Christmas Program

Last night was Claire's daycare Christmas Program.  The kids had been practicing their songs and motions for weeks.  While I wasn't sure what songs they were singing, I knew she'd learned the motions...when we would sing songs at home she would start doing things that really didn't go with Wheels on the Bus!

We were running late (as usual) and when we got to the program location it was *packed*. There were at least a hundred people there with parents, grandparents and siblings.  All of the kids were lining up behind a screen so they could all walk out together.  Morning drop-offs have been going well, but I wasn't sure how Claire would do with all of the people there.

I shouldn't have worried.  She took her teacher's hand and went off to line up with her friends.

Since we were late we were standing in a back corner.  I knew it was going to be hard to see any of the kids, and was hoping for just a glimpse of Claire.  When she came in, she lined up on our side, right in front.  I was able to sneak up the side and kneel in front to see her.

(I had my crappy camera with me, so the pictures are terrible, but they are also too cute not to share)

She made it through a few minutes of the jingle bells song before she wandered off to start shaking hands with the people in the front row.

She bounced back and forth between her classmates, the front row of parents and me (once she spotted me on the edge of the room), but I was so proud of her!

This was the best picture of the girls, but Darren was being grumpy, so he got cropped!

Christmas

I was afraid that Christmas morning was going to be too rushed.  We had breakfast, presents, church, and cooking to get in before we left the house at noon.

It worked out perfectly though.  Everything got done, and we had some time just to relax and play a bit too.

When Claire headed into the living room she made a beeline for her new chair, just like I knew she would.

After rocking a few minutes she was ready for presents.

This year opening presents went much smoother.  The wrapping paper stayed out of her mouth, and she would hand off each scrap of paper from the present without being asked.

One of my goals with presents this year was to find things that she needed to be standing to play with.  While she can use this tower while sitting, I hope it's easier while standing.

Just being silly...

And the aftermath

When we finished at our house, we packed up and headed to my sisters.  My brother and his family was in town from California.  It was the first time they'd been home in two years.  The house was filled with people and lots of good food.

But Claire only had eyes for her newest cousin.

From there we headed to Darren's parents.  More food, family and a few games of cards.

Darren's mom talked us into letting Claire stay with her for a few extra days, so little miss will finally be home again tonight.

Except for undecorating, another wonderful Christmas is behind us.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a very blessed Christmas, from our home to yours.

Blue Santa

On Saturday we took Claire to see Blue Santa.  I knew this event was sponsored by the police department, but was unsure if anything else was different about this Santa.  Turns out, he was in a blue suit.

Claire wasn't terribly thrilled with Santa.  Though I'm sure it wouldn't have mattered if he'd been in a red suit...

The visit started with tears and a desperate hug around dad's neck.

It ended with her sitting on Santa's lap, but she was never thrilled about the situation.

Actually, looking at these pictures, Santa doesn't look all that thrilled either.  Must have been an off day for everybody!

Christmas Pictures

Starting in on presents

Discovering how delicious wrapping paper is

Excited to find there really is something under all that wrapping paper

and then distracted by more paper to chew on.

This one is just the right size!

And it's yummy too

Snuggling with the new toys

Playing with dad

Bows are the best crawling motivator ever!  I think I'm going to leave some out...

The Fam at my sis's house

Mimi and the girls

My niece Ali turned 1 a couple of days before Christmas so we also celebrated her first birthday

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  I hope you all have have a wonderful time with friends and family over the holiday weekend!

Yesterday, we finally got Claire into see Santa...and she was fairly unimpressed.  We plopped her on his lap and she was quite content to just hang out.  I was a little afraid she would start pulling on his beard, but she didn't even try.

Today we've spent the day doing odds and ends around the house.  We had lunch with friends, and will be going to church tonight.  We will spend Claire's first Christmas morning at home, then will start making the rounds to see the grandparents.  It will be a long weekend of traveling, but we are thankful our family lives close enough that we are able to see them all.

Christmas Baking

Today I am getting all my baking done going to start my Christmas baking.  This is one of my favorite days of the Christmas season.  It's a quiet day around the house.  I've got candles burning, KLove on the radio, and a happy baby playing underfoot.  This is also the first  year I've attempted my baking with help, and I have a feeling it's going to take longer than usual to get it all done...

Claire was amazing this morning.  I brought a few different toys into the kitchen, and she was entertained long enough for me to finish the sugar cookie dough. I will bake them tonight when Darren is home. I tend to wind up covered in flour, and I think its better to have help with Claire.

Claire spends a lot of time on the kitchen floor while I make dinner, but for the first time today she found the drawers.  While I love watching her discover new things, I have a feeling this discovery will be responsible for some tears down the road.  Thankfully, we avoided smashed fingers today.

This was my clue that she needed a bottle and some attention.  Hopefully, I'll get back to the baking soon, or else there is always tomorrow!

Frosted Sugar Cookies

3/4 c butter
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 3/4 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Cream butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.  Slowly add dry ingredients, mixing well.

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Generously flour work surface, rolling pin and cookie cutters.  Roll a portion of the dough to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut out cookies and bake on greased cookie sheets at 375 for 8-10 minutes. 

When cookies are cool, frost, decorate and enjoy!