Festival of Trees!

For years, the Hidey Family has gone to the Festival of Trees on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (see Max's first year here!)It benefits the Kennedy Krieger Foundation and is always such a fun way to kick off the season! Since having kids, it has morphed from hours of shopping while trying to avoid the kiddies area.. to hours in the kiddie area while trying to sneak in some shopping. : ) 

The Crew... ready to go!

I had no idea how it was going to work with two kids this year. It is also tradition that Justin always goes out hunting with his Uncle and other hunting buddies on the Saturday after Christmas since it's opening day. So I get texts about the deer that he's shot as I'm prepping Max to sit on Santa's lap. It's our life : ) Honestly, the Festival was SO great this year and not hard at all with two kids. The hardest craziest part was getting them out the door in the morning. I think my sister is still traumatized. My family is so awesome and they all took turns entertaining the kiddies!!

Aunt Sarah makes waiting in line more fun!

Lots of smiles for Baby Jack!

First it was off to meet Santa and tell him all sorts of important things!

Such a jolly fellow. My boys really like him!

Garon waited in line with us and Santa insisted that he sit on his lap too! Oh happy day! : )

I'm saying "Great job talking to Santa!" as Max spies the Merry Go Round.

First Max did the train- his first "ride by himself" ride! It would have gone splendidly, except his beloved crown broke and so most of the ride was consumed with tears. 

Although Max declared when he got off that he really liked the big boy train ride! So there you have it. On to the Merry Go Round which Max looooooved. He's added one to his Wish List. Only if it has a "really fast horse" like the one he rode. 

Aunt Sarah and Jackson cheered us on from the sidelines!

Watching the trains with Pop-Pop : )

Then we visited with some dear friends...

...laughed at some lights...

..took pictures with the single delicious oreo we each bought...

... and some of us took a nap. 

Momma and her Kiddies... what a fun morning!

Then we were off to Chickfila as always for our post Festival lunch. 

"Don't look at me.. i'm too excited! And also notice my new Olaf Christmas shirt."

"No Nana, I think that book is for ME.."

The Kids Table

Here's to next year's Festival of Trees with three kids... I die laughing. 

Deck the Halls with Lots of Children

Now that Thanksgiving was in the books, Black Friday was conquered, and the Festival of Trees was enjoyed (posts for these are coming next!), it was time to decorate for Christmas! Decorating is so much more fun (and also more work) when trying to decorate with/around two kiddies. : ) 

How many males does it take to hang the beads on the tree? Three. The answer is three. 

 "All I want for Christmas is this string of beads that Max keeps taking from me!"

Two of  my handsomes!

Jack is in bed and it's time to put on the ornaments  : )

They did all the work. Thanks guys!

Me and My Buddy

The best of 7 self timer attempts at a family selfie.

Putting the star on, just like Garon!

"I did it!" (several star adjustments later)

Picking out the Christmas cookies that we should make. He chose all of them. 

The first reading this season of The Night Before Christmas, 

read and recorded by one of Justin's late grandfathers. So special!

Now the countdown to Christmas begins-yaaaay!! We wanted a way to explain to Max that Christmas is coming and to help build the anticipation. I'm not too fond of the traditional advent calendars with a piece of chocolate each day or something like that. I was inspired by some cool festive boxes on clearance at Target and I made our own Advent Calendar! 

So far Max has opened a great book about why we celebrate Christmas that he's totally not interested in, a 50 cent pom pom snowman craft that he LOVED but it made me want to take my own life, a 99 cent snowman puzzle which was so great, a Christmas cup that Max hasn't stopped using, and gel snowflakes which are now adorning our front window for all to enjoy. So it's a success so far! Coming up there are lots of free coloring pages I printed, and Christmas activities I got last year on clearance after Christmas- score! It will be so fun when there are only a few left and Max can tell that Christmas is getting closer! No promises that this will happen next year when I have three children. We will enjoy it one year at a time : )