Christmas Cookies...and more

I had taken today off from work to go to Lily's Christmas festivities at school. Since the weather was so bad, we decided to skip shopping and errand running and instead, stay inside and bake some Christmas goodies. We put Bear down for his afternoon nap and got to cooking. Lily helped me make several treats to give as gifts to her Sunday School teachers this weekend. We made brownies with a mint center, peppermint bark, sugar cookies, and this sweet snack mix that I only know as "Puppy Chow". My college roommate's mom used to make puppy chow for us ever winter and it's a staple in my Christmas baking list now.

Lily measuring the Chex cereal for the puppy chow

Pouring the chocolate/peanut butter/butter mixture

Rolling and cutting out sugar cookies

After the cookies cooled - and quick wardrobe change - we decorated them with frosting and sprinkles.

The finished products turned out great and we've got a few more things to make tomorrow to add as well. Lily is such a good helper when it comes to making things and I love making such fun memories with her!

Singing Around the Christmas Tree

This morning, Lily's preschool put on their Christmas program "Singing Around the Christmas Tree." The 3 and 4 year old classes did a great job singing Christmas favorites as well as a few songs written for them. Lily's favorite to practice was "The Itsy Bitsy Sheperds", but she did a great job singing and doing the motions to all of the selections. I was a bit worried with how she would do in front of such a big group and with her class being in the front/center of the line-up, but she was adorable. I just love watching preschoolers perform - there's something so endearing about little kids who run off stage scared, yell the words to the song, or look around in a daze. Lily had one song where she was yawning and not singing, but other than that she seemed to enjoy the program.

After the program (my pictures didn't turn out well due to lighting/my camera), we had her class party. We had cupcakes, fruit, cheese, and juice boxes and then had a fun book exchange led by Miss Jennifer. The girls and boys all brought in wrapped books and each child got a new book. Miss Jennifer also gave everyone a special book and reindeer as a Christmas gift. It was a fun morning, despite the cold, rainy weather outside.

Blessing before the party

Smiling for Momma

Lily loved her cupcake - you can't tell here, but she had red frosting on her eyelid, on her nose, and all over her mouth.

Getting ready for the book exchange. The girls did a swap and then the boys did one.

Christmas with Friends

Last year we started a tradition with our friends Katie & Katie Anne and Natalie & Emma of a mom/daughter outing. We get together at our local "paint your own pottery" store, Pottery Lane to paint Christmas ornaments. The ornaments turned out so cute last year that we decided to do it again this year.

The girls insisted on exchanging Christmas gifts first. They were all so excited about what you had picked out for each other. Lily gave Katie Anne an Ariel doll and Emma got Cinderella. Emma had similar taste and gave Lily the Sleeping Beauty version of the same doll and Katie Anne got Cinderella this time. Katie Anne gave Lily and Emma cute little puppies with a carrier, leash, pretend food, and comb. The girls were all so excited about your new gifts that we had a hard time keeping them focused on painting the ornaments.

Lily getting ready to open her gifts

Katie Anne's ready too!

What did I get?

After opening gifts, we carefully picked out the ornaments to paint. Lily picked a round disk with a L in the middle and a small spiral ornament. The disk was painted pink and blue, to match the tree in her room. The spiral ornament is for our family tree and is half red/half green. Lily's attention span on painting didn't last long - she was bored with it sooner than I thought she would. We managed to get three coats of paint on each ornament and both looked really good. The ornaments should be back in a week or so, once they are glazed and fired, and ready to be hung on our trees.

Emma concentrates on her painting

Lily carefully painting the pink part of her ornamentMomma/Lily pictureWe are so fortunate and grateful for such great girlfriends. It's so much fun to get the big girls and little girls together for an outing and we look forward to doing this for years to come!

Breakfast with Santa

This morning, we had Breakfast with Santa. Lily woke up this morning so excited about this event. She popped out of bed, insisted on taking a shower, and quickly let me get her dressed in her Christmas dress. Bear wasn't feeling 100% this morning and woke up with quite a bad cold. The only thing he would agree to wear to see Santa was his smocked Santa longall from last year, which thrilled Daddy :) We bundled up and headed to the Country Club for the breakfast. Paw met us there (Mammy was home sick) and we got in line to see Santa.

