{Ice}ing

The holidays approach quicker and quicker every year...it's always a time when I have so many things I want to do...crafts to make...sweets to bake...festivities to attend...and lists to check off...

And in the end...only a handful of those things in my mind actually play out in reality.  But stressing through it always happens...as much as I try to remember not to sweat the small things...

Like letting the house look like a tornado blew through it while trying to keep the more important things in check...

Like having a junk day with our family in our jammies watching movies and eating junk food!

Like skipping a nap that I really wanted to take and instead taking Alex and Emily and her friend ice-skating with Santa {while Dan and Elizabeth napped instead...guess somebody had to fulfill that job!}

I had a lot of fun ice-skating too...until the toe of my skates stuck in the ice instead of effortlessly gliding... and I gracefully fell hard on my kneecaps!  I seriously thought I was going to need a stretcher to make it off the ice!  Ouch!  But Alex and I laughed!  And kept on going!  He actually loved falling...ha! 

Like pushing aside one mess to make room for another one...especially when it comes to icing cookies!  That is one thing we always make time for during this crazy time of year!

{my half may already be gone...but who's counting?!  ...thankfully the kids were smart enough to set aside enough cookies to leave Santa on Christmas Eve!  They know me too well!  ha!}

Like skipping putting my feet up and watching tv by the fireplace and instead consoling a fussy Ellie by getting in the car and driving around to let her sleep it off...and enjoying some beautiful Christmas lights with the kids in the process!

It's hard not to get caught up in the busy hustle and bustle of the holidays...but I am so thankful for the moments and traditions that happen during this time of year! 

And a moment I don't ever want to forget:

Me:  Let's go, we need to go to the grocery store.
Emily:  I want to stay here. 
Me:  With who?  {forgetting that Dan was not home because he had to work...on a Sunday...boo!  Technical difficulties... anyway...}
Emily:  thinking... With Jesus.
Me:  tickled...Jesus is going with us!

I love her!  I love that God does use those hurried, busy moments when my only thoughts are just to get everyone out the door!  It made me stop and laugh and relax and smile.  And know that Jesus was most definitely going along for the ride...
...and that is the icing on the cake cookie!

May we all take time to stop and reflect on the true meaning of this holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

Down for the Count {0-2... 100... 13...}

The girls and I had a shopping date on Saturday while the boys watched IU win over Kentucky!  {we yelled from home during this big exciting win!}

Emily got to visit Santa...but she was a little quiet...she told me Santa already knows what she wants so she didn't need to tell him!

Elizabeth was lucky enough to see Santa twice this year...or maybe not so lucky...

{0-2 this year!}

Before we saw Santa though...Emily has talked about getting her nails done forever...so we went to the nail salon and waited for this big occasion...only for her to plead for a feather extension instead.
What?  No way!  She's asked over 100 times to get one and I've told her over 100 times that she was not getting a feather in her hair... today we were here for her nails...that's final!

{darn it!  she is good!  It finally came down to one or the other...and the feather won!}

I'm curious to see how long it will stay clipped in...she has been ever so careful about it this weekend!  She fought hard to get it, and I told her once it's out...it's out!  ...sigh... 

Please don't use those big brown eyes to tell me otherwise...again!

{I admit...she looks pretty cute...and the waitress at Steak 'n Shake following our shopping trip commented on it...and she beamed so big!  She said, "I actually just got it!"  I guess in the end...it was better than the choice of nail color she had in mind...lime green and pink zebra stripes! 

Oh my...I'm in trouble!}

The kids also performed in the Christmas play at church on Sunday...

I'm obviously no costume designer...this is the best we could come up with as to how they might have dressed in Jesus' day!  In the end, Alex did not wear the scarf on his head...he said it felt like a wig and that he looked like a girl! 

They each had a small speaking part and it was so fun to watch them!  Alex wished he had Emily's lines because they were shorter than his...he doesn't really like to stand up in front and perform, but  he did so great!  It was awesome to hear him speak so loud and clear and confident!

They all got a standing ovation for their hard work and great performance!  They were so cute!

