Our Christmas in Pictures

These are mostly snapshots, but snapshots are important too! We had a wonderful Christmas season full of many happy memories and traditions!

One quick funny:
Before Christmas, Barrett said to me, "Oh man! I forgot to tell Santa something I wanted!" I asked what it was he forgot. He said (and I'm not kidding), "I forgot to tell Santa I want an Air Guitar!"
Bwah ha ha ha!












Ice skating




Annabelle bundled up next to Gigi while we skated







Twas The Night Before Christmas

The (not so very) surprised picture. The boys were up at 4 am "peeking"...oh well, it's tradition I guess.

Christmas lists

The boys wrote letters to Santa. Well, they dictated and I wrote. (Attention Family members, do not use this list for last minute shopping! If you need ideas, call me!)

Barrett's Letter:

Dear Santa,
I have been good all year. I have cleaned up my toys. I also helped my brother clean up his stuff. Please put my name on the nice list because I have been good. Here is my Christmas list:
Harry Potter Lego Night Bus
Lego Forbidden Forest
Animal Bionicles
The Cars 2 Movie
A new wheel for my bike
The dolphin Pillow Pet
A Rock in Roll guitar
The Harry Potter Lego Xbox game
A skateboard
A Harry Potter Lego keychain

That's it! I hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Love,
Barrett


Kyle's Letter:

Dear Santa,
How are you? Are you busy making toys? Have the reindeer been flying good? I think I should be on the nice list because I cleaned up my toys last time we went to Grandma's...well, most of them. I played nicely I think...like remember that one time Barrett and I used teamwork to build a Lego city? Oh yeah, I practice reading almost every night. And I helped Mommy and Daddy in the yard one day. This is what I would like for Christmas:
Lego Deathstar
Lego Millinneum Falcon
Lego Darth Maul keychain
Lego Ninjago Sensei Wu Set
A new bike
Lego Tie fighter
Lego ATST
Lego X-wing
Light up bookmark
Knight books

Happy Christmas to you!

Love,
Kyle


Gigi took the boys shopping to buy us (mommy and daddy) a gift. Before they went, they brainstormed some ideas and made a list. Gigi shared the list with me (even though I do not know what they bought...I put my comments (like this)

Ideas for Daddy:

Spatula
Coffee mug
ID card - to open pool (He has his, I am the one who lost mine)
New car
More money (aww.)
Light for on keys
Drain cleaner
Shiny new saw
Tool book -- so he can know how to make stuff
Red jet
T shirts - Red, white, blue
Remote control helicopter (they say men get you what they want themselves...these boys are starting young.)
Rake
Jacket
Socks

Ideas for Mom:

Christmas bowls (isn't that what they got me last year?)
New computer
Pink ornament
Coupon for something
New car (YES!! boys, Do you have enough in your piggy banks for one of those??)
Umbrella - red, or blue, or pink
Purse ( I do need a new purse!)
New sunglasses
New security light
Pink bowl
Shoes
Stirring spoon
A tooth Fairy pillow-for when her teeth come out (oh no! I hope my teeth don't come out anytime soon!)
Jacket
Suitcase
Golf cart
Candle
M&M's
Pretzels that look like F and E (aww. I was making reindeer cookies and I needed alphabet pretzels for the antlers, but I couldn't find any. I can't believe he even remembered which specific letters I needed!)

Uh-oh!

At Annabelle's 18 month check-up yesterday, the doctor asked if she is able to feed herself with a fork or spoon. I thought about it and realized I have never really given her the chance because I don't want to clean the mess that will certainly ensue from such a ludicrous idea...I mean really? We're actually supposed to teach these kids to become self-sufficient people? Okay, I guess that sounds reasonable, which is why I let her give it a try this morning. Note to self and other crazy people thinking about attempting such lunacy: start with a less liquid-ish food, go ahead and remove all clothing from the child, and keep the high chair far, far away from walls, tables and innocent by-standers...On second thought, just put the naked baby and high chair outside. And for goodness sake, do not do this first thing in the morning with an already clean child!

I had to leave the area momentarily so I would not freak out about the mess happening before my eyes. From the next room I heard Annabelle say, "uh-oh......uh-oh.......uh-oh!......UH-OH!" That's when I couldn't stand it anymore and went to check out the damage.




"uh-oh!"

In other news related to her 18 month check-up, Annabelle grew 3 inches taller in 6 months! She is now on the charts! yea! Probably because when Mommy feeds her, the food actually gets IN her mouth.

Advent Season is here!

(I'm just coming up for a quick breath of air after a very busy Photo season! Just a little more and I'll catch up on my blogging) It's December 1st! My kids are already asking what the advent activity for the day is. We have a tradition of doing an activity each day during Advent. Some are quick like having hot cocoa together, some are more involved, like making cookies or gifts. Most of them are things we would be doing anyway, but the advent calendar organizes it and make sure we do all the things we want throughout the month, rather than cramming it in at the last minute. I thought I's share our plans in case you want to get some ideas for your Advent calendar. (There are some much better moms out there who have a serious craft everyday...this about all I can handle without turning a 'fun' family activity into me getting really frustrated that there's paint/icing/googly eyes everywhere but on the craft)
1-hot cocoa
2- read Christmas story/ set up Nativity set
Sa 3- Holiday in the Plaza/tree lighting ceremony (CH) 4-7pm
Su 4- make cookies (cookie exchange)
5- read spirit of Christmas book
6- make teacher/grandparent gifts (votives with fingerprint snowmen)
7- Make rosemary wreath
8-paper snowflakes
9- Watch Elf Story with Gigi on CBS
Sa 10- take Christmas PJ pictures
Su 11- read You can do it, Sam and make cookies for neighbors
12- Go shopping for Angel Tree kids
13- Hot Apple Cider
14- donate toys/gifts
15- Santa Pictures
16- Winter Wonders science show (CH) 6pm
Sa 17- Sleepover @ Gigi’s Su 18- find the pickle
19- drive/look at Christmas Lights 20- make star shaped crayons
21- s’mores in the fireplace
22- Make gingerbread house
23- Outdoor Ice Skating
24- read Twas night before Christmas/ Make Jesus a birthday cake
25 Christmas—sing Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Also, if you have an Elf on the Shelf (ours is named Buddy :)), check out these fun ideas for him/her! Elf Ideas