rhys loves animals so he thought the entire thing was a.maz.ing.  I tried to get some other pictures but man alive, boys are busy. 

 

Neither of them wanted to leave.  I was completely stressed out by the time we left.  It's an absolute miracle Rhys didn't end up in the "river" or knock an entire display of Duck Dynasty pillows over. 

 

He is a mess.

 

Anyway, the kids had a blast. 

 

So it's all good. 

 

Christmas is such fun with littles.  Everything is awesome to them.  For that, I am grateful.