Christmas Eve

The girls woke up on Christmas Eve and both got into their princess costumes which is their new favorite with Grandma and Grandpa here. Sofia isn't really into dress up unless she has a friend over or we have visitors (especially Grandma and Grandpa). She loves wearing her princess dress from last Christmas that Grandma gave her for the fun tea day we all enjoyed together. Olivia has several frilly dresses that she wears pretty consistently and even wears the one Grandma got her for the tea last year too, even though it is pretty short and tight. She loves it! When she wears a frilly dress, she walks around saying "I a princess" to just about anyone. Both girls also love walking around in their "princess shoes" even though they can't possibly be comfortable and are rather treacherous to wear over our floor since the shoes are so slippery!

The girls enjoyed hot chocolate, scrambled eggs and toast while CK and his Dad left for a chilly (39 degrees) flight in the biplane! Connie and I set to work and started making the food for that night. We decided that we wanted to open all of our presents on Christmas Eve so the girls could play with their stocking toys on Christmas Day. We also planned the main Christmas meal for 2pm with Scott, Brenda and Oliver coming over for dessert at 3, so we figured we wouldn't have time to open presents on Christmas day. For Christmas Eve we planned to have a bunch of appetizers with eggnog while we opened our gifts. The appetizers included stuffed mushrooms, Thelma's ceviche, brie and crackers, goats cheese rolled in craisins, parsley and walnuts, homemade mac and cheese, and sliced summer sausage.

After CK and his Dad got home, we got the kids ready for a trip to Gaylord Texan's Ice! We hadn't gone to Ice in years and when we last went it was overwhelmingly crowded, although it was very interesting and fun. This time, we bought 4pm tickets and walked right in! It was perfect! It was really impressive and both kids loved it. Sofia really loved that she was able to go down the ice slide several times. Although we took Olivia to the top of the kiddie slide, she was not interested in going down and couldn't go on our lap. After walking through the ice sculptures, we took CK and Connie into the lobby to see the trains and decorations. Then we headed home.

Once we were home, CK built a fire while Connie and I set the food out on the coffee table. We all enjoyed the appetizers and then started opening presents!

Hot chocolate with Grandma

Someone likes the mini marshmallows and whipped cream and leaves the rest

Sofia loves it all!

In our blue parkas ready for Ice!

Once inside! Amazing!

The four of us

Ice details

CK and Olivia in the ice cab

The ice nativity at the end

All of us by the trains in the lobby

Sofia with her Grandma

Ready to open presents

All of us!

Happy Birthday, Papa!

The girl's Grandpa and Grandma arrived around 4pm to be here in time to celebrate CK's birthday! Although they had planned to arrive the week before, Connie was sick so they delayed but made a point to be here for CK's big day which I know he really loved! The girls were SO excited to see their grandparents and kept asking every five minutes when they would be here. I happened to see them pull into our circular driveway, so told them they were here which made them squeal and run outside! They were SO excited to see them! CK got home shortly after that and we started making birthday dinner. CK made a really lovely dinner for us one random Saturday night and it was honestly better than any restaurant, so we decided to replicate it. He grilled filet mignons on our grill with asparagus while I boiled and mashed new potatoes. I don't know what he does with the steaks, but they are perfect! We ate dinner, which was outstanding while hearing about the drive out from Florida. After our meal, we sang happy birthday and had cake. Market Street had this amazing creation which marries both of CK's favorites. It's cheesecake on the bottom with a layer of red velvet on top, then frosted with a fluffy whipped cream frosting. It was pure heaven!

After cake and ice cream, CK opened him presents. He got an awesome quilted jacket from his parents which looks perfect on him. It's such his style and fits him like it was made specifically for him! The girls gave him a new button down shirt and I gave him a blue striped scarf and socks. I actually ordered him something else but when it hadn't arrived the day before his birthday I went to Nordstrom's Rack and got him things I thought he needed (socks) and would be a fun new thing (scarf). After, we put the girls to bed and then stayed up and talked. It was really a fun birthday celebration!

The birthday boy and his cake

All of us - ready for cake and ice cream!

Sofia helped read the cards to CK

His new shirt from the girls

His "audience"

His new jacket!

Sofia being silly with CK's new socks and scarf

Sofia's Holiday Party

Today Sofia had her class' holiday party. It lasted just short of an hour, and as a room mom, I helped figure out what crafts and games the kids would do. There are three other room moms who are all very creative and helpful, but unfortunately two of them were sick just prior to the party or their child was sick, so it was a bit crazy before the party. I hired a sitter to watch Olivia so I could go early and help decorate and set up the tables with the two other room moms who were able to be there. Our theme was nutcrackers, and one of the room moms brought a lot of cute nutcracker decorations - plates, napkins, actual nutcrackers, table decorations, fake snow. She really made the room look incredible! The kids were so excited when they returned to the classroom from lunch!

