Hibbards Open House

The Hibbards host an annual open house to benefit Toys for Tots.  It is always a great time.  Santa has a very special chair in the sitting room and the kids are encouraged to eat, color, write a letter to Santa - anything they want to do to get comfortable.  This year, she even had four marines there who were just super nice and great with the kids.   

 And this is what Lilly does every time!  She sits in the sitting room with her back to Santa.  Santa chats with others while she sits.  He promises not to touch her or talk to her as she walks past him several times.  He always waves to her.  He is the same Santa every year and really is great - also a former marine.

 This is a first.  Lilly noticed Santa in the foyer talking to some adult guests and she stayed behind him making faces for quite some time.  

 And escorted him back to his chair in the sitting room.

 Santa got hungry and came to the dining room for a snack and saw an opportunity...

And here we are again, trying to get her to talk to him!  By this time, she has been there for at least two hours.  She has talked about him to me and Ms. Cindy.  She has told other kids she wants a Barbi.  One girl offered to write a note for her to give him!  And she said not one word to him.  Maybe next year!

Tea with the Princesses

A friend of mine invited us to have tea with Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora!  The princesses walked around serving tea and hot chocolate during our lunch.  This is Lilly seeing our Cinderella for the first time!

 She was so star struck by all of them.

And this sweet Cinderella took time to pose for a photo.  And cue bashful!

 And this is pretty much how she sat and ate the whole time.

 These princesses worked so hard today.  This was the best photo we could get out of her.

 So this place is a tea house not far from us.  It is adorable and has lots of different rooms you can browse.  This room is a true dress up room.  There were so many old hats, boas, scarves, gloves, dresses that the girls were all encouraged to play with.  And then the princesses came up and read a story to them.

 And after the story, they played a game.  Note the girl next to Lilly who is clearly still playing dress up!

And December Begins!

So this year seems to be the year of learning it all!  She is really aware of Santa.  Has heard about Elf on the Shelf and wonders why she doesn't have a personal elf.  I wonder how all those other moms have time or energy to be so creative with their family visitors.  She did an advent calendar this year and was so patient.  She only opened one each night.  I could never wait a whole 24 hours to see what was behind door number whatever the date was!  Even as an adult, I found it difficult.  This year, we were invited to have breakfast with Santa!  And we just happened to be seated right near Santa's big entrance!  

 I could not believe how excited she was.

 And she was so patient waiting in line to see Santa.  And I know she can't wait to talk to him because all she wanted was a Barbie.  Yes, she knows about her now too.

 So it is finally her turn.  And I practically had to beg her to go see him.

 She did not ask him for a thing.  She did not say a single word to him.  She just put her finger in her mouth and stood there looking bashful.

 And then there were lots of activities for the kids to do!  They decorated sugar cookies.  

You probably can't tell, but Lilly did not get enough sprinkles on her cookie.  She poured some in her goodie bag...  They also made hot chocolate kits and played a few games, as well.  I can not explain why I have no photos though.  And even better - she got to take a photo home of her visit with Santa.  She took it to school for days to show all her friends and teachers.  I'm sure she told great tales of her conversation with the big guy!

Christmas Preparations...

Lilly was definitely more involved this year with everything!  

 I was putting the tree up.  She went to get her flashlight.  And this is her "fixing" the tree.  She never really told me what was broken, but she took care of it.

 And this was her holiday baking!  Or dipping.

And the bounty...