{new} traditions

Some of my favorite memories growing up involve traditions that we observed year to year. As the girls are getting older, we are starting to establish our own traditions for our little family. We tried out a couple of new ones this year that I am excited to incorporate into our holidays from here on out!

1. CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN/ACTIVITY BASED ADVENT

I tried to plan a fun activity each day to help us experience the joy of Christmas all month long, amidst the craziness of the season. I had big plans to make an advent calendar to help us keep track of it all, but that will be a project for next year. We didn't do everything I set out to do, but we got many of our activities in. Some of the things we DID do...

1. watched christmas movies with hot chocolate and popcorn on hand.

2. drove around to see all the lights- one of the girls favorite activities.

3. jumped on the trampoline that DayDay put together for us.

4. read a Christmas book each night.

5. made toffee bars (had big plans to make a lot of other treats, but it just didn't happen- I had to let myself be ok with that).

6. make gifts. (we sewed...the girls opened their new Christmas pajamas and robes on Christmas eve that my mom and I made- the pants were the first thing I have ever made from pattern to completion on my own... super, super easy, but thrilling just the same :) The girls loved them and they looked so darn cute in them, if I do say so myself! ).

7. went to Red Hot Pottery and painted Christmas gifts for PaPa Lar and Poppi.

8. sang along to Christmas music.

9. visited a Christmas wonderland (aka Disneyland).

10. read the Christmas story in the scriptures.

11. played the Wii together as a family.

12. had a fun Christmas family home evening with friends.

I REALLY love this idea and hope to expand and execute it more effectively next year.

2. WANT/NEED/WEAR/READ:

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In years past, the girls would have so many gifts to open that it was a little overwhelming for them. I have been wanting to find a meaningful way to streamline gifts for a while, so when I came across this idea on several different blogs I decided to try it. Each child received PJs to open on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, they each had 1 gift from Santa, and then 4 gifts from mom and dad that fit into the WANT/NEED/WEAR/READ categories (plus lots of other presents from grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc...). Paul and I followed the the same format for each other also. Santa did manage to sneak in a few extra things into stockings- outside of the plan (such as DVDs and Wii games).

The system worked well for us. Shopping was simplified, our budget remained intact - mostly because I didn't allow myself to just keep buying things because it was "just too cute" or "oh, that would be fun." If it didn't fit into one of the categories, or if a item for a category was already purchased, it didn't go in the cart. As an added bonus, we didn't spend all night Christmas Eve wrapping and in the morning we were done opening presents before the girls got burnt out. Avery was a little miffed- she is at the age where she thinks more is better, but she got over it. I am going to use this format again next year for sure. Anything to make life a little simpler!

christmas report {2009}

Christmas has come and gone. It was so much fun to watch it all unfold through the eyes of a 4 and 2 year old. To them it was all magical and oh, so REAL. The best moment came when we were trying to get the girls in bed on Christmas Eve. They were distracted by the excitement, by family, and all the fun we were having. On a whim, Paul saw a silver baby rattle on the counter, picked it up and rang it behind his back. It had just the right ringing quality to it that it made the girls stop in their tracks. It was Santa's sleigh! He must be close! He won't come if we aren't in bed! Avery's eyes were as big as saucers and full of anxiety. She ran to her bed as quickly as her little feet would carry her. Finley was on her heels, exclaiming, "wait for me guys!" It was HYSTERICAL. I wish we would have had the whole thing on video. Priceless.

Christmas morning, wishes were granted.... santa came and brought Finley a blue skateboard as per her request. She was THRILLED! It is has since found a home in the closet (which is where I hope it will stay until she is a little bigger- visions of accidents run through my head) and she has yet to ask for it. Santa took all that into account, but wanted to make sure that Finley knew her wish had been heard.

Santa also brought Avery a baby Cinderella with a singing bottle that the "elves" picked up from the store and took to Santa's workshop after she made that her final request. Emerson has gotten 3 of the 4 teeth on her wish list... it has been a LONG few weeks of cranky baby days and sleepless nights, but at least they are finally coming through!

YaYa and PaPa Lar MADE these gorgeous doll houses- one for Avery and one for Finley- I thought that was overkill for them each to have their own, but it was good thinking. The girls are having so much fun playing with them side by side.