Lily, you seemed a bit unsure at first, but one of your best friends, Katie Anne, was in line in front of us and watching her have fun put you at ease. When it was our turn, you climbed right into Santa's lap. Bear, you were quite the opposite, which I was prepared for. Lily didn't like Santa when she was your age, so I knew there was a 50/50 shot that you'd actually sit with him. I tried to ease you into Santa's lap, but you were not happy about it. The combination of being fearful of a strange man in a red suit and not feeling well didn't work out well for photos. Louis T. tried his best to get you to smile, but you simply wanted back in Momma or Daddy's arms.

After attempting a picture, Lily sat with Santa for a bit to go over her Christmas list. You told Santa you wanted a pink bicycle and a pink frisbee...and he told you he wanted Gingerbread Men from Agan's has his midnight treat. I love how you looked at him with such wonder and joy during your few minutes with him. I love seeing the Christmas season through your eyes.

After our visit with Santa, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of fruit, eggs, hash browns, pastries, french toast sticks and grits. You both loved Santa's elf who came by with balloons for you. Lily, you asked for a Christmas flower and Bear, you got a white dog which you quickly named Laney. We had a fun morning and look forward to this tradition for years to come.

Christmas Card Mishaps

We did get a good one...but it's coming to your mailbox soon!

Christmastime is Here!

Can I just say how much I love this time of year! Christmas music on the radio, twinkling lights at night, and cooler weather! We've had a busy December thus far, and it seems to just keep getting busier. Lily and Bear are at the fun age where they are beginning to understand Christmas and are in awe of the season.

We put our Christmas tree up at the end of November. I can never seem to wait until December to start decorating, and since we use an artificial tree there really isn't a reason to wait. I love the white lights and how the gold ornaments sparkle in our family room. I tried something new with the tree topper this year, using a bow and beady picks. I like it, but Josh thinks it looks like "Medusa"! I love going through all of our ornaments each year...it's like a stroll down memory lane. We include ornaments from vacations, our wedding, the births of Lily and Bear, and other special memories. It's sentimental and we add to the collection each year.

Our Christmas TreeThe MantleEarlier in December, we had a chance to go the Cartersville Christmas Parade, which is put on each year by the Exchange Club. It was a cold night and we bundled up with hats, coats, and blankets to watch the many floats, bands, and groups come down Main Street. Bear loved the fire trucks and police cars. He was mesmerized by the flashing lights and sirens. He also loved the marching bands and would yell "Muz-ic" when he heard them playing from a distance. Lily had a good time early in the parade, but about half way through (it was a very long parade) I looked down and she had fallen asleep in her chair. She hadn't had a nap that day and I guess she got warm and cozy in her chair. She woke up in time to see Santa and wave at him.

Lily waiting on the parade to start

Watching the first few floats go byLast Wednesday night, we came home from church and saw that one of our favorite childhood Christmas specials was on tv, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". We made a quick meal - breakfast for dinner - and ate in front of the tv. It was such a fun family night and a tradition we hope to continue in years to come. Lily and Bear enjoyed getting to have an indoor picnic, and loved the show as well.

Rudolph Watching Party

On Tuesday night of this week, I went to the annual Ladies Christmas Dinner at our church. This is the first year it's worked out for me to go, and it was such a fun evening. Ladies in the church decorate tables - it varies from fine china to fun paper plate settings - and the event raises money for the local Women's Shelter. I helped host a table and it was fun setting up for the event. We enjoyed dinner, prepared by and served by the men in our church, and then enjoyed a speaker/singer, Joy Earle, who reminded us in a comical way about the simplicity of Christmas.

Our table

Our ladies (minus Amanda) Peran, Jessica, me, Katie, and Natalie
More December fun to come....

Santa's Little Helper

Meet Kringle:He's our little elf from the North Pole. He appeared Sunday morning in the kitchen before breakfast with a book explaining that he'd be sticking around until Christmas Eve. Lily, you spotted him first, hanging from the breakfast room light fixture. You and Daddy read his story and quickly agreed to name him "Kringle".

Each night, Kringle flies back to the North Pole to give Santa a report on whether or not Lily and Bear are behaving and what is on their wish lists. Each morning, he magically reappears in a new spot to keep watch for the day. We can't touch him, as that would just ruin his magical powers.

Bear, you haven't quite caught on to why Kringle is with us, but you sure do think it's funny to see him in different places each day. Lily, when you are being disobedient we quickly remind you about Kringle and most of the time you straighten up immediately for fear that Santa might hear about it.

Thanks for coming Kringle...hang out as long as you'd like! We love any excuse for good behavior!