Her first Christmas pageant

Last week, I wrote a post where I mentioned Victoria singing in the Sunday School pageant. I was so proud of her for going up to sing in front of the whole church, and for her loving and excited spirit. She and I (and Alex, by default) had practiced the songs in the car for several weeks. The preschoolers' characters were angels, disguised as street people. She certainly is my little angel.

She asked us to sit right in the front row. We got there 45 minutes early to assume our directed positions. Grandma and Grandpa came too!

Alex acted disgusted when the church service started as usual, and he didn't see Didi. He kept (loudly) insisting, "Where Didi? Where Didi?" Finally she came out and he was so relieved, throwing up his hand in the air to exclaim, "There Didi is!"

When the preschoolers moved to the side of the church, his eyes followed them. For a brief moment Victoria moved out of his sight, and he crumbled in a crying position, "Now I can't see her!" sob sob. She moved closer and sat up proudly, unknowingly making her little brother happy once again.

I had told Victoria that Mommy and Daddy had never been in Christmas pageants. This made her feel special: "I'm the first one in the whole family to be in a pageant!"

So grateful for our blessed church family for all they do to embrace, love, and celebrate all these kids.

Cookie Baking

It is a given that we will bake Christmas cookies every year.

Except -- why wait for the baking, when you could just eat the dough?

The kids donned their aprons for the decorating. Could they be any cuter?

We started cutting shapes together.

It was fun to see Alex way more interested this year. And Victoria was a pro, even scooping up the cookie shapes to put them on the cookie sheet, and rolling out dough herself!

Soon, it was time for sprinkles!



I can't say enough about what a helper my girl was. She decorated nonstop until the entire double batch was done. She asked me afterwards, "you couldn't do it without me, right mom?" -- Yes, sweetie, you're right!

And Alex ... oh that boy does love to help in many ways, one of them being comedic relief, often unintentional.

I had turned my back to take cookies out of the oven, when I heard play fighting noises behind me. I turned around ... and ...

Yes! Batman and Superman, fighting each other and wrestling in cookie dough!!

To this day, I have no idea where Alex produced them from (his pocket?). He turned and looked at me with a questioning look ... ummm, should I not be doing this? ... Ha ha, Mommy just laughed at his innocence and at how much he loves to play. I simply held out my hand and said, "I think Batman and Superman need a bath, don't you?" "Yes, mommy."

Later, I was either helping V with decorations or putting cookies in the oven again when I turned around to see this.

See the monster pile of dough under the cookie cutter? After watching me scrape up leftover cookie dough, shape it into a circle, roll it out and cut it -- he decided to do the same thing Mommy had. He gathered up the dough, made a little circular pile, and proceeded to "cut" it simply by pounding the cookie cutter over and over again.

Knowing this boy is so sensitive to anything remotely like criticism, I commented on how well he had been watching mommy. See how proud he is?

I managed to lift off part of it under the cookie cutter, and bake several huge chunks of dough. They were very chewy and delicious!

Even Alex's decorating entertained me ... like going a little crazy with the cinnamons.

Victoria just looked sideways at cookies like this, asking, "that's too much right mom? I'm doing much better than Alex."

Never a dull moment. I'm so thankful my Grandma Reed passed this recipe to my mom, and my mom baked cookies with us every year, so that I can now enjoy these memories with my kids. <3 .="" p="">

Random December Moments

In between all the birthday and holiday fun, there were plenty of moments of hanging out around the house.

Watching movies and snuggling with Piper.

Resting.

Even with puppy feet RIGHT.IN.YOUR.FACE.

In the mornings, Alex likes to play with these foam things (formerly known as my pillow inserts), usually pretending they are light sabers. On this particular morning he bent them and was so excited to find he could form the letter C.

Another day, V was playing with her ice skating Elsa doll, trying to make herself match Elsa's fancy positions.

And finally, some daycare silliness. One day I showed up at daycare to see my two lovely kids, chasing and playing with each other as they always do. I love that they get to spend all day together. I love how they love each other.

Grandma's Birthday

My mom's birthday is December 11. This year she turned 60! The kids and I went there that night, and were joined by my uncle Roger and Adam and Megan. My Uncle Ron and Aunt Teresa had brought lasagna and wine. Quite the fun little family party!

Checking out Grandma's North Pole village

Horsey rides on Uncle Adam

Followed by Uncle Adam dragging them outside to "throw them in a snowbank." Haha!

Daycare Christmas Party

The annual tradition continues ...

Check out these faces of glee when Santa Claus enters!

Even Alex had a smile on his face for the big guy after his previous week's connection with the Santa at the ice skating rink.

"Hi Santa!"

"I want Barbies!"

Time for presents!

The gang ...

Hadlie, Victoria, Santa, Leon, Alex, Lou, and Remi

And finally, time for a story.

Victoria's Birthday - Part 2

I posted awhile back about V's big birthday bash. I hadn't had a chance to write about her real birthday, which was on the following Tuesday. She went to daycare with a second Frozen cake and fun party supplies. 

