American Girl Tattoos

Haven't you heard? American Girl dolls are following the trend set by Barbie and now have tattoos discretely hidden on the dolls' chests....This is what I walked out to after going in to the bathroom for 45 seconds. I repeat, 45 seconds. Oh, the damage a two-year old can inflict in no time flat. Claire decide to grab a sharpie(that was put away, trust me!) and "draw on the baby's belly." The baby that she just received for Christmas; the baby that if it had been marked anywhere else with sharpie could have been cleaned with a magic eraser; the baby that she loves dearly and carries around everywhere. Oh, the joys! :)

Happy New Year!

This was just one of the hampers that I needed to tackle this morning. Now that the boys are back in school today and Christmas vacation is over, I'm ready for a vacation! Anyone else feel this way?

Christmas Cards

I love getting Christmas cards! It is always so fun seeing everyone's families and hearing about what they have been up to in the past year. It is fun to see the photos and the creative ways some like to document their family adventures. I do not enjoy trying to get a family photo of us. This year it didn't happen. It seems like whenever we try and do this one of us is sick and no one is cooperating. We opted to take a photo of just the kids this year since we couldn't time it right with papa coming home from work and the failing winter light. The kids were predicable. Posing, goofiness and contempt for having to be photographed ruled the scene. After we were done and I was trying to figure out which photo to use, I considered bagging the whole thing. But, I did it and I am glad. Why? Because of the cards we started receiving in the mail. It is so nice to get letters in the mail! I think this is the only time of year we do. I think that if we focus on the birth of Christ and what Christmas is all about, this love and connection we feel toward each other is part of the sweetness of life. And can't we all use all little more sweetness?

The Gingerbread Baby

One of the kid's favorite books we read is "The Gingerbread Baby" by Jan Brett. It is basically the story of the gingerbread man, but in the end the little boy in the story makes a gingerbread house to capture the gingerbread baby in and no one gets eaten. When we read this book we make our annual gingerbread house. The kit you can buy from Costco is great! Someday, I think it would be fun to really bake and design our own houses but this works for our family right now. This year it has been so cute to see Claire catch on to Christmas. Since we decorated the gingerbread house, she is convinced that the gingerbread baby is living inside all cozy and warm. She talks to him and asks him:" What are you doing in there, baby? Do you want to come and play with me?"

Counting Down to Christmas

The Christmas countdown that we started has been a big hit. Wrapping up the books and picking a few up from the library started us off a bit late this year, and I have to admit we have had to read two books in one night before, if the previous day was hectic. But in all, the tradition is here to stay. It has also been a special treat this year to have Grandma and Grandpa here a few of the nights to read the stories with us. I think that it would be nice to record a loved one's voice reading these stories. Then, we would always have that cherished voice and person with us as we read. Some of our favorites include: Snowflake Bentley and Snowflakes in Photographs, The Gingerbread Baby (all Jan Brett books are great), A Christmas Dress for Ellen, Ollie's Ski Trip, Christmas Day in the Morning, The Night Before Christmas, Snowmen at Night, The Polar Express, The Tomten, the list goes on. Some of the activities we have done are; making paper snowflakes, a gingerbread house, nativity night, making cookies, receiving our Christmas outfits or pajamas, hanging special ornaments on the tree, depending on the book and the year. You get the idea. As of today there are not many wrapped books left in the basket and the kids are getting really excited!

Decked the Halls

Our walls and some of our rooms have been pretty bare around here. But it seems like since we have decorated for Christmas, it really has started to feel like home. The weather has even cooperated and we have a nice, white blanket of snow covering all the dirt! I love Christmas!

Halloweenies

Halloween was pretty low key around here. Jared and Luke wanted to be the same things this year with a different makeup job for Jared. Isaac picked an almost homemade get up that was fun to put together and Claire still fit into the sweet shirt that her aunt made her last year so I wanted to use that for her costume and came up with a 20 min/ $2.17 tutu to go with it. Fever free and perked up, the kids went out trick or treating and had fun.Claire enjoyed practicing her witch's cackle during our photo shoot. Halloween has never been my favorite holiday. But it is fun to see the kids get excited about dressing up and begging for crappy candy.We left a bowl on the porch while we were out, but I don't think we had any takers. Maybe next year! Check out this Family Home Evening Lesson by Chocolate on my Cranium if you need ideas for tonight. That's what we'll be up to...(cue Indiana Jones music...)

Got Meds?

"Mama? I don't feel so good..." Thus it began last Sunday as Luke hunched over the island. Now four days later we have 3 out of 4 kids sick with (drumroll please) the flu! Yipee! It has been a long week. Though I am happy to say that while Claire christened our van with vomit once again, our house is still a no vomit zone. I just jinxed it didn't I? I'm pretty sure it will be a low key Halloween this year. Anyone want to come over? :)

Four Eyes

Isaac got glasses yesterday and has been strutting around ever since. It is so cute/sad to hear about all the new things he is seeing for the first time. One example: "Mom, I could see the clock at school today!" Um, yes he is a BIT nearsighted.