The weekend, succinctly

{ tree + painted ceiling at Santa's House }

{ Santa }

{ Jack + Annie }

{ Winter Wonderland }

The weeks leading up to Christmas are always filled with festive holiday activities––tree decorating, ornament collecting at Christkindl Market, riding the CTA Holiday Train, and going to Lincoln Park Zoo Lights. This season we are also enjoying hanging out with Baby Max and making his first Christmas special even though he doesn't know what it is. Max took pictures with Santa at Christkindl, where he also happened to be filmed for a WTTW (PBS) broadcast set to air on December 22. He's famous! Santa said, "Wow, this little guy must be fresh out of the oven!" 

Max also had his first social outing at A+J's for dinner, a shopping trip to West Elm, a play date with Jack at an indoor "play cafe," and an attempt to go to Winter Wonderland at the old fieldhouse in my neighborhood (though we were too late and missed the real reindeer and sleigh rides). 

Come December 1, this city is chalk full of Ugly Christmas Sweaters walking the streets! This year, I set off in search of my own perfect Ugly Christmas Sweater in the ladies department at Kmart. It seems like everyone had the same idea because there was nothing but a few sorry knit vests with embroidered appliques left over (at $30 a pop I just couldn't justify it!). I settled for a stiff green and blue plaid turtleneck––not ironic enough and only mildly ugly, but I'll take it! The pictures from this weekend don't justify the turtleneck, but don't you worry––it will be sure to make its appearance again in the next few weeks!