2nd Week

Wrapping Presents,

Making Gingerbread Homes

Visiting Santa

and

Christmas Programs!

That's what made up our 2nd week of December!

(we would have been able to throw in there a piano recital and a birthday party, but there just wasn't enough time in our days)

I love that Makayla is very into wrapping presents.  She is a hoot to watch wrap.  She holds the tape in her mouth, holds the paper in place with her feet, and folds and wraps with her hands.  It's so funny and she always ends with a masterpiece!

...and, also, what makes her wrapping so creative is her choice of paper to use.  We have an array of paper...anywhere from Christmas to tissue paper to Princesses to Hello Kitty!

Making their gingerbread house was a lot of fun and super messy!!

While the big kids were high on pride from doing such an awesome job decorating, Mia was high on sugar from not being able to keep her little fingers out of the icing!

Santa Claus is anyone who loves another and seeks to make them happy; who gives himself by thought or word or deed in every gift that he bestows;

who shares his joys with those who are sad;

whose hand is never closed against the needy;

whose arm is ever outstretched to aid the weak;

whose sympathy is quick and genuine in time of trouble;

who recognizes a comrade and brother in every man he meets upon life's common road;

who lives his life throughout the entire year in the Christmas spirit.

-The Book of Santa Claus

...and I'm telling you - over the past couple of years, this particular Santa below has become one of my favorite things of the season

 He is SO good at keeping the magic alive and I love everything that he does for Lincoln!!

Thank you, Mr. Bell!

We had two Christmas programs for Makayla to attend this weekend -

One at church -

(a beautiful program made up of children, teens, and adults - the choirs and the hand bells.  

below is a picture of the children's choir)

And one at school -

(a very cute program about the story of Jesus' birth.  makayla played the part of a kitty cat that was living near the stable where Jesus was born.  all of the kiddos did such a fabulous job!)

Makayla getting ready in her classroom.  

With a room full of kitties, lambs, a cow, a shepherd, Mary, Joseph, wise men, an angel, and the star, Mia had this look planted on her face.  I'm not sure what was going through her mind!

Makayla's Pre-K class!

I thank God every day that she is at this school, in this class, and a student of Mrs. Sharp and Miss Martin.

We're getting closer and closer to Christmas!
This next week is going to be a busy week for us...and due to our schedule and circumstances, our Christmas Eve is one week from tonight!

...can't wait!

P.S. - I wanted to leave a little note about Glitter, our elf.  

One night, Glitter didn't move.  When the kids woke up in the morning, he was in the exact same spot, doing the exact same thing, he was doing when they went to bed that night.  (bad, mommy!)  Makayla started her day in tears! - so upset that Glitter didn't move and wasn't doing anything new.
A couple mornings later, when the kids woke up, Glitter had decorated our Christmas tree in the kids' underwear (an idea i stole off  of a Facebook friend).  Makayla thought it was so cool, but Mason was appalled.  He started his day in tears, repeating over and over again how disgusting it was!