Christmas - Part 3

After Christmas at my Aunt's we then had to come home and get prepared for Santa. There was so much to do. First we opened up our presents under the tree. By the time we made it home, Kristen was a pro at opening presents. She had hers opened, looked at and put to the side before Lauren even had hers halfway unwrapped. Kristen got a wooden jewelry box with a Sleeping Beauty necklace, Princess Aqua doodle, Sleeping Beauty light, clothes and headbands (which was the big hit...I think she got about 10). Lauren got some pink sparely shoes, clothes, books, a play jewelry box, bath toys and a Max and Ruby DVD. Kristen had gone shopping with my mom to get presents for Paul and I. She was so excited to give us our presents. I got a bible bag (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE) and Paul got a shirt that says I am a criminal (isn't that hilarious...we both got a good laugh out of that). We also got a pretty candle and two snow baby ornaments. Once says I love mom and the other says I love dad. I got from my hubby a laptop. He is the best! You could of knocked me over with a feather. I had no idea. It said Toshiba on the box and that was pretty much all. He asked if I knew what it was. I had heard the name Toshiba before and for some reason I was thinking boots or shoes. I was really a little afraid to open it thinking it was going to be something camouflage. Thank God it wasn't. I would have been really disappointed if I had got camo boots for Christmas. Kristen was equally excited for me to open it, but she was also ready to get on with the evening events. We then put out cookies and milk for Santa (which Lauren stole one), put out some reindeer food and dust in our front yard for the reindeer, put the key on the door so Santa could get in and then read the Christmas Story and put them to bed. Kristen decided at bedtime that she really didn't want any presents because Santa would actually have to come into the house. We had to reassure her several times that Santa would only be going into the living room and kitchen and would not go into her room. I am sure when she sees the toys in the living room in the morning she will change her mind.












Do I look suprised!

Christmas - Part 2

So after visiting with Paul's mom and step dad, we went to my Aunt's house for our annual Christmas Eve celebration. This is one of my favorite get together at Christmas. We have so much fun and everyone comes. We eat, read the Christmas story from the Bible, then open up presents. We do the Chinese gift exchange, which is always so much fun. The girls were getting pretty tired by now. Lauren had about a 10 minute nap on the way home from Paul's moms house. We went home, changed the girls into their dresses, I made a 7 layer dip, and then left. Kristen was so excited to get to wear her dress. Lauren...well not so much. When I put her dress on she started crying. She got over her grumpiness by the time we got to my Aunt's house. This was the first year Lauren has been to our Christmas Eve get together. Paul's mom and step dad came too so it was extra special. Here are some pictures.

Christmas - Part 1

Christmas is here and I so enjoy it. It take forever to get here, but it sure does go by fast. The beginnings of our Christmas celebration began today at Paul's mom and step-dads house. I enjoy visiting with everyone and going from one house to the next. We ate some good food and just enjoyed spending time with family. Kristen was anxious to actually get to open some presents. Kristen had asked Grandma if she could watch t.v. and Grandma said yes. She then asked if she could take her shoes and socks off and Grandma said yes. She figured since she was getting the answers she wanted she might as well go ahead and ask Grandma if she could open presents. It, of course, was not present opening time so she still had to wait. Here are some pictures of the girls opening presents.

Cookies for Santa

On Thursday night we baked cookies for Santa. We didn't fix homemade this year. I have to say, I started second guessing myself and thought maybe I made a mistake to fix store bought cookies. Not that I am someone who makes everything from scratch, but we have in years past made Santa's cookies from scratch. Well, I thanked God afterward that He made me buy those cookies on impulse. The girls really enjoyed putting them on the cookie pan. Lauren especially liked to stack hers up on top of each other and then knock them down. Start to finish took all of 15 minutes which was just the right amount of time for impatient children. The bottoms of the cookies were a little burnt, but Santa won't mind. If he does, next year he can bake his own!

Dancing Christmas Lights

On Wednesday night we went out looking at Christmas lights. I think we went to about 10 or so houses. I don't think any of us were in the Christmas spirit and Kristen was worried that we would get lost and not find our way back home, but after seeing the first house our moods changed. There were some really decorated houses. One house had both front and back yard filled with lights. They even had Santa passing out candy canes. We asked Kristen if she wanted to go see Santa and she said yes. When we told her it was the real thing and not the blowup Santa in the front yard she quickly changed her mind. I was not going to get the girls all unbuckled and venture out in the cold when I knew Kristen and Lauren both would cry as soon as they saw Santa. Our favorite houses were the ones that had their house lights set to music. It was so neat to see that. In fact, we ended up taking my mom and dad out on Thursday night just to see the three houses we really liked. Kristen kept calling them the houses with the dancing christmas lights. She kept asking if they were magical. Here is a video of one of our favorite houses.

Christmas Came Early

For me, Michelle, Christmas came early this year. My mom and dad bought me a new table and chairs for Christmas. I have the best parents in the world! I absolutely LOVE my new table and chairs. The dark wood matches my cabinets and hutch perfectly! Kristen loves the bench and has designated a new spot there, so I will be able to put in the attic one of the booster seats. It is so wonderful...here is a picture. A great big THANK YOU to my mom and dad. I love you BIG!!!



I couldn't post something without some pictures of the girls. Here are a couple I snapped by the Christmas tree.


Here is a picture of the girls before church today. Kristen's dress came from a thrift store and I only paid $3 for it. I am so proud of that find!


Here is a picture of the girls that I snapped during the week. Kristen was so happy to wear her pink sparkly shoes and her princess outfit Grandaddy and Nanny bought her for Christmas.

DIVAS

Picture with Santa

We took the girls tonight to get their picture taken with Santa. We went to the Bass Pro Shop where they give you one free picture. Gotta love the free things since nothing now days are free! Kristen said on the way there that the Bass Pro Shop and Food Lion were her favorite stores. We really should get out to different places more! Anyways, when we first arrived Kristen informed us that she was not going to sit on Santa's lap. We told her she didn't have to that we would just go and say hi. They had lots of activities for the kids to keep them busy while waiting for Santa. Kristen and Lauren colored ornaments. When it was our turn, as we walked up, Lauren was just waving to Santa. I thought it might turn out good after all. Then I plopped her right down on his lap and the crying started. So, all of us piled in the picture and it turned out to be a family portrait with Santa. When we left Kristen told us that she didn't have to sit on Santa's lap because he already knew what she wanted.




Here is the ornament Kristen colored


Here is the ornament Lauren colored. She is a pro now at holding the crayon and actually coloring. This is something we have worked on and she enjoys it too.

Sick But Still Smiling

So December has come bringing a cold with it. Lauren started with a runny nose on Friday and by today it was worse. She is starting to cough too. I have been suctioning out her nose in order to try to prevent another ear infection. Last night she woke up a few times. Hopefully she will rest better tonight. Kristen's nose is a little runny, but not like Lauren's. No fever as of yet. I will play it by ear, but hope I will not have to cancel her speech therapy tomorrow. On Thursday we said goodbye to our educational therapist. We grew to like her in the short amount of time she was with us. Her speech therapist came out on Thursday to get to know her and we have our fist real session tomorrow. We had our first informal meeting with Chesterfield County School system back at the end of October. Lauren will probably be switched to preschool setting come September and go a couple days a week. We have another meeting at the beginning of next year. Hopefully she will qualify for services.

Christmas Pictures

My mom and I took Kristen and Lauren to go get their Christmas pictures taken today. The girls did good although they are both doing a fake smile now. We still got some good ones. Here are a few. After the pictures we dropped Lauren off at my Aunts and took Kristen to go see Tangled. What a great movie!