December 12...Letter from Santa

The kids received their letters today from Santa!!! Yes they were so excited ( I know you can't tell by the look on Ethan's face...he had just woke up!). Thanks to my sister Vanessa who always tells Santa that these two have been good! Ethan was wondering why his only said something about his Woody doll because that same day he realized he also wants a Mac Truck from Cars! Oh goodness, guess Santa needs to look for one of those too!

December 12....South Coast Plaza

Admiring the " North Pole"

Yep we braved South Coast Plaza today! It was a great day, the kids enjoyed all the decorations and the carol singers. I love this time of year!

And I just noticed... I am hardly in any pics because I am always the one taking them!

December 11...Movie night

The Santa Clause

Snuggling...or at least Taelor is!

After the movie, this is what Mommy and Daddy snacked on...Gamma's goodies!

Tonight we watched The Santa Clause, the kids thought it was great, but yes they had LOTS of questions. Never knew that watching a movie where a dad turns into Santa would have to have a commentary the whole time! But it was a nice movie night, I love these nights!

December 10.... Polar Express Sleep over...

The kids had their first real sleepover at Aunt Debbie's Polar Express sleepover with 7 of their cousins! They had a blast, stayed up till the wee hours of the night, and yes I mean wee hours, Ethan made it till midnight and Taelor was up with her cousin Morgan still watching movies till 2 am!! Yes my daughter who is in bed every night by 8 pm was up till 2 am! Guess that's what happens when you let a girl go to bed when she wants. But needless to say they both had a great time, watching Polar Express, making cookies, doing crafts and playing with their cousins. We will see if Aunt Debbie is up for these crazy kids next year! (And 9 kids was only from 3 of us older cousins, can you imagine next year if all the other cousins go!)

December 9th....Ornaments

Today our craft was a homemade ornament. The kids each made a light up ornament from a few stickers I had. Taelor then made a few little ones to hang on her own tree. We learned about "ornaments on the tree" and how in medieval Europe plays were performed and December 24th was declared Adam and Eve day and the setting was the garden of Eden, but they couldn't find a fruit tree in the middle of winter so they decorated it with apples which were then called "paradise trees". Later the trees were more elaborate and decorated with gingerbread cookies, nuts and fruits and vegetables, and then it was referred to as the "sugar tree" (so glad ornaments have come a long way!). The most important ornament though was the wafers of bread hidden in the branches with represented the body of Christ that was broken on the cross for our sins.

As I read this story to the kids I was reminded of my grandma's Christmas tree, she had little red apples for us with our names on them and it was tradition for us to hang our own apple on the tree. I miss our Christmas time with Grandma, she was the one who held all of us together (remember she has 8 children and 25+ grand kids +great grandchildren, so yes I have a HUGE family), since she passed away back in 2002 it has never been the same. I am not saying that Christmas isn't as enjoyable because it is, it gets better every year especially with kids, but the memories of my Grandma will always be some of my favorite times as a child and a young adult. But I am glad that I get to start my own traditions with my family and to create new memories!

December 8th...not feeling good

Today we took a day off from a Christmas activity, Saul and I have had a yucky cough this week so we weren't feeling too good today, hopefully this will pass soon.

December 7th- Christmas Cards

Today we made Christmas cards and learned how they got started back in 1843! The kids each made 2 cards and they got to choose who they were making it for. Ethan made one for Woody and Santa, which he wants to leave out for him on Christmas Eve. Taelor made one for a "little girl who doesn't have a home and sleeps on the streets" (her exact words), and one for her friend Hailey. And yes we will be giving the card to a homeless girl, one of my friend's parents works with the homeless and they are going to give it to a little girl for her, I think I might have them make a few more! I love the heart these two have, I hope it continues to grow with them as they get older!

December 6th- Snowflakes, Tree and Lights

We made snowflakes today with the help from mommy! We also learned about the Christmas tree and how it came about and that it represents God with his arms stretched out for us, and that all Christmas trees point up to heaven, the triangular shape represents the Holy Trinity-the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We also learned about the "lights on the tree" and how a man named Martin Luther saw twinkling stars in the midst of the evergreen trees, so he cut down a fir tree and put burning candles on the branches (yes a fire hazard!). They were reminded of Psalm 19:1 "The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship".

December 5th- Women's Dessert

This mommy got to enjoy a night out with all the wonderful ladies of the Bridge church. I was in charge of all the decadent desserts so I was a busy mommy preparing and shopping. I got to enjoy spending time with my sister, mom and great friends Chela and Amanda. Not to mention the desserts were oh so delicious and the speakers were amazing with great stories to share of their "Unwrapped blessing".

December 4th- Baking day for mommy

Today mommy went to Grandma and Papa's house to do some baking. I was baking a lot of cookies for our Women's dessert at church the next day. Let me tell you it was the most peaceful 3 hours of baking and my kids were even there with me! They did not bother me once, they were busy helping Grandma take out Christmas decorations and then Papa took them to a store and out to lunch at McDonald's and then they enjoyed playing in the backyard. So yes it was peaceful and enjoyable, I think I might just have to go and bake over there more often. Later that evening mommy and daddy went to my work Christmas party so the kids got to spend more time with Papa and Grandma! We all had a great night out....the kids were out later than we were!