I'm forgetting why exactly Boyd was dressed as Santa. Might have been the night we passed out Christmas cards or that he read a book with a winter theme to a younger neighbor. He has been great about spreading Christmas cheer, encouraged by his advent calendar this year. Here he is doing something with his stocking. Looks like St. Nick himself.

An armed Jolly ol Elf

While the weather was icy and frightful this morning, Boyd took to the seas. Hope his spoon paddle gets the job done.

Fishing for breakfast.

Navy? Our near neighbor Tammie brought over a birthday present early yesterday afternoon (note the vest that is in every picture). Boyd is spoiled rotten. He was thrilled with the new vest and nerf gun she had stashed in the pocket, He rotates his guns so frequently that it's not pictured but it is in his pocket and became backup when he ran out of ammo in this one. He just keeps raving about the gifts and couldn't wait for the ice to melt so he could safely walk down the street and get Chase for a Nerf battle. I know I will miss these days where my house is covered in Nerf and the clamor of neighborhood friends. 

New Traditions are created

A new tradition has been born. This week we traveled to The Meadow Event park for their Illuminate  Light Show. LED lights and Christmas music= recipe for fun. Then add being able to hang out the car window in a Santa hat, a kids dream come true. It was pretty awesome. 

Petting a horse at the end in Santa's village. This is the farm where the famous race horse Secretariat was born.  

Traditions continue

Friday we had our 4th annual ornament making night with Noah, Stephanie and Alexa. This year they were able to have dinner and stay the night. Always wonderful company and Christmas memories. This year we made owls and scrabble words. When decorating the tree found a handprint ornament from 2013 and it was so tiny.  Sunday we made our gingerbread house and of course it wanted to fall down initially. Boyd was able to do a bunch of the icing this year and made it extra special and obviously his with the nerf bullet addition on the front. 

Santa, one of your Elves  is sleeping on the job.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

If you know Boyd and I, you know just how much we love the Christmas Season and all the traditions and memories that go with it. We put the tree up when we got home from Thanksgiving. Boyd actually put 95 percent of the tree together and I was in charge of fluffing out the branches. Of course we jammed out to Christmas music all the while. We did have some light issues so ornaments were hung a few days later.  I love bringing out all the decorations from years past and this year it was fun to compare Boyd's handprints on ornaments and wreaths from years prior. He is growing up in size and maturity. He never ceases to amaze me. He has been doing a  lot of experimenting with jokes, puns, and play on words lately. He challenged himself to create a joke for all the continents-oh my worldly child. He can also be the most sincere person at quiet unexpected moments. The other night he brought me to tears, we were on the way home from wrestling practice and listening to our Christmas radio station. Delilah happened to be on and she began talking about that person in your life or family that goes out of their way to spread Christmas spirit and make the season special. We were both listening quietly when Boyd pipes in, "Mom, that's you." Made my heart melt. So grateful for moments like those. He has also spread cheer by Christmas caroling and solo singing a few tunes, and by hand delivering our Christmas cards to those who are near. Our Advent calendar this year holds a piece of chocolate and a kindness act for each day. It has been fun to hear and see ways that Boyd has taken the tasks and spread kindness. 

Boyd chose the snowman stocking holder this year.

Boyd has really been loving playing basketball at the Rec Center and he always has to wear his Giannis Bucks jersey. He found out  Giannis Antetokounmpo had a birthday a few days ago and had to tell his Bucks loving grandparents immediately.

He told me this is what a "Professional" Basketball player would wear.

Decorating the tree

Haming it up with a twinkle in his eye.

Someone is excited for Christmas. He also has lost two teeth within five days so one night the Tooth Fairy and St. Nick were both here.

Putting the angel on top. He can almost reach which is good news for Adam who was struggling to hold him up this year.

Letter to Santa: Hi Santa it's Boyd. I like your presents but I like Jesus's birthday better. Bye. Love Boyd. Then the back has Nerf guns listed.  He came up with this all on his own.

Somehow St. Nick delivered the wrong size of pajamas in Boyd's stocking so last night while we were out he must have made the switch. Boyd likes these even better because they are softer. 

Can't handle his sweetness sometimes.

Hugs and snuggles to all needing them this season.

Becoming a big elf.

A few more from the good camera. Need to fix my short lens. 

Nieces minus Leah...but the girl count is going up next year with Luci's little sisters arrival.

His favorite time of the year. He loves this tree and did almost all of the putting up this year while I fanned out the branches. Is that a little plumber I see..hahaha

Earrings while I hung the lights then they became an instrument but Leonardo didn't survive...opps.

Thanksgiving 2016 was phenomenal. Boyd and I traveled to Atlant and then Wisconsin to join the rest of the Ramsey crew for a giant sleep over and celebration at Grandpa and MiMi's. It was wonderful. We even got to see part of our Colorado family. We had so much fun walking dogs, playing at the park, playing family games, going to the Milwaukee Bucks game (Grandpa Ramsey up in heaven must have been smiling down) and much much more. I really cannot put into words how wonderful and full this trip was. Much to be Thankful for.

End of Thanksgiving break shenanigans at Sentry with CeAnn and Kirk (how do we not have a photo of our snap chat friends?)

The Ramsey Thanksgiving 2016 Crew

Some schoolwork. Conferences pre Thanksgiving Break.

Growing up.

I don't think the Pilgrims had the luxury of a bow.

Readers Theater at school before their Thanksgiving Feast.

First stop on our way to Thanksgiving was Atlanta for me to race a 5k/

Fountains near the Olympic plaza in Atlanta. They had a fountain show to the Olympic music. It was pretty cool.

Anyone missing an ornament?

Outside the Coke factory. 

Post race Aquarium visit. Thanksgiving day was  the perfect day to visit-empty. So much space and time on the glass, it was fabulous. Looks like Boyd was in a submarine here.

Jellyfish

The tanks were beautiful.

Boyd liked the sheeps head fish that is black and brown. 

Absolutely amazing...

Cousin and Aunts and Uncles fun begins.

Dabbing at the Bucks game. Mimi missed her chance when we were on the Jumbo-tron

Great cheerleaders.

A buck and apparently a unicorn

Relaxing

Silly action shots

Pancakes with Luci

Pancake emoji face

Reading and snuggles.

Love the awe in Miles as he looks at Boyd.

Peanut came out after most of the guests had departed.

Visiting "the real Santa". Boyd said he thought this one was the real Santa because his beard was real.

Have you been nice?  Boyd: I don't know...

Boyd didn't want to be the only kid to visit Santa. Miles didn't want to go (he is scared of Santa and all things costumed) but Boyd knew a way to get him to go. We were all ready and suddenly Miles wanted to come at the last minute. As we waited in the car Boyd fessed up and said, "I told Miles Santa gave out toys." We said Boyd, you know not until Christmas, why did you tell him that? His answer, " I knew it would make him come." Luckily he did have candy canes and was the nicest Santa.

Boyd and my dad are alike. They love trinkets and treasures. Boyd always comes home with unique items from Grandpa. The latest is a battery powered am radio. I found Boyd listening to a football game.

Boyd asked early in the trip to ride the tractor but so much was going on. It's a good thing we were able to stay an extra day for the tractor, playing in the basement, one on one and a trip to Brennans.

Cowboys.

Making up for missing PE

He wanted pictures with all the dogs. He loved Hobbs even though he was allergic.

Ozzie wouldn't cooperate and look at the camera.

He has to hold Emmie's head to have her camera forward.

Goodbye hugs for Mimi. He gave such big hugs and proceeded to try and pick her up.