Christmas Parties

 The first stop on the Christmas Party Train was on December 21st at Grandma Linda's house.

We had a Christmas brunch, and that means there was grapefruit with green sprinkles. The kids dug it.

Four Little Girls, a Christmas poem

 Four little girls sitting in a row

 One hopped down to rip off a bow.

What she unwrapped she found delightful and cute.

Three little girls quickly then followed suit.

The End

 I hate lying to my kids about Santa being the man with a fake beard at the mall, someone with magical reindeer who fly around the world in one night, an intruder who squeezes down our nonexistent chimney and takes credit for awesome gifts, etc. But Santa's origins and spirit of generosity are real. A kid-friendly story to help kids make the connection from the historical Saint Nicholas to today's Santa who's everywhere: And Now We Call Him Santa Claus. So I decided to play along with the story this year in a fun way: Santa footprints! Made with a template of Ben's boots and a dusting of baking soda and glitter, they amazed and deodorized in one fell swoop!

 The kids knew right away it wasn't real snow, but Santa comes from the North Pole where everything is different and magical. Eh, maybe it didn't really amaze...but it did deodorize.

 On to the pickle, a new tradition in our house. Lydia found it first, so she got to open the first present. Next year it won't be hung at Lydia's eye level!

 Highlight of Christmas: Lydia wanting to get a gift for Holly Dolly and Abigail. Abigail loves the bracelet Lydia made for her.

 Another Highlight: Seeing these girls happy to prance around together in matching dresses.

 Yet Another: Seems like this handsome little man is going to love his new set of wheels!

 On Christmas Day we went to Roland & Kathy's house and visited with Grandma & Grandpa Alvin.

Abigail is as helpless as a little baby when she doesn't get a complete nap. Sometimes I'm okay with that.

The Christmas Party Train has reached its final destination. We are back at home now and enjoying time off from work and school to play with all of our new toys!

Lydia's First Salon Haircut!

My cousin Laura is at a new salon, so we went to see her for a haircut! Lydia got about an inch cut off so it's manageable enough that she can wear her hair down with just a headband, but no more than that so she can still work towards her goal of having hair as long as Rapunzel's.

Laura was great with Lydia and even painted her nails because she sat so still like a statue.

Abigail could probably get a haircut too, but she just watched. Her hair has really been growing these past few months.

 But back at home they are practicing fine motor skills stringing star cereal onto string to make edible bracelets.

 And Abigail's popping out of her rocket ship box. Cardboard boxes just never get old when you have a little imagination!

4-K Christmas Program

Ready for the concert!

The kids announced the songs. Lydia introduced "put a little hahaha in your holidays" with the line, "We hope this song makes you giggle."

This next song was introduced as follows: "You know Old McDonald had a farm. But did you know Old St Nicholas had a tree?"

A Little Christmas Cheer

Working together (amazingly!) to make a gingerbread train. There's been a lot of grabbing between these two lately.

Abigail being a little sneak. ;)

 Also decorating a little gingerbread village.

 St Nick came and filled our stockings with gifts and treats on the 6th (a European tradition).

The European culture continued at the Osthoff's Old World Christmas Market. Lydia met a "real prince and princess!" They are Milwaukee's reigning Prinz and Prinzessin of Karneval, German Mardi Gras.

 Then she met Saint Nick and got a lesson on why we celebrate Christmas. She couldn't tell me what he told her, though. I think she was a little starstruck. 

 The next day we had some family friendly Toys for Tots activities in Oak Creek.

Lydia jumped on the Americanized Santa Claus' lap. Abigail was scared, and I don't blame her. 

They both loved the train ride!

Choo choo!

Thanksgiving

 Early in November the girls helped me make our Turkey Box (painting is such  messy fun! Lydia ditched the brush for her fingers early on.). The body is an old tissue box, the perfect depository for notes of what you are thankful for. We had it out with strips of paper and pen the rest of the month. Lydia would go to it often and ask me how to spell things like 'my little sister Abigail,' 'chocolate chips,' and her stuffed animal named 'Jelly.' Abigail would go to me asking "what [letter] comes next?" mimicking Lydia. I  put down things like 'sunrises,' 'cuddles with my kids,' and 'a husband who picks up dinner.' Then during Thanksgiving dinner at home we took them out and read them. We sorted and counted out how many entries each person made. For who had the most, it was a tie between Lydia and I, and then we found a strip of paper on the ground with 'my whole family' written on it. Lydia won and was deemed the Turkey Queen! If Daddy can step up his game next year, we can modify the title to Turkey King.

Turkey Queen 2014

On Thursday we made our pilgrimage to Aunt Sue's house in Indiana for a delicious traditional feast. We got to meet our cousin Ben's (serious) girlfriend and go outlet mall shopping the next day.

Then on Saturday we had another feast at Grandma Linda's house. It was hard to get everyone in one camera shot, but really cool that we can all fit at one table! Happy Thanksgiving!

new Christmas dresses

We got a special delivery yesterday. Inside was some of Grandma Jan's fine handiwork:

Lydia & Holly Dolly each in a two-piece.

Abigail in a dress and Big Baby in a two-piece.

Thank you, Grandma Jan!

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Nobody was happier to see it snow than Lydia and Abigail. They were excited like it was Christmas morning. "Do you want to build a snowman?" they asked sweetly and repeatedly.

No Elsa magic here though, 

just real work. 

But, tada! 

They wanted to name him Olaf and give him warm hugs, of course.

Then inside to warm up with hot cocoa, a must.

Then circling the newspaper ads with what they want for Christmas. "Just a few things," Lydia says, "this and this and this and th..."

Halloween

On Saturday we went to Aunt Stacy's for our annual pumpkin carving,

and the cutest little princess parade you've ever seen!

Cinderella

Snow White

 The next day was Trick-or-Treating in Oak Creek.

 

Abigail was still waking up from her nap at 4pm and was okay with going to three houses, but after that just wanted to sit in the wagon and eat her treats. So I took her back and Lydia kept going for another 45 minutes...she loved it. Temps in the 60's sure didn't hurt!

Ah, Lydia's favorite part of pumpkin carving...pulling the seeds from the goo.

We went with coordinating Disney designs this year.

Smith's Pumpkin Farm

 

Smith's Pumpkin Farm! It's in Kenosha, but it's WAY better than so many others!

 Rows of themed displays using painted pumpkins or gourds. Just a few pictures: Madagascar

Winnie The Pooh

 Sesame Street

 A lot of them had music, as Beauty and the Beast did. Abigail had to get out of the stroller and dance.

 The Three Little Pigs

 and a whole row devoted to Frozen! There was definitely music for this one. 

Abigail wanted to stay all morning "letting it go" and dancing. Check out her face.

But we met up with my MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) small group and had to move on.

The kids sent apples through the shoot to the horse and goats. They also had a playground, giant jumping pillow, country store, hayrides, corn mazes, face painting. Had to leave the group early to pick up Lydia from school. I would love to take Lydia here too!