Twas the week before Christmas....

Okay, Yeah really not that creative. I have read my good friends cute posts using songs, rhymes and such and I am just not there. Kudos to you though Paula and Erika, I wish I were that creative.

Anyway back to the week before Christmas. After an exhausting week, I just wanted to stay at home on Monday in my PJ's and relax. But no, after an early morning phone call from our best friends and neighbors, we were headed to the mall for an early sitting with Santa Claus. We got to the mall relatively early, got in a short line to await our turn with the big man in red. Lily did NOT cry. Yippee! She tolerated Santa, she did NOT smile, she did not speak just looked ready for the candy and a quick dash. She did take a couple of decent photos for me and the other photographer.(The one I had to promise to buy the picture he took.)

After seeing Santa, and buying the appropriate photos, we headed to Starbucks cause the mommy's needed caffeine. 5 Hot Chocolates and 1 milk later we headed through the mall to the train. We did make another stop in The Disney Store, where the girls were in LOVE with everything there. Then we rode the train. Lily was in heaven, waving to the people as it drove through the mall. She kept repeating choo, choo train over and over.

On the train smiling for Ms. Lara

And this folks is a two year old meltdown. This is what happens when you have to get off the train because your $3 per person ride is over and there are more people waiting to get on the train. You cry, you scream and you kick your momma for taking you off that train.

We made it through a brief stop in a children's store that had a TV and a Chickfila lunch in the food court before mommy lost her mind and left the mall.

Tuesday we shipped gifts, did more Christmas shopping, and Grace and Daddy went back to the mall. Wednesday we braved the movie theater with friends and cousins to see Tangled. Grace loved it, I loved it and Lily well she loved running amok in the theater, up and down the aisles, army crawling(my skin crawls at this, germs ick PS her daddy doesn't know). Then the rest of the day seemed like more of the same, with each night involving laundry for our trip, Santa working hard on putting together presents and wrapping and several trips to Lily's bedroom. Whatever virus she had kept her from sleeping soundly and every night after several trips to her room, she would end up sleeping in ours.

Thursday we headed to Cheesecake Factory for lunch with Great Aunt Ann and Great Uncle Sam. It was fantastic, with the exception of Lily pulling her I refuse to sit and eat with the rest of you people. After lunch we drove to Children's Hospital to spread Grace's Good Will toward others. You see in her shopping experience we went to Walmart and spent about $100 on toys for the children and their siblings that would be spending Christmas in the Hospital. She wanted to donate to the Hospital that had helped her sister with heart surgery. I have to say this will definitely be a tradition. I only wish we had more to give. We were so proud of Grace doing this that we made sure Santa knew.

Then came Christmas Eve the last day with Kiersten and Leigh our elves. Grace was sad to see them go, Lily not so much. Grace thought all their antics were funny or silly, Lily would get pissed if they messed with her toys or things and throw the elves across the room. So of course they would mess with her things even more then. They even decorated a small Christmas tree with all the unmatched socks. Ah what fun....

But wait there is still more before Christmas and yes I know it is New Years Eve, deal with it!

Catching up

The last week before the Christmas holiday break and everything was going great, teacher gifts were made, presents were arriving for under the tree and parties were planned. Then the actual week came and it went downhill for a while.

On Tuesday, Grace woke up "sick". She felt nauseous and was spitting up phlegm. Needless to say, this was her party day. So instead of Grandma and Papa getting to come to a rousing class party with 25 first graders and a brunch provided by parents, they got to come babysit a sick kid who missed her second elementary school Christmas party. Yes for those of you who don't remember she was sick for the Kindergarten performance and party. I had to go to work to be there for my 3 year olds class production of the Christmas Story and class party. I also had to make the copies needed for the month of January.

Then came Wednesday, normal day. Grace felt better went off to school, I went to work and Lily went to drop in nursery. That evening I was going to get to take Grace to her Sparks Christmas party and participate since Daddy wasn't teaching that night. As the time neared for us to leave and we were dressed to go, Ms. Lara our neighbor and Grace's Sparks teacher called. Sparks was cancelled due to the fact that the roads were icy and only getting worse. Yes that is right yet another Christmas party not attended by Grace. Needless to say we were very disappointed then worried as we found out many people including Ms. Lara got stuck on the roads and had to abandon their cars. But everyone made it home safe and school was closed for Thursday.

What school is closed. Oh CRAP! All the things that I was supposed to send home with my preschoolers to help decorate theirs homes for Christmas and the food and the fudge for teachers. And OH ($%#@$) Lily's Christmas class party that I was party mom for is now cancelled too! YUCK stupid ICE! We did have an OK day, we got out of the neighborhood to see friends for lunch and did a little Christmas shopping too.

Finally came Friday, Grace had school and guess what she was the shining star for the month of December for her class.

The principal calling her name

The cake and juice reception afterwards

But alas all was not well, Lily was running a temp of 102. Yeah and on Friday to boot. So Grandma and Papa who had come up for the award ceremony, which papa missed so mommy could see(he sat in the car with the feverish Lily), got to babysit another sick kid. Mommy had to go and finish the January copies, and drop off a few gifts before the doctor's appointment for the now "sick" Lily. Of course when we get to the doctor's office the Motrin was well into her system and she was circling the waiting room. A negative strep test later, the doctor gave us a weak prescription and we headed home with a possible virus, or sinus infection, YIPPEE!

Saturday, mommy had to teach dance and then Mommy and Daddy headed to a party thrown by daddy's trial partner. Thank god for small favors, the fever was virtually gone and Grandma and Papa were not sick of us or sick for that matter.

