Fun holiday traditions

This will be Isla's third Christmas, but really it's kind of like her first because she's now of the age where she gets what is going on. We've been having fun introducing her to all sorts of holiday traditions. She got to meet Santa, help Mommy bake Christmas cookies, pick out and decorate our tree, and we decorated our first gingerbread house together! She has made the Christmas season that much more fun!

We took her to the Festival of Trees a few weeks ago:

Always up for a carousel ride

First pony ride reaction: "He went sooo fast!"

Waiting to meet Santa

A little apprehensive. . .

But she came around and eventually sat next to him on her
own. She let him know that it was very loud and that she
wanted an "orwange tar" for Christmas

Isla's friend Charlie visited us from Brooklyn (along with her parents) and we set off on a mission to cut down our own Christmas tree. . . We went to a local farm where they had a petting zoo, playground, a train and Isla's favorite, hot chocolate!

the girls playing in Isla's "boat"

checking out the animals

Mommies (both due with girls, within
 a week of one another!)

waiting for the choo-choo train

looking for that perfect tree

Daddies

Mmmmm. . . hot cocoa break!

Mission accomplished! (funny thing is that we didn't even
cut it down, they were either huge or the wrong kind, so we
went with a lovely pre-cut one, so much for that!) 

Then we did some baking, which was a hit!

Cookie time!

If you ever need a break from toddlers, give them some flour
and dough - it will keep them occupied for a looong time

Tree's up, let's decorate! She likes to point out her favorite ornaments. . . "this is my favorite, this is my favorite, this is my favorite. . . "

Just a few more additions!

And finally onto that gingerbread house! Which we embarrassingly completed over a series of three days! Never knew it was so much work (icing took time to set) but we did it.

Day one: Waiting for Mommy to get her act together

still waiting

Woohoo. Started with the snowman while Mommy
put the house together.

Day 2: Once it was set, time to decorate!

Day 3: sprinkle taste test. . . 

Last finishing touches! Next project, some gingerbread
cookies that we'll actually eat.