Christmas with a 4-year-old in the house is a game-changer! When Anna was 1, 2 and 3, we could get a lot past her, but this year....not so much. She's been so excited about the whole concept of Christmas, it's actually quite contagious. Not that long ago Josh and I hadn't even bothered to put up a tree. That soooo would not have flown with 4-year-old Anna around.

So, I decided to give the rental 20mm lens a second chance. I spent nearly all of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with it on and slowly got acclimated to it. It was actually nice because I could get the entire room in shots if I wanted to, and the pictures improved throughout the day. I found myself getting right up in the kids' faces at times though. Lucky for me, they are apparently used to this, and so it didn't seem to phase them too much.

Twas the night before Christmas...and Wallace has taken the frickin bridge off his train tracks yet again!!!  He's all calm about it in this picture, but he frequently freaks out and runs to me screaming to put it back together for him.  S… — Twas the night before Christmas...and Wallace has taken the frickin bridge off his train tracks yet again!!! He's all calm about it in this picture, but he frequently freaks out and runs to me screaming to put it back together for him.
So, this is usually where Meredith is hanging out/tugging on the camera strap when I'm taking pictures...you just can't see her with my typical lenses. :)

I've put most of Anna's old shoes in Meredith's closet so they're ready for her when she grows into them, but Wallace always finds these old ladybug boots and tries to put them on.  They're just tight enough that he can still fit into them&nbsp… — I've put most of Anna's old shoes in Meredith's closet so they're ready for her when she grows into them, but Wallace always finds these old ladybug boots and tries to put them on. They're just tight enough that he can still fit into them (barely), but he can't get them on by himself, so a huge fit ensues every time he finds them. "/

Anna put her special twist on decorating the Christmas cookies.  :)  We might go through more sprinkles than most families... — Anna put her special twist on decorating the Christmas cookies. :) We might go through more sprinkles than most families...

Meredith is super into whatever Wallace is doing lately.  It drives him bonkers. — Meredith is super into whatever Wallace is doing lately. It drives him bonkers.

Wallace got some wheels!  But Santa had some assembly issues that we are still trying to work out.  "/  The kids haven't seemed to notice though. — Wallace got some wheels! But Santa had some assembly issues that we are still trying to work out. "/ The kids haven't seemed to notice though.

Anna likes to make up her own poses now-a-days, and they totally crack me up.  :) — Anna likes to make up her own poses now-a-days, and they totally crack me up. :)

Meredith got some fancy shoes that she really can't stand having on her feet.  :) — Meredith got some fancy shoes that she really can't stand having on her feet. :)

Homegirl got some wheels too!  The braces make the challenge of learning to ride a bike even more challenging, but the only one who seems to be frustrated by it is me.  She's getting pretty confident on the bike fast!  Much faster tha… — Homegirl got some wheels too! The braces make the challenge of learning to ride a bike even more challenging, but the only one who seems to be frustrated by it is me. She's getting pretty confident on the bike fast! Much faster than I ever thought she would. :)

Can't believe Christmas is over already. :( I was telling Anna today that we would need to start taking down the decorations soon, and she was pretty upset by that. I've assured her it will come back around next year though, and that seems to have pacified her for now.