So we might not have gotten to see the lights, but I got to go see the Nutcracker for the first time with many of my sister-in-laws and some nieces. It was so much fun, and I can't wait to take Kaitlyn next year! I might have skipped my baking fest where we make cookies and goodies galore to give to teachers and bus drivers, etc, but we have a little tree in our house for the first time this year so our kids can put the ornaments they make or anything else they want all over it. We didn't go to Disneyland, but we did pull out a book I've had for ages with a Christmas scripture, song and story to read each night before bed. That's the one I am the most proud of. I feel like Christ was a bigger part of this Christmas than most years. We didn't decorate gingerbread houses, but we made gingerbread cookies and those are yummier anyway. And we did get our big tree up . . . a week and a half before Christmas. At that point, I debated on skipping it, but I am glad we didn't.
It just wouldn't be Christmas without the glow of those lights.
But that's getting ahead of myself. First, we had our church Christmas party. Kaitlyn had to stay home with a fever, but I was in charge of a "photo booth" where people could come and get their family picture taken. I think it turned out pretty good!
I didn't have my family there to take a picture of, but my sweet babysitter went and got Tyler and Jasmine so she could play with them (I had to go rather early to set up), and Jasmine liked checking out the props and seeing what Mommy was up to.
And of course, they had to go meet Santa. Tyler was thrilled.
Jasmine was less so.
She went and cried on her "Me-Kenna's" lap since her traitor mommy was the one that put her on Santa's lap in the first place.
And last night was the annual Skarda family party. We acted out the Nativity in costumes . . .
,. . . had a concert of horns . ..
. . . which Kaitlyn helped out with on her music maker, along with performing a song on the piano by herself . . .
. . . and then Santa came to visit!
Tyler and Kaitlyn were excited, obviously. Kaitlyn had been asking for a bow and arrow for Christmas, but then last Saturday switched to "a fearless friend. I saw them on a commercial. They are animals that move all by themselves!" The only problem is that google has no idea what a fearless friend IS. The only thing by that name is a DVD set for kids with social anxiety disorders to help them cope with meeting friends.
Unfortunately for her, Santa didn't know what that was either.
Jasmine noticed that everyone who saw Santa got candy. So she edged closer and closer . . . and though she didn't get on his lap, she did get close enough to say hi and snag a reward before running away. Jackpot! I was proud of her for improving.
As we were about to go home, I had the kids open a present with their new Christmas jammies. I've decided I like that tradition- it is something they need anyway, it's fun to wear new clothes for Christmas, and then they look cute for pictures the next morning. Tyler was sad when he outgrew his slippers, so I thought I would get him some new ones for Christmas. But it turns out that all of the "fun" ones don't come in his size! Boys slippers are mostly non-existent anyway, and when I did find them they were boring men's moccasins shrunk down. After striking out at the fifth store, I began to think about making them myself. I've made a lot of leather baby shoes in my life. How hard could it be? I came across shoe inserts at the dollar store and threw in the towel.
The answer to the question is that I had NO idea what I was doing. These things look awful upon close inspection. I figured that I would make them green (since green is for Tyler) and put a T on them (since I was too lazy to make them into dinosaurs or something). I asked Kaitlyn if I should even give them to him, but she assured me that he would like them just fine.
And of course, he adored them. You would think I had just give the kid the moon. He was literally running around and doing happy dances for 15 minutes, telling everyone he could find about the "slippers with a T on them! They have a T, they have a T!"
The next morning, Kaitlyn was the first one awake.
She was pretty excited about all the presents, but we decided we should wake up Tyler before we got started. So Daddy jumped on his bed.
Tyler told him to stop, and even threatened "I'll flick you in the head, Daddy!" but eventually he woke up and made it downstairs.
And Jasmine joined us, too.
Jasmine was the most excited about the large pile of fruit snacks in her stocking. She might be literally addicted to those by this point. So when she got free reign this morning, she took full advantage.
Let me at 'em!
And I kinda loved her bunny slippers. Which were store bought, and hence properly made.
I love having young kids that are so easy to please!
"Cheese!"
We helped the kids shop for each other this year at the Dollar store, and that worked out wonderfully. Tyler got this sword from Kaitlyn and went around carefully cutting off all of our heads.
And Jasmine made us a picnic from Grandma's present.
This year I swore I would not push Tyler along. Every year I get so excited for him to open the next thing that I push him away from playing this them to unwrapping, but this year I just let him be. He opened his last gift at about 4:30pm!
Kaitlyn preferred the "rip it all open" approach, but she still loved playing with all of it.
And Jasmine loved playing with everyone else's toys. And running around in her new snow boots.
And thankfully, Kaitlyn was thrilled with her bow and arrow set. To top off her day, she discovered a loose tooth! She has been hoping for one of those for a long time.
What a wonderful Christmas! I am so grateful that I got to spend it with my awesome little family.
1 comment:
Love the buffet analogy!! Totally going to use that!
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