I've been so busy trying to get several different Christmas projects done that I haven't had even two seconds to get any new pictures on here. But I've finally reached the home stretch and I know that I'll be able to get everything finished and under the tree before Christmas Eve so I thought I'd take a minute tonight to post some of our Christmas happenings along with the not so Christmasy happenings.
This year I started a new tradition and added little activities to our pretty little wooden advent calendar. Each day has something in it for the kids to do. I've learned that next year it will take a great deal more preparation on my part as many of the days the kids would come squealing to me about what little activity they got to do and I would think "Crap! I don't have anything I need for that." Anyways, most of the days have been successful and I think it's a tradition the kids will look forward to from now on. Here are some of the things they got up to.
Trimming the tree
Christmas cookies.
This little gingerbread man Lillian is decorating ended up with so many sprinkles on it even she didn't want to eat it.
Pizza picnic in front of the Christmas tree.
This one was my favorite because it meant Allan picked up pizza on the way home from work which meant I didn't have to cook.
Gingerbread house decorating.
Lillian was already in the tub getting the icing cleaned off of her at this point.
We've also been to the Festival of lights at the Edmonton Valley Zoo, searched for the best Christmas lights in the neighborhood, made and played with gingerbread play doh, gone caroling at an old folks home and had a Christmas movie marathon. Luckily the days leading up to Christmas are a little less work for me.
For Emma's birthday Aunt Haley and Uncle Des got she and I tickets to the Nutcracker Ballet. I think I was just as excited as she was to see it. It was so fun to spend the evening alone with her and to give her my undivided attention as she chattered away about the sets and the orchestra and the sugar plum fairy (her favorite part). We were both completely enchanted by the beautiful costumes, familiar music and elegant dancers.
AND we were in the seventh row from the stage! It was amazing!
Violet continues to be the favorite toy in the house as the kids would rather play with her than anything they own. She's a good sport and for the most part can't get enough of the attention (unless it's from Lillian, that is).
Walker loves to snuggle with her as long as she isn't spitting up on him. He still think she's pretty disgusting a lot of the time.
She has started eating rice cereal and Emma's favorite past time is to feed her. She's gotten very good at it too and has figured out a way to keep her from grabbing the spoon and getting food all over the two of them.
This is one of the few moments that Lillian wasn't pulling at Violet's face or covering her head with a blanket so we got a couple of smiles out of her.
Violet is still just a tidbit of a thing, weighing in at 13 lbs 6 oz at her shots last week. That puts her in the eighth percentile for her weight and 5th for her height. Walker was this size when he was four months old but I suppose, given the fact that he is only 3 pounds away from his 8 year old sister now, that that shouldn't surprise me.
Christmas is just four sleeps away and I think I might be more excited than the kids. There are few things more exciting than Christmas morning.
I love this video and reminder from lds.org