Sunday we did a small makeup party for Lily's preschool class. She had no fever and no other symptoms so I dragged her to it. I wasn't going to miss my chance at being the party mom. We had pizza, decorated sugar cookies and made an ornament for the tree. Hey they are barely two, attention span is less than 3 minutes and not all of them are paying attention the same 3 minutes. Lily seemed to have fun.

Decorating her ornament

pretending to eat the pizza

That night we headed to church for Grandma's bell performance, where Lily ate Steak and Shake macaroni and cheese and fries and whatever else mommy pulled out of the diaper bag to keep her relatively quiet all in the church pew, front row balcony where she was seen by all. Followed by the cookie reception where since she had napped in the car on the way, Lily ran circles around the crowd of nicely dressed concert goers.

Needless to say Mommy was POOPED after this week and there was still a whole week at home to go before the big day, so what did we do on Monday,

here is a quick peek...

Sitting on Santa's lap.

more to come later.

Run, Run Rudolph

December brings a lot of festive activity. One of the busiest days for me is winter recital. This year we had two recitals, both ending before lunch. It makes for an early morning, but leaves the afternoon to do other activities. I had two groups that danced to Santa Baby, two groups that danced to the Chipmunk song and the oldest group danced to the waltz of the Snowflakes from the Nutcracker. Grace's class danced to run, run, Rudolph and was super cute and festive.

Grace has really developed into a great dancer. If only I could get her to have some self confidence. She knew the entire dance by heart but continually looked over at the oldest girl in the class for reassurance. Not to worry she wasn't the only one looking at her though, the whole class looks up to her, I mean she IS a WHOLE year older and in the second grade, that is almost like high school right? But seriously, they did a great job and made this teacher proud as well as their actual teacher Miss Alie.

Alas, Lily's class decided not to participate in the recital, but I am going to do some heavy selling for the spring recital, I mean who could not resist those thighs in tights and a tutu?

Ms. Lara and Lily at the cookie exchange. (it's not on facebook ;)

After recital we attended the kids Secret Santa and cookie exchange party for our street. A good time was had by all and lots of sweet treats were sampled and exchanged. Grace had a blast with the big girls on the street and Lily made herself at home climbing the stairs looking for toys to play with. Ah, never sitting down again with that one on the loose.

Then came the waltz of the fudge makers. Yes I made 5 batches of Grandma's famous fudge to pass out to teachers, bus drivers, friends and Tom's office open house. We still have a half batch here at the house, but with Christmas fast approaching the batch keeps getting smaller and smaller and I keep getting bigger and bigger(I think I have a new years resolution in the making).

Merry Christmas, Finally

Lily stop running!

Strike a pose.

Santa's Rockin'

What are you looking at?

Sisterly Sweetness

Finally, I can say it. We have been so busy trying to get ready for the month of December, things have been slipping. I finally ordered my Christmas cards after finally taking pictures last night. The tree is finally done, lights were up a week before an ornament graced the branches. The stockings are hung, the outside is decorated, the girls trees are up and decorated. Now there is just the holiday baking, secret Santa giving, shopping, partying, recital and other specially planned activities. Then there will be packing, and driving to Grandma's house after Christmas. Today's plans include baking, rehearsing, shopping and the regular everyday Friday stuff, Laundry, Lily's ballet class, and cleaning up from the week and looking forward to the BUSY weekend. I hope you all have a good one and look forward to some more pictures, recital is tomorrow.

Seven going on seventeen.

It is hard to believe that seven years ago I was holding a newborn baby girl. She came one Tuesday afternoon in December at 3:33 after being induced for 24 some hours. She came out trying to talk and as soon as she learned how she hasn't stopped.

She had a great weekend of Birthday Celebrations. For her birthday night she wanted Steak and shake for her birthday dinner. We then decorated cupcakes for her class the next day. We made reindeer with red noses and all. She decided boys got blue eyes and girls get green eyes.

Friday we had dinner with Grandma Terry up from Florida and our best friends the Hughes where we ate the birthday girls choice of pizza and more reindeer cupcakes.

Then came the Party. Only girls which was hard to do, but we went to the American Girl Doll Store and Bistro for dinner and cake. Grace and her friends were in heaven and I would definitely do it again. Grace was so excited to have her cousin from Florida in attendance also. It turned into a late night and we shut the store down. I only wish the girls had more time to peruse the store.

All in all I think it was a good birthday celebration.

Cupcakes at School

The Girls

The whole group.

Using their linen napkins as placemats.

The ladies and their dolls.




Happy to be included with the big girls at the party. Her sister even let her bring one of her dolls.

Giving Thanks

Grandma's house for Thanksgiving Day!

(Unfortunately my camera battery died right after this picture)

Thanksgiving play at School

This year we found ourselves giving thanks for many things. We were so grateful to our wonderful friends who helped us through a difficult miscarriage. We are so grateful for Papa's who paint seven year old girls bedrooms blindingly pink. We are thankful for Grandma's who love and hug on our snotty nosed children. We are thankful to Poppop's turning 70 and putting together a wonderful reunion at the beach in celebration thereof. We are grateful to Grandma's who love to talk to seven year old girls on the phone every Friday, even when Skype isn't working so well. We are thankful for Aunts and cousins who travel with Grandma's 8 or so hours to an American Girl party. We are even thankful for boy cousins who pull our hair and know which of our buttons to push to make us squeal. We are thankful for sisters who buy us early Christmas presents that thanks to the cold weather we have worn every day for a week. (thanks for the boots Aunt Anna) We are thankful for the family it feels we never truly get to see, but we hope they know we love them. We are thankful for wonderful teachers who put up with us annoying and confusing parental types who only want what is best for our children.

We are mostly thankful to God for our health, our home and each other. We are so lucky to have two beautiful, smart girls that make each day a joy(even when we are not sleeping at night.)