It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Last weekend we went Christmas tree hunting with Grandmom and Grandpa up in the mountains. Some of their friends have a bunch of property, and they were very generous to let us take a couple trees...

and branches.

Then we had a picnic in the snow, as was mommy's custom when she was growing up and went out Christmas tree hunting.

Sabine intently sampled the wares, mostly the hot chocolate

and, of course, the assortment of cookies.

Then we got the tree home, and Sabine was big enough to help decorate this year. She had a few opinions about where things should go.

Her favorite ornaments were the little green balls, and she carried one around all day.

Sabine was also interested in the angel who goes on top, although this year she wanted to pull her hair out of the pony tail, as she is apt to do with her dolls. Mommy and Daddy vetoed that idea.

We also went to a Christkindl party, hosted by one of the many German families in our playgroup. Sabine loved seeing all of her friends, but was a little intimidated when St. Nikolaus appeared, so there are no pictures with him.

She much preferred the decorate-a-reindeer craft. Sadly, the reindeer did not survive the ride home with a toddler plied full of chocolate and cookies.

Speaking of sweets, we have an advent calendar going this year. We have a little gingerbread house with 25 doors, and Sabine is opening one each night. The house has become a new favorite plaything, and Sabine is very aware of which doors she is allowed to open, and which ones she has to wait for.

Sabine thinks the idea of getting candy every night, EVEN IF she didn't finish her broccoli, is quite awesome.

Sabine also got to try fondue for the first time. She was underwhelmed by the cheese, but ate her fair share of bread. With her own fork. ("I'll do it myself" is a constant catchphrase at our house, these days.)

And then she and her friend E watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for the first time while the adults finished off the fondue.

It has definitely been fun anticipating Christmas so far this year. Sabine understands so much more now, and is able to talk about it. She's become quite fearful of a lot of things recently, and while hopefully it's just a phase, we're keeping the talk of Santa light. She knows he's coming on Christmas, and he's bringing her presents (a red present, specifically. We haven't yet determined what she thinks is in the red present) but we're keeping the details of his entry vague, and not bothering with the whole "you better be good or else" thing.

We're getting very excited for Christmas day, though Santa better get busy on that red present. It's not going to wrap itself.