The Connell Chronicles: Merry Christmas!! Oh, I mean Happy almost St. Patrick's Day :)

What a fun and QUICK FLYING Christmas we had! I am going to say that this Christmas may have gone by the quickest yet! We had a lot of fun with Brady at Christmas this year! We started some traditions and of course I totally soaked that up. We introduced our elf last year but as far as he was concerned, eeehh it's just a toy. This year started a little rough but by the 24th, little buddy was totally aware of the rules and had named his elf, MEET KURT :).

Kurt entered with quite a lazy entrance, infact Payton found him laying on the floor. Amanda spotted him immediately but so did Payton, and oh man was she so sad. She said, OH NO, THE MAGIC IS GONE. I carefully picked up Kurt and placed him on the mantle so that Santa could bring him back to health after he was apparently "toyed" around with by little buddy :). He ended up healing beautifully and blessed us with his presence all Christmas. We have quite the lazy elf, sometimes he would lay around the same spot for a couple of days ;). I hope he is warmed up for next year when Brady is on his A game, he better be moving every day or I will need to speak to Santa :). I recorded Elf On The Shelf last Christmas and for the record, it started being watched about 4-5 times a day around Thanksgiving and as of 1.10.13, we were still being beckoned to turn on KURRRTTT!! :) Of course I could live Christmas every day of the year so he can watch it all he wants :). Another one he became a fan of, much to momma's delight of course, was POLAR EXPRESS! AKA- TRAAAAIINNNN! I have to say that for the record he will sit through nearly the entire movie, his first one that he will sit through. OHHHHH JUST WARMS MY HEART RIGHT UP!

We went on the Polar Express Train Ride again this year! This year Gigi joined us, and Brady just soaked that up and barely left her lap. Our friends Allison and Jason, and their little guy Heston rode this year! We love them and have play dates occasionally so the boys know each other! Are they not the CUUUUTEST!

THIS PICTURE TOTALLY CRACKS ME UP!

Here are some more pics. from that fun night!

Took a picture with the conductor!

SANTA!!

THIS WAS THE SWEETEST GENTLEMAN! HE JUST LOVED MOM AND BRADY AND WOULD COME HANG OUT AND CHAT

AM I SUPPOSED TO EAT THIS TRAIN WHISTLE??

GETTING A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!! STICKING OUR HEADS OUTSIDE OF THE TRAIN BETWEEN CARS!

MRS. CLAUS AND HER FANTASTIC SNICKERDOODLES!

SMOOCHIES FOR THE MOMMA!

TRAIN WHISTLE, POPSICLE, WHATEVER :).

We did our first advent calendar this year too, it was a "sweet" sight every night :) as it became custom for Brad and Brady to find the number for his CHHAAKKK OOOOO LAAAAAATTEEE reward! He would then go to move the number in our countdown hanger. I looooooved all of his participation this year! It made Christmas a million times better than I already think it is :).

HE LOVED SWITCHING THE NUMBERS ON THIS CALENDAR TOO!

FINALLY!! THE TRAIL OF LIGHTS CAME BACK TO AUSTIN!!

Helping Mama make cookies, it's always fun to see how many sprinkles one cookie can hold :).

Christmas at Gigi and Pappy's!!

Good Morning Buddy! Love Santa!

ANNNND the big Santa gift!!

It has since had the enclosure put on, we'll just say that Santa and his helper elf must have been too tired on Christmas Eve and had a horribly hard time seeing in the dark :).