She had woken up so excited because, having been born at 3:37 in the morning, we had told her that by the time she woke up she would already be 5!

That night she asked to go to Bridgeman's for supper "because they have the puppies in the vending machines and ice cream" -- we couldn't argue with that!

Yes, Victoria, you're five!

Christmas in the Air

I am just so excited! I love Christmas, and as the day grows near I'm taking in every moment of love, joy, and wonder.

The kids make this so easy, as they are just present in the Christmas spirit all the time. It's all about whatever is FUN and whatever is happening NOW -- not like us adults with our to-do lists and stress!

For instance ... wrapping presents isn't stressful -- it's creative and fun. Victoria has proven quite the helper with scissors and tape, and Alex likes to put presents under the tree, followed by dancing while saying, "I'm so 'cited! I'm so 'cited!"

For Piper, wrapping presents is simply an opportunity for attention.

Or for torture, when she can smell her presents but can't eat them RIGHT NOW.

Our advent wreath sits on our table, and the kids remind us to light the candles at night. Every week, Victoria asks me to read about what each new candle means, and our church prepared a handout with a prayer for each week. This probably isn't something I would do on my own, but I find the prayers feel powerful, drawing me into a deeper meaning of my everyday life. With lighting a candle, our meals feel calmer and I am so much more focused and present.

No matter how old I get, I will never tire of sitting in a dark room with the tree lit. Victoria feels the same way, and asks for the lights to be turned off.

And yes, I love presents. I've spent the last few years trying to focus less on gifts and consumerism. I agree that Christmas shouldn't put one in debt and shouldn't be dictated by the large corporations that lure us in. But I've found my love of giving and receiving gifts can't go away. I love anticipation of seeing what's inside a wrapped package. I love knowing that someone has thought of me. And now with the kiddos - I adore the joy and excitement in their little eyes. It's priceless. All year long I tell them when we walk through stores that we "aren't buying stuff for you right now." And finally, at Christmas, I can go a little crazy and buy a few things. It's so fun.

Santa Claus has been fun this year! Victoria came into the Christmas season ready to sit on his lap and tell him what she wanted. Alex talked about him, but when the time came to go see Santa ...

He wouldn't sit on his lap. He almost wouldn't stay in this picture. He finally agreed to stand next to "Didi" (nowhere near the big guy!) and hold her hand. Aren't they cute together?? (that photo is copyrighted 2014. Don't believe it. It's really this year! And thanks to Nina for the adorable dress!)

A week or so later, we went to a skating party the City hosted at an ice arena in town. Adam and Megan came too, and Adam took our girl out on the ice.

She was having a great time skating, and Santa and Rudolph were on the ice too! Alex watched Santa skating ... and as Santa came closer, Alex looked away. Well, this extraverted Santa would have none of that, and began a game of "stealing your nose" every time he skated around the rink. Soon Alex was playing a game of hide and seek with Santa, and squealing at him. By the time we left the arena, he was giving the big guy high-fives. So, when he got to see Santa AGAIN at the daycare party this week, he scrambled right up in his lap to tell him what he wants for Christmas!

The kids have changed their mind many times about what they want, and finally settled on two things we ARE NOT GIVING THEM. Ummm ... what?!? Victoria wants something to do with Barbies ... she has alternated between Barbie dolls (she has several and doesn't play with them that much), a dream house (ummm $200 for a huge thing we have no room for? No thanks), and Barbie clothes. We already had enough presents but thankfully Alex got her some Barbie clothes. Whew.

As for Alex ... he has asked for two things that SIMPLY DON'T EXIST. He wants a "Batman spaceship" and "Bumblebee spaceship" (Bumblebee is a transformer). I tried explaining that toy stores just don't make those toys, that Batman and Bumblebee don't fly into space in their own spaceships. Oh, well.

The Christmas excitement has been building in ways such as looking at Grandma's North Pole village:

Singing with your Sunday School classmates at the Christmas pageant:

Enjoying the small presents the "elves" leave in the train at daycare each day -- this day was fun mustaches. I just love the look in Alex's eyes -- almost like he has a little secret or is simply very amused at having a mustache.

Cameron, Victoria, Conner, Alex, Kylie, Jaedyn, and Liam. 

The kids and I have shared cookies by the Christmas tree:

At work, we've had holiday parties including holiday sweater contests. I love my coworkers!

Ben, Kathy, and Suzanne

Cindy and Adam

Adam is my new boss at work!

And of course, we've had lots of outdoor fun.

This snowman at my parents' house "shivers" ... the kids love him and he makes me laugh.

Sledding at home and at grandma and grandpa's house:

Building our first snowman of the year:

And making snow angels:

Today is Christmas Eve. The kids have had paper chains where they can count down to Christmas, and tonight they will take off the last link.

Victoria and I spent the morning putting cookies on our cookie tray ...

... making deviled eggs, and getting stuff ready for our fondue dinner. We can't wait to dress up for church, sing Silent Night by candlelight, spend time with family ... and to eagerly put out cookies for Santa Claus before bed.

Oh what fun!