life in a northern town: Our First Christmas...

I've always loved the holidays but I was surprised how much that changes when you have a child. It seems like there is more magic and love in the air...although Mason is much too young to remember this one, Joe and I fantasized many times about our christmases to come...buying two sets of wrapping paper, shopping for both us and Santa, seeing his excitement and anticipation on Christmas and having a living room full of toys and ripped wrapping paper covering our floor. It was so fun to reminisce our own innocence and how much we loved believing in Santa. I remember my sister and I sneaking out in the middle of the night to take a peak at the tree and seeing mountains of presents, then running back to our bedroom, squealing with delight. And I could have sworn I heard the reindeer land on our roof one year and heard the jingle bells on the sleigh. Those memories are magical and I love that I have them and can't wait for Mason to have them too. Yeah, some parents think that lying to your children about Santa will result in some traumatic experience but you know what, my parents never lied to us. Every time we asked if Santa was real, their response was that as long as you believed, he would always exist. After a while, we figured it out on our own and it was okay. Santa was the last one I believed in. Although the tooth fairy and easter bunny were easy to let go, Santa was tough. But I wouldn't change it, truly believing in Santa are some of the most fun times I remember from my childhood. So we plan to have that same response ready for when that conversation comes up some day...I couldn't bare to take those experiences away from Mason.

We decided with Mason's baptism being the day after christmas, it made more sense for my parents to come here and celebrate in MN. It was the first time I haven't been home in WI but we still had a great weekend. Christmas Eve we made appetizers and punch:

Mason got lots of snuggles with his Auntie Deb Deb this past week:

We also started a new family tradition with "The Elf on the Shelf." We can't wait to continue this with Mason and any future babies. Here are some pics with Mason in his christmas outfit and his elf on Christmas morning:

Here we are Christmas morning opening gifts...here is Mason's first gift:

Debbie sulking because our parents got an iPad before her!

Our traditional Shutterfly calendars for Grandma & Grandpa:

And mama became a NFL owner!

After opening gifts, we started cooking Christmas lunch. Ham and cheesy potatoes, YUM! Then we settled in to enjoy the Packer game that evening.

Mason cheering on the Pack with his Uncle Jim Jim:

Joe lost the bet twice this year and had to wear his favorite yellow Packer T-shirt...oh how I dream of the day of when Joe crosses over to the other side ;)

I'm also in denial that the holidays are over...normally by this time, I can't wait to get all the decorations put away...but not this year. I'm not sure when I'll take them down. It was also a lot harder to see my sister go back to AZ. I still tear up thinking about her not being here anymore...I think having Mason has changed so many things for my family...seeing it end was hard on everyone.

On Monday, we headed to Target to score some after christmas deals and pick up the cake and rest of the food for after Mason's baptism that night. On December 26, 2011 Mason Joseph was baptized in the church his parents were married in and became part of the Lutheran family.