After church Dan, Elizabeth and I had the luxury of nap time while Alex and Emily had quiet computer and Wii time...Emily ended up in bed with a short nap too!  Then I asked the kids to put their clothes away...and after what seemed like forever...I went to check on them and they were even cleaning out all their drawers and folding the clothes in there which ended up with Emily giving alot of her old things that didn't fit anymore to Elizabeth!  I love when they can show their responsibility and independence!  They were talking to each other from across the hall and working so well on their task!  I love when that happens...it makes up for all the other times!  ha!

The kids make sure to give us the daily countdown...but after this weekend, I wasn't ready when I realized there are only 13 days until Christmas!  How does it come up so fast?!

{And when did this little baby get to be so big?}

{riding in style in her new seat...looking out at the world!}

Wordless Wednesday {Worth Every Bite}

{of Peppermint Oreo}

{...and the bath that followed!}

{Believe} it or Not

It's December!  I don't believe it...but it's well into a week of it already.
It didn't start out that great either...I got maybe the worst call a parent could ever recieve from the school nurse on Thursday... any guesses?

...I don't even want to say it... {lice}  Aaack!  I didn't believe it...but I saw it...and I'm still shuddering.  Poor Emily... We scrubbed and washed and vacuumed and washed and vacuumed...and washed and vacuumed...etc...
She was able to return to school on Friday, but we will be itching for a long time to come...  I would be happy to forget that it ever happened...but this is part of our memories...so there you go!  She was so worried that she may have passed it to her friends, but we assured her there is nothing you can do about it...it's just one of those things that happens...and that's how it happened to her.  She is also missing her favorite stuffed bear Barry who is currently living inside a garbage bag along with his friends for the next two weeks!  ...sigh...

Saturday we had great weather for December...it was mild and partly sunny...so we finally put out a few Christmas lights at Alex's persistent request.  Our lights have dwindled over the last few years...and honestly I would've been okay to have even less this year...but Alex loves them so much...so we made him {a little} happy with what we had! 

{Elizabeth is checking them out from the front door!}

I still need to put all the glowing candles in the windows...eventually!

We watched The Polar Express and if that doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit and make you want to drink hot chocolate...then...well, then I don't know what!  But it does me!

The kids talk about riding on the Polar Express a few years ago every single year and I love that they still get so excited talking about how they went to the North Pole and saw Santa's village and ask when they get to go back!  I want them to always believe in that!

{mesmerized by the Polar Express going around and around the tree!}

Peppermint Oreos might be a new holiday tradition too!  No one can resist them around here!

I believe they're almost gone!

Sunday was Emily's turn to escort her Daddy to the IU basketball game...which left our dinner plans up to Alex!  Chili's, of course!  And it's our very own special after-dinner date to have ice-cream at Cold Stone Creamery...but don't tell Emily...he wants it to just be our special place...I love it! 

He also wanted to see Santa in the worst way, so I took him and Ellie to visit him.  Alex discussed his list in great detail...Legos, Xbox 360 kinect, a computer, Nintendo 3DS, an iPad 2...and a couple of surprises!  He asks for these things every single year...I wonder when/if Santa will decide to bring some of them! 

I think Elizabeth was getting a little upset that Alex was asking for all the good stuff... ha!

Emily is already making plans for our next date...plans to have her nails done...I love how she pampers herself, ha!  And of course another visit to Santa...I'm sure Elizabeth can prepare her list next time!

I love this time of year as much as I love the Fall!  The magic in the air and the excitement of surprise and anticipation waiting for Santa!  I love that Alex and Emily still believe in all of that and make their lists and still want to visit Santa...even though they ask a million questions like Is Santa real?  How can Santa be in two places at once?  Why does he look different sometimes?  Where does he park his sleigh?  There may be an ounce of doubt about Santa...but they truly believe in his magic and it makes me want to believe right along with them...it's hard not to!

And even though our indoor decorations seem to dwindle a little bit more each year on the inside too...I always like to remember how it all looks every year!  The kids are happy with the tree placement this year because it's much closer to the chimney in the family room so Santa has no trouble getting to it!

Christmas will be here before we know it...that I believe!  And I believe Santa still has lots of work to do!