Christmas Happenings

I love watching my kids play when they don't know I'm watching them.

Both Emily and Addison's imaginations have really grown in the last few months. Emily really enjoys playing with dolls, stuffed animals, grapes, or anything else you can make talk with someone else. She likes handing me a toy, commanding me to "play this" and then waiting for me to begin the conversation between my toy and hers.

 Addison, on the other hand, has a very private relationship with her dolls. She has quiet conversations between them, sometimes having them talk to each other, sometimes reading to them, sometimes teaching them their ABCs.

When the Nativity was out for Christmas, these figurines became Addison's favorite playthings, and I often walked through the living room to find her lost in a world with her new "dolls."


We talked a lot in December about how Christmas is Jesus's birthday. Here are the girls practicing wishing Jesus a Happy Birthday.


Emily and Addison got to go shopping for presents for Elizabeth this year! I brought several toys they'd outgrown up from the basement, and they each got to choose one to wrap up for Elizabeth for Christmas. Here they are, very excited with their choices...

Tub Tummy Time

Elizabeth had a first in December...she flipped onto her tummy in the tub and decided that tummy time in the tub is just about the best thing in the world. She's always loved bath time, but now that she's on her tummy in the tub, it's become a really fun play time for her!

This is Elizabeth's signature side kick-stand pose for play on land and in the water

Christmas with the Rices and Sebrings

The Rices and Sebrings came over for a Christmas celebration and boy did we have a ton of fun! After feeding the kiddos, we popped on a Christmas movie and while the kids looked like this...

 ...we adults got to eat dinner and have a real adult conversation! Now there's a Christmas miracle for ya! ;)

Before the night was done, we had a little gift exchange for the kids. They had a great time, as usual, with some of their very best friends!

Wagon Ride!

All bundled up!

Addie's ready to see the horses!

Emily's ready to ride in a wagon!

Elizabeth's ready to sing Christmas carols!

DeeDee's ready for the fun!

Hey Dad!

Santa was there!

Merry Christmas!

Looking at neighborhood lights on the ride

Chilly fun

Beautiful horses

Christmas Cookies

Ready to get started!

Just a LITTLE excited

Icing...mmmmmm

Squeeze it on!

After plenty of sprinkles, here are the first two finished products...yum yum!

Round two...think there's enough frosting on this one?

Round three, double fistin' it!

And then comes the best part...eating!!!

So pretty, and delicious!

Happy 9 Month Birthday Elizabeth!

Nine months old and on the move. I couldn't keep the sign out of her reach this time!
Happy nine months sweet sweet Elizabeth!

 

A New Look for Candy Day

We did candy day a little differently this year. Rather than attempt a marathon of candy making with 5 small children, we decided just to get together to eat food, celebrate Dylan's birthday, and eat candy we'd made separately. The granddaughters all got their annual Christmas pjs, and we watched a Christmas movie together. It was fun, but the night would have been just a little sweeter with the smell of caramel cooking on the stove.
Oh, and did I mention the frosting and candy coated Christmas trees?!?!

Little Walker

Elizabeth decided to spend her Christmas money on a Radio Flyer Walker Wagon. It came in the mail a couple days ago and yesterday she got to try it out. It's definitely a hit. She's so proud of herself when she's walking around. She's having a blast and it is so fun to watch her go go go!

Water Spouts

I just have to share this story right away cause I love how smart my girls are.


Addie has been talking so much lately, we have been hearing so much more language from this little lady, and we just love it! Today at breakfast, she was naming the parts of her new princess water bottle, "lello hair, back eckace, boo eyes, pick ips" then she stopped, pointed to the spout on top of Cinderella's head, and asked, "this is?" I told her "spout, it's the water spout." and Emily chimed in with "Spider in there!" At first I was so confused. Spider? Then it came together! The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout! Emily is feeling pretty sick today. Her throat hurts, her nose hurts, she has a fever. But she perked right up to make that connection!

PS The new water bottles came from the gas station down the street. Addie and I stopped to get the car washed after her transition evaluation (to see if she'll qualify for speech services in preschool) and we stopped inside to get a treat because she'd worked so hard during the assessment. She was immediately drawn to the blue princess, but also immediately wanted to get the pink Mini for Emily. I love how these girls look out for each other!

Addie did qualify for services, and will begin her preschool adventure in March. She'll be doing something new without her sister for the first time in her life. We are praying for a smooth transition.