One thing Sofia has told me about is "Rudolph," Mrs. Schultz' elf who changes locations within the classroom every morning. She said it's a big deal to get to class and find where "Rudolph" is, but they can't touch him because if a person touches him then he loses his magic. Sofia told me that once Mrs. Schultz' skirt hit Rudolph and he fell off of the desk, so Mrs. Schultz had to pick him up, but that was an emergency, so his magic was fine. Today Rudolph was hanging from one of the decorations from the ceiling. I love the magic that kids believe in!

The party started with the first craft, which was the white handprint on a green ornament that is then decorated as snowmen. The kids did a great job and lots of parents helped with painting on the white paint. The only drawback was the huge line of kids waiting to wash their hands! I meant to bring baby wipes and completely forgot. After the kids did their hand print, the let the ornament dry while the decorated sugar cookies. A huge favorite! It was so cute to watch the kids decide when enough decorations was enough and some kids only decorated and played with their cookie and never even ate it. Sofia ate here immediately and then wanted another! After the cookie decorating was done, the kids returned to their ornament and added eyes, nose, buttons, scarves and hats to their snowmen as well as their names. They really turned out so cute!

Next we passed out Christmas bingo cards and had the kids play bingo with M&Ms which they could eat once we were finished. The game was so cute and kids had a ball. Before we knew it the time was up and we were saying goodbye to our kiddos as they headed off to the library. A few of us stayed behind to clean up before heading home.

The class gingerbread people - Sofia's is the top right one with a pink skirt and gold top

Our nutcracker, drawn and colored by one of the room mom's husbands!

The decorated classroom

Sofia hard at work

Eating her cookie

The paper snowflakes Amy and I made

Rudolph!

Sofia's finished ornament

Love how our girl writes her name!

Decorating Gingerbread

Today after school, Sofia, Olivia and I met up with Michelle, Milani, Carey, Vinny, Gigi, Katie, Thomas and Tristan at the Gaylord Texan for some gingerbread family decorating. The hotel has an area where you can buy a gingerbread family, train set, or house to decorate that includes all the icing and candy, etc. We've done it in past years and its always been fun. I bought a gingerbread family for the girls to decorate, which included a man, woman, girl, boy, dog and cat. The girls started decorating, although Olivia mainly wanted to eat all the candy. I added icing to her cookie and she added some of the candy, which Sofia decorated hers.

After finishing the decorating, Sofia wanted to visit "Gingy" the costumed gingerbread man. Olivia literally took one look at Gingy and bolted. She wasn't going to go anywhere near him, so I left her out at the decorating table while Sofia went into the house to meet Gingy and give him a hug. So funny how different my girls are with costumed characters.

After we were done, the kids ran around in a little corner of the hallway where they were out of the way. Then we walked into the main atrium to take pictures of the kids by the huge Santa boots, and look at the trains. The kids loved it and Olivia really loved the huge rocking horse and wanted to ride it. Sofia loved watching the trains and acting crazy with her friends. The kids were getting a bit out of control so we headed to our cars and I promised to host a gingerbread decorating party at my house next year.

The whole gang

Olivia loving it!

Sofia

Sofia's finished cookie. "Now can I eat it??"

Sofia and Gingy

All the kiddos together (except for Vinny)

Kids acting silly

We tried to get pictures of the kids by the reindeer forever, but never could capture them all looking and smiling...

Santa!

Yesterday morning we met Lyla and her girls, Lilly and Chloe at Bass Pro Shop to hang out together and visit Santa. We met last year and wanted to keep up the tradition that we've done with Sofia for the past several years. Although we arrived at 10am, our time card to see Santa wasn't until 1230pm, so we walked around Bass Pro, let the girls write Santa a letter, draw, ride the reindeer carousel, watch the fish and browse before heading to grab an early lunch at Uncle Buck. After lunch, we returned to Bass Pro and got into line to see Santa.

For the past three years that we've visited Santa at Bass Pro, it's always been the same Santa....except this year. Sofia immediately noticed and asked why the "real" Santa wasn't there. So, we explained that Santa has so much to do that he lets other men who look like him pretend that they are him so that all the kids can see him...it seemed to work. Meanwhile, Olivia was still a bit uncertain about what she thought of Santa in general. I tried talking up how friendly and nice Santa is and how much he loves to meet new kids.

Lilly and Chloe visited Santa first and then Olivia and Sofia got their turn. Santa immediately set Olivia on his lap and then started talking to Sofia while she stood. The entire time he talked, Olivia just sat there and looked at him trying to figure out this Santa thing. After a bit, Santa put Sofia on his lap and took a picture. It turned out so cute! I asked Sofia what she and Santa talked about and she said "horses" and how much she loves them. After our time with Santa, we headed home. What a fun day!

Olivia at the North Pole!

Petting the reindeer

Sofia writes her letter to Santa...she wrote that she wants an "Elf on the Shelf" which her teacher has in the classroom and she adores

Sofia makes her letter

Olivia coloring

With Papa

Olivia riding the reindeer carousel

Sofia on her reindeer

Olivia and her Papa

Sofia and me

Girls being eaten by a shark!

Meeting Santa....

Santa talks to Sofia

Olivia keeps her eye on Santa

The adorable picture with Santa!