Advent: weeks 1-3

 All set!

Then this guy started toying with keeping his balance...

 ... and enjoying playing and hanging around!

And then we started decorating! I pulled out the Advent calendar + wrapped candies as soon as we got home from Houston and Thanksgiving because the 1st Sunday of Advent was Nov 27th already.

Then out came the stockings and Santa decorations for the feast day of St. Nicholas on December 6th. Paul and Ada were both pleasantly surprised with St. Nick's gift of new shoes! Unfortunately, that St. Nick has to up his game a smidge and keep up on how fast Paul is growing ... his purple Pumas were one size too small. 

(Exchanged. No harm done.) 

And then out came the lights for the feast day of St. Lucy, patron saint of light, on the 13th! Somewhere between the 6th and 13th we got our tree and decorated it - together for once - but the lights didn't get turned on until last night with a bit of a Christmas tree blessing. It was really sweet. 

We've also had time for some Christmas fun our neighborhood, Algiers Point, and the city of New Orleans put on:

Oh, my goodness, when Paul met Santa! I 'bout hurt my cheeks from smiling. He was so, so precious asking for this one particular something but also kinda shy because it's Paul and I loved it. Jack, well ... and Ada was a little unsure but ended up liking it. But Paul! He said it was his favorite of the whole (pretty fun!) party.

All that's left now is waiting for actual Christmas! We're all looking forward to it, and I'm sure we'll have a great time in Houston with Nana & Pappy. Sadly for us, Uncle Dr. Pete is needed in Charleston, and Gin & Ryan are making their way to Omaha.