They are also having fun with all of their other gifts too! They were spoiled as usual :) Even more than the presents they received, they were spoiled by the near constant attention from grandparents, aunts and uncles! There is really nothing better in their eyes!

{merry}

Christmas card 2009. Printed at WHCC on 5x7 pearlized card stock. I was so very pleased with how they turned out. It is a fun, happy card... makes me smile.

*family photo by kelly mccaleb

pleas of a 2 year old

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We had a busy day today. Church, a baptism immediately afterwards, home for an hour, then back to the church for baptism #2. Shortly into the 2nd baptism, Finley was DONE (in her defense, it had been a LONG day- especially for a 2 year old). She was being loud and irreverant- she had to be taken out in hopes of perserving the spirit of the service. On the way out the door, in Paul's arms, she pleaded (LOUDLY).... "nooooooo, please, I don't want to be on the naughty list!" When she came back in, she sat quietly for the remainder of the service (then ran around crazy as soon as it was over). The thought of being placed on santa's naughty list was just the motivation she needed. I might have to exploit that angle for the next few days :) I am still giggling at her little outburst though. That child continually cracks me up.

"what would you like for christmas?"

Finley found a Santa hat lying around, plopped it on her head and immediately assumed the role. She grabbed Avery and proceeded to ask her what she wanted for Christmas- complete with the deep Polar Express Santa's voice. I heard it from the other room. It was a crack up. I had to have her re-enact it for the camera. She happily obliged, but it really was funnier the first time, when she didn't know I was listening. Where does she come up with this stuff?!

On the girl's wishlists this year....

Avery wants anything she sees on a commercial, in an ad, or at a store (oh, the joys of commercialism-repetative marketing works, unfortunately). She is constantly changing her story about what she is going to ask santa for. The last I heard it was a baby Cinderella doll with a blue bottle. That is the official request we sent to the big guy. wink wink.

Finley has been steadfast in her request for a blue skategord (translation: blue skateboard). We correct her everytime, but it is so darn cute when she says it incorrectly. Everytime she is asked (and even when she is not asked) she makes her desire for this item know. Not nearly as fickle as her sister. Santa has an in on this one (thanks Kate :). I can't wait to see her face Christmas morning. Mama has put in a request that the skategord come with a helmet and pads... safety first!

Emerson wants her 4 front teeth to come through for real, instead of this peekaboo thing they have been doing. I pray for the same thing... maybe I could finally get some sleep if she wasn't constantly crying out in pain?! Other than that, the child wants or needs for nothing... that is what happens when you follow in the footsteps of 2 bigger sisters. At some point she will have her own personality, her own wants, her own opinions, but for now she won't know the difference and we are going to take advantage of that:)

It is getting so close. We are all excited and having fun in our preparations! There is still lots to do! Cookies to bake, gifts to wrap, movies to watch, books to read, crafts to make, fun to be had! Busy, busy, but wonderful all the same.

holiday fun {disney style}

Disneyland at Christmas time is pure, over-the-top, amazingness. Decorations everywhere (my favorites were the decorations in toon town- big, colorful, lots of fun), lights galore, and snow (ok, soap, but it looked like real snow floating from the sky- the girls learned the hard way that it didn't taste like real snow, but they didn't care)! It lived up to all the hype. We went before schools got out for winter break (one of the few joys of not having any children in school yet:), so we didn't have to battle crazy crowds. Plus, it was forecasted to rain the entire time we were there, which probably deterred a lot of people as well. It worked to our advantage. We basically walked on every ride in both parks, all day long. The weather held out- sprinkled a little bit, but for the most part we stayed dry.... cold, but dry.

We rode lots of rides including several we had never been on before because the lines are usually ridiculously long (LOVED Toy Story Mania so much we bought the Wii game to play at home), talked to Tinkerbell through the hedges, the girls batted their eyelashes at Poppi until he took them to get their faces painted, sang along to the parade music, visited with minnie every chance we got, plugged our ears during the fireworks, marveled at the "snow" falling from the sky, woke up way too early, stayed up too late, missed our bus back to the hotel and walked a distance in the dark with 3 kids and no strollers, added to our baby princess collection, sat on santa's lap, got some good laughs from the green army men, froze our faces going on Screamin' several times in a row in the rain, scared the tar out of Finley having her go on the matterhorn with us (she is not a big fan apparently, but we tried)... we maximized every minute and

had a wonderful time at the happiest place on earth!