We went to Ashley’s first Christmas party yesterday!  So fun!  It was for our SAHM group.  Our friend, Lauren, did an amazing job organizing everything.  There was a yummy lunch catered by Golden Corral.  We had a surprise visit from Santa and he gave all the kids the book The Night Before Christmas.  We also did a cookie exchange where everyone brought a dozen cookies and then we could sample everyone else’s cookies.  She even had goodie bags that we could fill with cookies to bring home!  My cookies are pictured below.  I made Christmas tree and stocking cookies!

Let me just tell you about Ashley’s first encounter with Santa.  It went as I had expected…not good.  When he walked in the room, she didn’t pay him much attention.  Then he came up to her to speak to her.  I was holding her in my lap so she was fine.  She stared at him very intently and listened to what he was saying.  Okay, that’s cool.  Then the time came for sitting in Santa’s lap.  She wanted nothing to do with it.  She was scared out of her mind and cried louder than any other baby in the room.  We also tried to get a picture of the three of us, with me holding her next to Santa.  She didn’t like that either.  I imagine it would pretty scary to a 13 mo. old to see some big guy in a red suit and beard.  And to all of a sudden be thrown into his arms.  But to watch the older kids interact with him was so magical.  He read a story and all the kids listened.  One little boy followed him around the room trying to get his attention.  While another, when asked his age, held up 2 fingers and was so excited that he couldn’t stop smiling from ear to ear.  So maybe next year Ashley will have warmed up to Santa a bit

It was a nice time for fellowship and good food.  I have such a great group of Mommies in my SAHM group!  And shortly after we got home, it began snowing.  It was an awesome day!  Snow pics to come…