Santa's Delivery

Santa delivered knock off American Girl dolls with, let's just say, way too many outfits, shoes, purses, accessories, etc.  Luckily her brought pink baskets for all the stuff to be stored in, including the dolls.   My Little Pony's, because as you know that is the only thing Paige asked Santa for (a Rainbow Dash), a dress up closet filled with Disney Princess dress up clothes and stockings filled with candy and hand made frogs (which they asked for one day while driving and I remembered I had a dear friend who makes frogs).  Santa filled the playarea with his loot and then Brian and I brought out all the presents for them and family.  I haven't yet ventured to putting out gifts before Christmas.  I just think that is way too much temptation and really not fun for them right now.  I'm sure there is a lesson about patience and anticipation in putting them out early, but they can learn that later. 

Playarea

Tree with presents

Santa ate his cookies and left a note!

Christmas Eve

Since we've been married, we've made it  a tradition that on Christmas Eve Brian makes his family's Hamroll recipe for dinner.  This year the girls got to help make them.  I was also able to get them dressed up a bit, which was intended for dinner, however after taking pics and coming back inside, I had forgotten to tell them to stay dressed.  They were undressed and back naked within minutes of posing for pictures.  After bath, they put out cookies and carrots for Santa using the special plate that I made for them last year.  

Grinding meat with Dada for Hamrolls

 

Pose dressed up

 

Dressed up in front of tree



Putting out cookies for Santa. Made by Nanny & Auntie.

 

Yum, yum for Santa!

"Napping"

Although it appears nap time is going away, especially since Hailey now has a big bed, we still go upstairs mid day to have milk and a story.  This was the second or third day Hailey had her big bed and Paige insisted on snuggling and "napping" with her in Hailey's bed.  Quite the scene, especially in their princess costumes.

Hailey's Bigger Bed

Hailey finally got to have her crib rail removed.  She has been potty trained for months, however, had not done poopy on the potty until today.  She would wait until nap time with her diaper and do it there.  Smarty!  She had been asking for her big bed the last month.  I told her she could have one as soon as she went poopy on the toilet.  Today, she finally did!  She did it all by herself.  No one around and then came out to tell us she did it.  So very happy!!!  Now I feel even better about her starting Montessori in February.  She'll do great.  Here are some pics of Dada working to take off her crib rail and her smile after seeing her big bed. 

Dada's helpers.

Hailey wearing her "work shoes" to take the crib tent off.

Swinging monkeys

Adding the small rail

She got to see the final product when she got out of her bath. 
So happy!

Snuggling in.


It was a bit difficult getting her to fall asleep.  I left her in there so I could put Paige down.  When I went in to check, I forgot I had left my phone in there.  She had Netflix playing.  Then I tried to lay in there with her.  That didn't work.  Then I left her and few minutes later found her climbing on Paige's dresser turning the light on.  Not good...Paige was asleep.  So I laid in there again.  Finally I just left her in there and about a half hour later found her asleep on the floor next to her crib.  It was 10:30pm.  Yikes.  We'll see how late she sleeps in.  Mama is tired. 

Polar Express

Tonight I took Paige to the Polar Express put on by the City of Chandler.  They had Santa there to read the book, photos with Santa, crafts and of course hot chocolate and cookies.  Many of our friends from our playgroup attended too so Paige had many friends there.  She had a really fun time.  We will definitely do it again next year, and Hailey will get to go! 

Paige (in the silver bows) listening to Santa with her friends.

Paige loves Santa.

She received "The First Gift of Christmas"

Coloring with friends.

Hot chocolate and cookies!

 

Loved Frosty the Snowman

Quirky things they do...

Both girls have their own personalities which becomes very apparent in the little things they do.

Paige:

• Wants to sleep with the last book we read at night.
• Must have me lay next to her in bed while she falls asleep.
• Likes to have a snack and milk in the car waiting for her when she gets out of school. 
• Twists her hair.
• Would rather be naked than clothed.
• Paige is very energetic and likes to get things done quickly.  Yet, when she is tired or grumpy, simply holding her with a hug and no words helps her to calm down and focus.

Hailey:

• Likes to climb into her crib herself at nap and bed time.
• Must have her boppy in bed with her. (It takes up half her crib!)
• Loves to dance and be a ballerina.
• Loves to hold my hand whenever possible.
• Likes to eat yogurt with every breakfast.  Vanilla is her choice flavor.
• Enjoys saying the word "strawberry" right now. 
• Hailey is very caring and loving.  She holds her dolls with care and hugs them close.  She loves to give and receive smooches and hugs.

I'm sure there are a million other things I could say about each one, but these are the ones I am thinking of right now.   

Snowflakes

 

Today to get learning time started we made paper snowflakes.  Not because I want snow at our house, but because they were a good folding and scissor lesson.  I had some blue pom poms from another unsuccessful craft project so I had them glue those on too.  They had fun and it eased into counting and writing later on with a little pizza making and cupcake baking imaginary play mixed in.  

 

Hailey hanging hers on the window of the play area.

snowflakes on the window.

