18 Months, Week 4

We have officially kicked off the holiday season! It was a busy, busy week and it looks like the weeks between now and Christmas day will be just as busy and full of fun! We started off with a weekend in the Region to celebrate Great Grandma Szafarczyk's 90th birthday party. On the drive up, Olivia and I were watching "Elf" (one of my very favorite Christmas movies) and talking about Santa and just how nice he is.

The next morning, Olivia helped Grandma cook breakfast.  She scrambled the eggs and stirred them in the pan.  They were delicious!  She and Grandpa also read "Olivia Claus".  Grandpa is a very good narrator because he adds some very funny voices!

Before long, it was time to head to the restaurant for Great Grandma Szafarczyk's 90th birthday party.  90 years?  Wow!  It's always so much fun to be with family and that night was no exception.  Olivia had a great time playing with her cousin Zoey.  Zoey is going to be a big sister in a little over a month and did a great job of helping to take care of Olivia.

After one last pep talk from Daddy, it was to see the jolly guy in the red suit. While she didn't quite have the same smile as last year, she didn't panic too much.  Oddly enough, she calmed down once we gave her a coupon for a free dinner to hold (I guess Grandma Sue must have been giving her pep talks too!)

Once our visit with Santa was complete, we stopped to take a few more pictures around the North Pole. I have to admit that Bass Pro had by far one of the prettiest North Pole areas I have ever seen.

Of course, Olivia then insisted on climbing on one of the ATVs (in her dress shoes and all!) after bolting from the North Pole.  Sorry Livi, but I don't think Santa will be leaving one of these under the Christmas tree!

 We wrapped up the week with a trip to the Children's Museum for their Jolly Days exhibit. Olivia loved it! She had so much fun "fishing" with Josh, combing the reindeer's fur, playing with the trains, and having a pony ride.  She even got to give Peyton Manning a hug and make it snow!  A big highlight (at least for me) was going down the slide from the second floor of the museum.  I have the feeling this is going to be a very fun and memorable holiday season!