That's a Wrap!

Last year I set out to add a personal touch to wrapping Christmas presents. I found this great plain wrapping paper at Target, perfect for being creative with potential for elegance and simplicity. Last year I labeled who the gift was for with a picture of that family member and Jackson. This year, with Jackson able to "help" a little, I thought I would let him add the design. I loved seeing his little finger prints and hand prints on our gifts as I handed each unique design to a family member on the holiday. 

All the presents under our tree

Jackson was more than excited to help make our wrapped present festive.  Just the mention of finger paint had him running into the kitchen saying "yeah, yeah." He eagerly dove into the finger paint and pounded it on to the boxes. 

He smeared the paint, tried to do foot prints, carried the boxes to the side when he was all done, painted his hands (and tried to paint me), and very frequently asked for more blue paint (we are still learning colors). With only two small hand prints on the kitchen floor Jackson made great work of decorating our presents. When time to stop he busted out his new pouting move momentarily before he agreed to a bath then crackers.

I am not sure where he learned this!

Our advent calendar was an overall success. Jackson understood (after the first few days) that a bag would come down each day and he would get to take something out of it. Only problem, the first two days contained reindeer graham crackers and then Christmas cookies, so everyday after Jackson expected an edible treat. He would randomly point to the advent calendar on the wall and with a hopeful grin request "quackers."  Then in days that were not crackers or cookies, Jackson was not happy! I love this new tradition we started and am already scheming ideas for next year!

Opening a bag with crackers in it the weekend before Christmas

A post on Christmas is hoped to be following soon. Jackson loved seeing family and opening new toys.

And our family sure loved seeing this amazing smile.