Dinner at Grandma Mary's

Sunday, we went to Grandma Mary and Grandpa Wayne for dinner. Aunt Tammy and Samantha were there, and Uncle Chad was also there. Great Aunt Luella arrived just before it was time to eat. We had turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. There was lots of leftover turkey (great for turkey chili! YEAH!)

Allyson was wearing ALL of the necklaces that she got from her Sunday School teachers for Christmas.

"posing" for a picture with Great Aunt Luella

Caden and Allyson were looking at the pictures from our Virginia Vacation with Samantha.

What a mess?

In my attempt to do laundry and pick up the house, I was in another room and came back to the folded laundry that was in the basket looking like this...

and then the kids watching tv like this...

Say Cheese!

The kids wanted to take some pictures this afternoon.
Caden took a picture of Mom and Allyson and then Allyson took a picture of Mom and Caden. They both did well. A few were deleted (thank goodness for digital) because of fingers in the way or heads completely cut off - but they had fun and were so proud of themselves when they got a good picture!
Caden exclaimed "I did it!!!" when he got a good picture and could see it.
These are the end results. Not bad for not quite 3 yrs!

Imagination

Yesterday, I was sorting an Usborne order that had been delivered earlier in the day. Caden and Allyson found the packing paper and decided it made a great toy. They used it as a "tent" of sorts and got a bunch of their blankets and pillows from their beds and played.

Tempting!!!

Caden and Allyson helped me make pretzel hugs. They did very well. Only a few were eaten before they went to the oven. Definitely a kid friendly project.

Allyson's Zoe

This is Allyson's Zoe.
I found this idea on a friend's blog and thought it would be cute to show each child's finished Zoe.
Make your own Christmas Zoe.

Caden's Zoe

This is Caden's Zoe.
He was a little disappointed that there wasn't a boy one!

Baby Jesus and Christmas decorations

Driving home today, we passed a nativity scene and Caden said, " Hey - Hey - There's Baby Jesus!"
He thought we should stop and see it.
Wow - I am amazed at how much kids notice!
What a neat thought that he can recognize the manger and Baby Jesus. It makes me sad to think that in some areas the freedom to put out decorations that remind us of the Very First Christmas, has been taken away! I am so grateful that I live in an area where this is still allowed. I am also proud that my kids have the privilege of growing up to recognize Baby Jesus in the manger.

Sticking with the thoughts on Christmas and decorations, the last 2 mornings, I had to be at work early (before 7 am) and the kids anticipated seeing the Christmas lights as we drove into town. I smiled when they would say - "there's a Christmas tree" and "there's a Christmas house" (meaning that the tree has lights on it, or the house has lights on it). They said the same thing both days!

Holiday PJ's

Wanted to show off our matching Christmas PJ's!

The kids love our Christmas tree, even though there isn't a lot on it this year except for lights, a couple ornaments and the gingerbread cookies that we made.

Gingerbread Cookies!

We baked Gingerbread cookies this weekend! Caden and Allyson both had a great time helping! Most of the ones that we baked are gone. We shared a couple with G'pa and G'ma and Uncle Kyle, and then hung some on the Christmas tree (which are slowing getting bites taken out while still on the tree. We will be making more soon!
Allyson called the girl cookies the "dancing" ones. Both kids loved licking the beaters and helping stir the batter. Allyson loves to put her fingers in the measuring cups after they have been used. She didn't care for the molasses taste very much!
After the dough is made, it needs to be refrigerated for a couple hours. Before I could get that in the fridge, both kids got into it and had just plain dough. They both thought it was really good - but called it "terd cookies". You can all rest assured that they tasted much better than the above mentioned name!