merry merry merry

i might have started christmas fun too early (see previous post.) like his birthday, the closer it got, the naughtier the behavior. 

after a month of thomas the elf's antics (he is lazy and naughty), baking cookies, decorating the house and threatening coal, we spent the last couple of days visiting a Santa's village..

 ..taking frosty walks through town looking at christmas decorations...

(and making our own)

 ..and making a giant mess.

 sometimes our elf was quite ambitious
usually after a glass or two of wine

 but it worked. the reindeer ate it. so did ben.

 and our boy loved every minute.

he couldn't believe there were presents on the other side too. and underneath. "oh my gosh."

 this sweet face almost makes me forget he could not fall asleep for 2 hours...long past mama's bedtime while we waited to bring down presents. after being a wild child in church. and after jack puked all over me, face to waist, a few minutes before bed. and that i woke at 5am and they all slept past 6.

this one loved everything.

 ben and jack caught on quick.

 ...ben even found santa's old cookies

 jack could not believe he got a hat. (boy does not like hats.)

 

and then, in a pile of paper, boxes and brand new toys, two boys fought over stocking toothbrushes...seriously. both wanted blue. and matty was rolling around hotwheels--he has hundreds and still his favorite thing ever--and was trying to convince me that ben and jack gifts should be shared, while his are his own.

 and then we had christmas pancakes. and some eggnog. and played and lounged a lot. and then it was over and we went back to our regularly scheduled fun with a trip to the zoo. but with little reindeer noses.

 and laughing for days because the yak farted a few feet away.

 and teaching little guys about shadows.

and even spotting some remnants of the wonderful holiday.

now everyone is back to their normal, semi-nice behavior.

and today matty asked how many days until christmas.

362.

still time to be naughty.