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Saturday, December 29, 2012

A Cold Crafternoon

After a blistering cold morning of playing in the snow I planned a few quick, simple crafts with the kids while McKenna napped.
We started by printing this cute reindeer template my friend posted on her blog onto card stock, then added modge podge with a fine tip paintbrush before adding a generous amount of gold or bronze glitter. 
Please let me know if you'd like the template as I'm happy to share it with you or send you to the original link.
The kids then glued red and white pom poms onto card stock candy cane forms. We also added fun washi tape stripes onto more candy canes, punched a hole, added ribbon and had a couple fun new kid friendly, mom approved tree ornaments. We ended our crafternoon by making coffee filter snowflakes. All super cheap and fool proof crafts that kept the kids busy for a couple of hours.
I found it cute that both kids gravitated away from the table momentarily only to return with her respective holiday hats on.

Friday, December 28, 2012

The First Snowfall of Winter

The first day of winter break brought with it our first winter snow "storm." The kids went to bed in anticipation of the snowfall and woke up early {ier than the normal time} to a white covered ground. They were beside themselves with excitement ready to dart outdoors to romp around in it. I had to suppress their excitement for several hours because the winds had been blowing at up to 50mph. Late morning they bundled up in last years whatever snow gear they could gather in a moments time and headed out back.
It was pure bliss for them! They lasted much longer than I would have out in the cold. We only had one episode of crying too (which is monumental at times) when Dawson came in briefly because his hands were freezing. Poor little dude didn't have any snow gloves that fit. GG fixed that problem by picking him up a new pair while out at WalMart.
I enticed them indoors after quite some time with some marshmallow filled hot cocoa. It was baby girl's 1st cup of ho cho and it is safe to say she LOVED it. 
Prec' or what?

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

It's the Little Things

Gabrielle is a doodler, a drawer and aspiring author so it was fitting that she received a new little journal and fun pen in her stocking from Papa & Mema. She brought it on our recent trip to Springfield to keep her busy during the drive. I found these little gems as I was cleaning out the van.

It's truly the little things like this that can rekindle a love for my kids when all chaos is ensuing with the break from school, schedules and regular sleep patterns. 

Monday, December 24, 2012

Santa's Wonderland

Christmas isn't Christmas without our annual visit to Santa's Wonderland. We paid a visit to the Springfield Bass Pro Shops on Saturday. The kids got to make an adorable button Santa ornament (I may have made one myself, they were so cute) while Daddy waited in line for our turn.
I was so impressed because Santa was SO, SO wonderful with the kids. As you can see in the above photo, McKenna wasn't having any part of sitting on his lap. It was more Stranger Danger than Jolly Old Saint Nick for her. She quickly squirmed her way out of his arms and into her Daddy's. Santa then encouraged me to snap a couple of photos with he and the older two. As we gathered the kids to part ways, he pulled Travis over and positioned the kids with us in the photo then proceeded to take more time asking the kids their wish list. I thanked him and told him he had just earned Best Santa Ever rights in my book.
Merry Christmas Eve to all! 
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."
Last years Santa post and equally hilarious photo here

Meadow Lane Pancake Breakfast & Holiday Shop

We started our morning Saturday, December 1st bright and early at the Meadow Lane Pancake Breakfast and Holiday Shop. We indulged on plates stacked with yummy pancakes and way too sweet knock off orange juice (Tang perhaps?) before Gabrielle and the rest of the ML 2nd & 3rd graders took stage to sing a few Christmas carols.
After the singing we corralled the kids for a couple of quick pictures.
Travis was snapping pictures simultaneously with his iPhone hence why the kids aren't looking in my direction in this photo.
And then throw #3 in the mix along with a super silly Papa who is an expert at getting her to smile and you get a few cute pictures of our baby girl being C to the U to the T to the E! 
We hit the Holiday Shoppe in the gymnasium before Santa arrived for his visit. 
Gabi choose a pretty necklace and a bear claw back scratcher, Dawson choose a sleeve of sports themed golf balls and both picked out a Best Grandpa fish coffee mug for Papa for Christmas.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Icing & Sprinkles & Candy, Oh My!

Christmas wouldn't be the same without Mema's delicious cut out cookies. She prepared the dough, cut out and baked the cookies (because the kidaroos haven't been 100% in the health department). She came up last Friday and the frosting and decorating commenced. The "bigs" both took part in the mixing up of frosting, spreading it on (Gabrielle ever so meticulously and Dawson in slap happy fashion) & adding the finishing touches of sprinkles, Nerds candy, mini chocolate chips, etc.

McKenna was present throughout the process and was under foot the.entire.time! We tried our very best to entice her with cookies, but once the frosting touched her hands she immediately dropped them. Have I mentioned that my kids have a moderate severe case of OCD with hand washing? We resorted to keeping her busy with a yogurt cup & licking spoons.  She snuck in plenty of snuggles and lovin' from Mema throughout the night too :)
It is now Thursday and dozens and dozens of cookies have been consumed. I admit I have had more than my fair share! Ummm, the majority truth be told. My midsection will not be thanking me come January.

Embrace The Camera: December 19, 2012

The kids are Embracing the Camera with Papa & Mema
Photos above taken at the Holiday Shoppe and pancake breakfast at Meadow Lane
Photo taken during our annual cookie decorating