It's begining to look a lot like

Christmas!

We finally got our first look at the white stuff today. We may just have snow for Christmas after all!

We've been busy getting ready for the holidays! I went to my 4th annual Cambridge 1st Ward Wreath Making Night, which is always a good time. They have a wonderful program with music and talks, delicious soups and salad for dinner and then I get to make my very own wreath out of Christmas tree branches. I was happy with how my wreath turned out this year; it hangs proudly on our front door.
We've also been busy sending off Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping, finishing up the semester, realizing that a lot more people die around the holidays (I work in Hospice people) i.e. attending funerals, attending Christmas Parties, being terrified of Santa, Etc.

We have also been baking much more than usual, and when I say "we," I mainly mean Christian. However I did get domestic this week with my special apron, which has special "you are a wonderful domestic wife" powers which I thoroughly enjoy. Look how freakin' adorable it is! Sale, last year, Pier 1, waited all year to wear it. It helped me make my favorite holiday treat, "Carolyn's Cheese Ball" which I made for my work party. Growing up, our neighbor, Carolyn, from across the street brought us this cheese ball every year and now Christmas just doesn't seem the same without it. She has been gracious enough to share the recipe with me so all my wildest Christmas dreams can come true.
Christian feels the same way about his dad's famous Boston Cremes! Christian went crazy with the baking this year!

Due to my lack of self control for all these delectable treats, I promptly wrapped them all up (after eating 10-12 pieces) to be delivered to our neighbors, etc.

Our little monkey has been pretty good with the Christmas tree and not pulling off too many ornaments. He doesn't understand that presents have goodies under all the pretty paper, so that has really worked in our favor this year.
He REALLY has massive Santa fear, and the three times we have seen him have been anything but pleasant experiences.
He has been learning about "baby jeeju" and pointing him out in the friend magazine. It kinda melts my heart. He also has gotten really cute about praying and folds his arms any time I lay him down in his crib; I say the prayer and when I say, "in the name of Jesus Christ" he says "Amen." ADORABLE!

This year for Christmas I think he will be happy with anything music, Elmo, Car or Choo choo related.
He is learning a lot about the alphabet, such as all letters are "A"
He does well with his numbers, cause they are all "2"
He is learning those colors quickly, probably because they are all "Blue"
He loves his "mama" a lot, probably because that is what he calls his dada too. ( you can only imagine how much Christian is enjoying this. At church when C was sitting on the stand with his primary children during the primary program, Berke kept pointing to Christian and yelling, "Mama! Hi Mama!")

He does really well with his Sesame Street Characters and knows who Elmo, Oscar, Cookie, Abby, Ernie, and Big Bird are.
He is also doing pretty well with his animal sounds and can make the sounds of a monkey, dog, kitty, horse, cow, sheep, fish (it says shshsh), bear, and lion.
He loves to colee colee colee (color) and drink watee watee (water or milk).
He is obsessed with dried blue berries right now and eats 50-100 a day.

We are really excited to spend Christmas with our little guy this year. He is going to be so excited for every present he opens. I just love how children can bring the magic into Christmas.

We hope your Holiday is fun and festive, and that you are able to share it with people you love!