Adventures of the Patrick family!: Feeling better and seeing Santa!

We were so happy this morning for Ali to wake up as normal, happy Ali! Yay for feeling better! She got some good rest yesterday and was back to feeling good, which was great b/c we had another busy day planned and I would have hated to have to miss out on everything again! We started off the morning with church and then headed to the country club for brunch with Santa! It was SO much fun and I hope to do it every year - I think it will only get more fun as the girls get older. The food was delicious and they had lots of fun activities for the kids (icing sugar cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, etc!). Ali also got to see Santa for the first time this year! The whole way to the club, we talked about it and she said "I am sooo excited!" and then as soon as we pulled up to the club front door, Ali started going "Mommy! Mommy! Hold me!" - she knew what was in store and she was not sure she was ready for it! Anyway, she saw Santa from afar and clung to me so we decided to forego Santa for a little while (until after lunch) and even when we came back, she got afraid so we took some family pictures with him while Ryan held her. After all the pictures, she got up the nerve to sit on his lap (although not with a smile on her face - but no tears!) and we got some pictures of the girls on his lap! Unfortunately, we did not take our own, but I can't wait to buy them from the photographer!

We came home and wrapped a few presents as you can see below. The house quickly became a disaster, trying to wrap presents with a wanna-be helpful toddler! Rhodes just hung out in her favorite vibrating chair!

This picture makes me laugh - Rhodes happy as a lark in her chair, and Ali throwing a fit b/c it was time to take a nap (we are not afraid to throw a few fits these days!)

After our naps, we headed to the Poston's for their annual Christmas party - with our favorite special guest, Santa Claus! Ali was in a HORRIBLE mood the entire time as we stood in line or just went inside (while Big Papa stood in line - thank you Big Papa!) and I soon realized why! She did not want to see the big jolly man again! :) We got a picture with Santa this time on our own camera - and as soon as the pictures were done and Ali got down - it was like she was thinking "hallelujah!" and turned into a completely different person - happy Ali was back! I guess the whole time she was dreading what she knew was coming - the man in the big red suit! Ha! I think this is just typical for some kids her age b/c I saw plenty of other two year olds just as weary - I'm hoping next year, she'll start to like the nice man! :)

Here's the best picture we got of our family of 4 on Santa's lap! Rhodes was SUCH an angel the whole time and had no problem letting Santa hold her!