Bedtime Stories

 

Yes, in the wake of the horrible shooting events on Friday at the elementary school in Connecticut, I must say I am even more grateful for our two precious beings.  I cannot imagine one without the other and I love them each in their own way.  We are truly two very lucky parents to have these healthy, vivacious girls to raise to be women.  Our hearts grieve and ache for the victims families and for the victims themselves.  So much life brought to an abrupt end way too soon in a horrific manner. 

 

With that said...tonight was really no different than any other night before bed.  It consisted of bath and stories (We have gotten rid of a TV show after bath because that made bedtime way too long and the girls were missing probably an hour of sleep with the transition of that whole event.  Much better now without it.)  Tonight we read The Polar Express and I gave them each a jingle bell to ring at the appropriate parts of the story.  They loved it.  Here's some pics I snapped of them before bed tonight. 

 

Here I am!

Silly faces

Finally, a sweet one. 

Out with the old....

Just a little note to brag (more) about the girls.  I had been casually mentioning that we needed to go through the toys to get rid of ones we don't play with anymore to make room for the new ones that Santa might bring.  Today, I pulled out a box and made it an exciting adventure to go through the toys.  Both girls were so willing and honest about the toys they no longer play with and happily put them in the box.  They even arranged the box to make it nice and neat.  I was so proud of them.  I think they really want Santa to bring them some good stuff this year.  Here's hoping! 

St. Lucia Day

 

One Winter tradition that some Waldorf schools celebrate is St. Lucia Day.  Our school does not, but because I read about it I thought it sounded nice since it centers around a woman and young girls.  So I decided to do it at home.  I read them a story about St. Lucia, they then watched a little video of girls dressed in the traditional Swedish white dress and red sash with the wreath of candles on her head.  We then made Swedish Saffron Bread.  They had fun and were able to tell Brian about St. Lucia tonight.  So something stuck!  I think they even got that the saffron represented light.  Paige will take the story and the bread to Montessori tomorrow for snack and show & tell.  I'm trying!  

 

Wathicng video (not very Waldorf) :)

Rolling bread dough

Tried to make a tree shape

Final product. 

Sprit of Christmas Show

 

We try to get the girls out to a professional production atleast twice a year.  For the exposure to arts and to learn behavior of how to be when in such an environment.  For this Christmas we went to the "Spirit of Christmas Show" at the Chandler Center for the Arts.  It was put on by the Tempe Dance Company and WOW!  What a show!  It was an awesome production with dance, music, singing and wonderful costumes.  I was really impressed for the great price.  This may be a new family tradition.  My mom and my aunt we able to join us and Paige sat on my aunt's lap the whole show.  Hailey did super great sitting up in her seat until the very end, where in the finale act she needed to step out of our seats to the back of the house.  After the show we got a picture with two of the dancers.  The girls were thrilled!  Great, great time.  

 

Christmas Tree 2012

 

I finally got the Christmas tree up this year.  I did decorating in waves this year, which I don't think I will do again.  It's easier to just get it all out at one time and put it up.  The tree looks pretty with all of our glass ornaments 3/4 of the way down.  The last 1/4 is full of wooden, half broken, plastic ornaments and paper garland for the girls to be able to rearrange as they please.  Merry Christmas!

 

Dada with his 2 helpers. 

Winter Wonderland at Intel

 

Then on Sunday Intel had a Winter Wonderland event for the kids.  They had a to train, cookie decorating, face painting, tons of crafts and Paige even got to see one of her schoolmates from Montessori there.  They had fun and it was good to get out as a family.  Thanks Intel!  

 

Watching toy train

Cookie decorating

More face painting. 
Hailey got a snowman & Paige an ornament. 
This is now their new past time at home,
they pretend to paint each other's faces.

Hailey in front of a cute backdrop. 
Wearing a crown she made.

Waldorf Winter Faire

 

Last Saturday the girl's Waldorf school had their winter faire.  It was amazing!  So many fun things for the kids to do.  All age appropriate and wholesome.  We spent three hours there!  The did candy land brought to life, horse rides, face painting, Angel Room (where they went in alone and went in to pick a gift for Brian and me), pictures, I got some hand made crafts and vegetables from the garden, cookie decorating...just a ton of stuff.  One of my friends from our playgroup in Chandler was also kind enough to bring her son.  That was a special treat.  We had a great time and excited to make this a new Winter tradition. 

 

Here's a link to the flyer:  http://azwinterfaire.org/

 

Candy land brought to life

They were so sweet to allow them to ride side by side.

My new favorite pic...Brian holding them outside their classroom.

Waiting for the horse rides.  Could they be more "Waldorf"? 
Playing and touching and feeling the dirt. 

The photo taken in the picture booth.
 Faces painted with a Christmas Unicorn and a Snow Kitty.

Paper Garland

One night last week we made green and red paper garland with glue.  It's such a great teaching tool for them with gluing, hand/eye coordination and patterns.  It's an A,A,B pattern with red, red, green.  Simply because I had more red paper than green!  They did well.  It's hanging on their toy shelf right now until we get the tree up.  Next year, I may use it to count down the days til Christmas.  I think they will be ready for a countdown by then.