He knows if you've been bad or good so be good for goodness sake!

It is December and it's officially winter here in Memphis. The temps are in the 20's, people are buzzing about rumors of snow, and Christmas decorations are in full effect.  Since we were in Gulfport for Thanksgiving to visit with my parents, we weren't able to put our tree and decorations up until last weekend. Even though this is Gray's 3rd Christmas, I think it's his 1st "real" Christmas because he is starting to really understand how it works. And by this, I mean that he knows only good boys get toys from Santa. I think we'll have to wait a few years before the whole Baby Jesus thing gets absorbed. So for now we are milking the Santa threat for all that it's worth. The Elf-on-the-shelf has been a HUGE help with this and Gray has started saying "watching you" and looking at the elf whenever he's misbehaved. I only wish the Elf could be here year-round but I have a feeling he loses his effect after awhile. For now, we'll continue to enjoy making Santa the bad guy for a change.

Speaking of Christmas, I absolutely MUST get my Christmas cards out. It gets later and later every year! I am so far behind, I haven't even take a picture of them yet! Last weekend, I took the kids to get their picture taken with Santa in the hope of using it on our card, but as you can see, it's a no-go. Gray was surprisingly keen on Santa and didn't seem frightened by him at all. Maybe we skipped that phase all together or perhaps he is just way too nice to strangers. Note to self.....

Now that the tree is up and we've seen Santa, we're really in the Christmas spirit. Last Sunday when I came home from the grocery store, I found Adam in a sleeping bag with all three kids, listening to Christmas music and admiring the tree. I'm pretty sure they drank the eggnog and have acquired his love for the season. I bought one of those gingerbread train kits for Gray and I to make together but it was difficult to do since every time I put a piece of candy on it, he ate it off and said "mmmmm!".  In the end, he had fun, and that was what counted.

The last month has been frantically busy with Hayes' christening, the appliances giving out, and traveling to the coast for the holidays.  We were also plagued with the ultra-difficult decision to find new homes for the dogs now that the kids have become more mobile and Jackson even more tempermental.  Sweet Pea is now living with her new friend, Prissy, on a farm in Canton, MS and Jackson is in rehab with a foster Mom who is a vet up in Indiana. We will miss them terribly and will have lots of pictures and stories to share with the kids someday, but we know for now that we did the right thing.....for everyone. We will miss you, diggidy dogs!

We're really anticipating some downtime over the holidays, which is why I'm especially happy that we are staying in Memphis. Christmas in Mexico last year was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget, but it sure is nice to have Christmas at home. Can't wait!

Merry Christmas,
The Pattersons